Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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DaVaris Daniels is primed to make an impact at wideout R BY LOU SOMOGYI unning back George Atkinson III and quarterback Everett Golson stole the show at the Blue-Gold Game April 21. As freshmen last year, Atkinson had only 10 touches on offense while Gol- son redshirted. Yet wideout DaVaris Dan- iels, who also didn't see action last year, might have just as good a chance among the rising freshman trio to make a significant impact this year at the skill positions. Despite missing two weeks worth of practices in the early part of spring while tending to a hamstring pull, Daniels ap- peared to put himself into a co-starting role with junior TJ Jones (19 career starts and 61 receptions) at the X receiver position. With a 6-2 frame, a 38-inch vertical this winter (although it was measured 42.5 in high school), a 10-5 broad jump and 4.5 speed, Daniels boasts the physical wares to compete at this level. What kept him off the field in 2011 were basically the same items as Golson. Both were standout high school basketball play- ers — Golson made all-state in South Caro- lina while Daniels was a four-year starter for the Vernon Hills (Ill.) varsity — who needed more weight room development and muscle on the physical side, and even more work on adapting to the mental aspect of the college game. "It's confidence in a lot of things," said Daniels of his progress this spring. "Learn- ing defenses, knowing the right routes, what plays work against a specific cover- age, where the quarterback is going to be looking — everything just kind of ties in." At Vernon Hills, Daniels played in a Wing-T offense that had a limited number of plays, and he was far more an athlete than a polished receiver. As a senior, he caught as many passes (23) as he threw — and most of his damage was done while av- eraging 10.8 yards per his 59 carries, scoring 10 times off rushing plays. "Now that I've got a year under my belt, it's definitely come a lot easier, and I can just rely on my playmaking skills and natu- ral ability to do certain things instead of thinking about stuff and going through all kind of processes in my head before the play goes on," Daniels said. "It's a lot more fluid this year." Consistent tempo at carrying out assign- ments also has been a learning curve for Daniels. During an April 14 seven-on-seven drill that was open to the media, he was sternly reminded by offensive coordinator Chuck Martin that he has to run and sell his pattern with much more effort after one play nearly resulted in a pick six for the defense. "He doesn't know how to practice yet … he's just got to learn how to play the game," head coach Brian Kelly said afterwards. "… I think he's going to get it. It's just that it's taking a little time." Daniels had a stellar practice to open up the spring prior to his hamstring injury. Then on the Monday (April 16) before the Blue-Gold Game, he resurfaced during a two-minute drill and started to find himself JUNE/JULY 2012 61