Sooners defender Kendal Daniels doesn’t hold back in saying what every senior needs to hear before matchup vs. LSU
Kendal Daniels and the Sooners are set to play LSU at home.
There is no doubt that the Oklahoma Sooners’ biggest offseason addition to the defensive side of the ball was defensive back, linebacker, cheetah – whatever you want to call him, Kendal Daniels. The Sooners landed Daniels via the transfer portal, and now he’s set to play the last regular-season game of his senior year vs. the LSU Tigers.
“I’m cherishing these moments because it’s my senior year, so time is my enemy right now,” Daniels told reporters on Monday. “So, I’m just trying to take in the small things, practice hard, hard practices with the guys, and just enjoying the time we have together.”
That’s how you know he will only continue to go as hard as he can every single week, every single game. And that’s a message, a deep one but a message nonetheless, that every senior needs to hear. Daniels is a key reason the defense has been as good as it has, showing his vital role and inspiring pride among supporters.
Oklahoma Sooners will miss Kendal Daniels when he moves on
Daniels played for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, a bitter rival, where he was basically trained to hate the Sooners. So, for him to even pick Oklahoma in the first place was huge. On top of that, he knew that joining a stacked defense wouldn’t allow him to have the same big-time role he had in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
“He embraced whatever role we asked him to do and embraced multiple positions,” head coach Brent Venables said. “He just had a mindset that I am going to get what I earned… He’s a country boy. Very, very simple. Loves his family. Fiance and teammates. Just a very simple guy… He endeared himself to his teammates. He is going to play this game for a long time.”
Daniels has huge NFL potential. His ability to play both safety and linebacker, thanks to his build and mentality, makes him a promising versatile player.
You won’t see Daniels in a ton of mock drafts around the internet, and that’s fine – it’s still early. But, Daniels is one of the sneakiest pro-ready players in the entire draft. His IQ and athleticism make him an easy steal for whoever drafts him.
Picking him up was the Sooners’ best offseason decision on the defensive side of the ball, and he will continue to prove that on Saturday.
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