BIOGRAPHY
Jonathan Tyler Daniels, an accomplished American football player, was born on February 2, 2000, in Irvine, California to parents Ali and Steve. The diverse religious backgrounds of his Catholic father and Jewish mother nurtured a multifaceted upbringing, giving Daniels a unique lens to view the world. His passion for football was sparked at a tender age, and his journey in the sport began at Mater Dei High School located in Santa Ana, California. His formidable talent was clear from the onset, as throughout his high school career, Daniels managed to notch 12,014 passing yards on the record, accompanied by a remarkable 152 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions.
His abilities on the football field caught the attention of his coaches, leading to his impressive promotion to the starting position during his freshman year, and by his sophomore year, he had mastered full play-calling responsibility. His sophomore season was punctuated brightly by 4,849 yards’ worth of passes that led to 67 touchdowns. This promising uphill trajectory carried on into his junior year, where he claimed the title of Gatorade Football Player, and subsequently the Male Athlete of the Year, with an impressive 4,123 yards passed and 61 total touchdowns. His prowess on the field significantly contributed to his team’s 15-0 undefeated record and ultimately clinched the unanimous high school football national championship.
His extraordinary talent landed him a coveted five-star recruit rating and made him the number one overall recruit in his class by Rivals.com. Recognizing the stellar trajectory of his career, the University of Southern California (USC) made a successful bid for Jonathan Tyler Daniels, making him the new star of Trojans’ college football team. Prior to joining the Trojans, Daniels made the strategic decision to graduate early from high school and reclassify to the 2018 class. Upon completion of this accelerated study plan, Jonthan joined the USC in June 2018.
His journey at USC found its inception in a three-way competition, that ended with Daniels securing the much-coveted starting quarterback position just three weeks into USC’s two-week fall camp. Daniels’ spectacular trajectory continued in his freshman year, during which he disputed 2,672 yards and attained 14 touchdowns. In the following year, he managed to recover from a severe ACL tear and validated his recovery by competing in and winning the starting job again.
Unfortunately, Daniels’ tenure at USC was not to last. After the emergence of Kedon Slovis, Daniels chose to explore new opportunities by entering his name in the NCAA transfer portal in April 2020. Five weeks later, he confirmed his decision to transfer to the University of Georgia. Daniels’ time at Georgia was marked by tough competition, but also many triumphs – one of the most significant ones being named the starting quarterback against Mississippi State in November 2020, following Stetson Bennett’s shoulder injury.
He amassed 401 passing yards with 4 touchdowns, contributing in a big way to Georgia’s 31-24 victory. After the game, Daniels was described as the clear front-runner for the Georgia team. His performance continued to impress, as he led Georgia to a Peach Bowl victory and concluded the season with an impressive 1,231 passing yards over just 119 attempts, topped with 10 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions.
However, as the 2021 season began, Daniels was constantly plagued by injuries. In spite of his intention to continue on with the team, he was sidelined by an oblique injury, and was replaced by Bennett once again. He later transferred to West Virginia University but was subsequently benched in favor of another player, Garrett Greene. Making another move, Daniels transferred to Rice University in December 2022. His career reached its peak at Rice, culminating in a career-high of 401 passing yards in a 43-41 victory at the Bayou Bucket Classic.
Daniels’ journey was suddenly cut short in December 2023 due to multiple concussions sustained throughout his illustrious career, forcing him into medical retirement. Yet, his legacy left a lasting imprint on every team he graced with his presence and skill, from his early days at Mater Dei High School to his final touchdowns with the Rice Owls. A spirited player and an indomitable force on the field, Jonathan Tyler Daniels’ career, though short-lived, remains a testament to his exceptional talents. His resilience and fortitude, despite the challenges he faced along the way, serve as a blueprint for the many that will follow in his steps, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of American college football.