So often you hear about pampered, arrogant college athletes getting in trouble with the NCAA for using drugs, receiving gifts or even for your occasional academic mishaps. Owen Daniels, UW sophomore tight end who was once touted as UW’s quarterback of the future, is about the farthest away from being labeled with any of those daunting stereotypes.
Instead, the Naperville, Ill. native has shown the true meaning of being a team player. Daniels, a highly recruited prep star quarterback came to Wisconsin in hopes of one day becoming the field general for the Badgers. However, Daniels quickly found himself near the bottom of the depth charts last season and was seeing few reps at the quarterback position.
In preparation for last December’s Alamo Bowl, the Badger coaching staff decided to move Daniels to tight end, a position he had never played.
“I’ve played quarterback my entire life, since junior high,” Daniels said.
While this was something new for him, Daniels never complained. Instead he chose to take on the difficult challenge of changing positions and looked to make an impact in the 2003 season.
“I just wanted to contribute any way I could,” he said.
As Daniels practiced at tight end leading up to the Alamo Bowl, he sustained a knee injury that would prevent him from playing in that game. With a definite change of position in his future, Daniels would have to wait until the 2003 season to line up as UW’s new tight end.
Most athletes with the raw athletic ability and potential of Daniels would have transferred to preserve their desired careers, but once again, Daniels remained loyal to his team. He instead looked forward to the start of this season, for the chance to finally be on the field frequently and play in front of 76,000 screaming fans.
“I couldn’t pass up the chance to help this team out,” he said. “I’m trying to learn quick and go 100 percent.”
Daniels explained that the main reason for the position change was that the coaching staff believed his athleticism and instinctive nature should be utilized to stretch the offense vertically and help with open field blocks, freeing other receivers.
While Daniels has started in each of UW’s first three games, he is still becoming more comfortable at tight end with every snap.
“I’m just trying to fit in and do what my coach tells me,” Daniels said
In addition to the trust he has built with coaches, Daniels prides himself on the strong relationship he has formed with both of his parents. Bridget and Jerry Daniels attend almost every game, home and away. Owen recalled that his parents enjoy cheering for him, whether he’s in the game or not.
“They brought me up very well. I try to represent them well while I’m here,” Daniels said.
Throughout his youth, Daniels’ parents constantly stressed the importance of academics to him. In high school, Daniels was a member of the National Honor Society, recording a 3.93 grade point average.
At UW, Daniels is majoring in meteorology and has plans for a career involving weather. In fact, Daniels explained that UW’s strong academic reputation was one of the main reasons he chose Wisconsin over other powerhouse schools such as Oklahoma, Arizona State and Michigan.
“If you’re focused in the classroom, then everything outside of that will fall into place,” he said.
Recruited by such renowned programs, people who don’t know Owen Daniels may expect him to be caught up in his own hype. But as I found out, Daniels is as modest as they come. His reaction to my interview request was in fact a shocking utterance questioning me as to why I would want to interview him.
Although Daniels has changed positions, his pre-game rituals have remained the same, along with his off-the-field hobbies. Before each game, Daniels prefers to keep to himself, refraining from talking to other teammates as he focuses in on the matchup at hand.
Aside from football, Daniels frequents the golf links with teammate Jim Leonhard and stays busy playing video games like many other college students.
Daniels has worked extremely hard since his first day on the UW campus. He’s become a leader by example on a team filled with veterans and he’s become the type of player coaches admire. His hard-work ethic both on and off the field has led Daniels to become a more refined athlete as well as individual.
“I want to be the best at my position,” Daniels said. “It’s a lofty goal, but I try to be the best athlete (on the field) and the best person I can possibly be.”