Countdown to 2020 IUFB Kickoff: 20 Days (Joseph Daniels Jr.)

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

The bizarre and unsettling offseason of 2020 is nearly over and the 2020 Hoosier Huddle Countdown is 80% done. In only 20 days, the Indiana Hoosiers will take the field at an empty Memorial Stadium and begin their 2020 season. Our profile feature today is a walk-on safety from Georgia: Joseph Daniels Jr.

Name – Joseph Daniels Jr.

Position – Defensive Back

Hometown – Johns Creek, GA (Roswell High School)

Height – 5’8”

Weight – 194 pounds

Joseph Daniels starred at Roswell High School, a large public high school in Fulton County, Georgia. The Roswell Hornets have won three state championships in football and Daniels was a starting defensive back for multiple seasons for the program. While in high school, he also ran track.

IU has had several players from the Peach State recently and Daniels decided to join the IU program prior to the 2018 fall camp as a walk-on. He redshirted the 2018 season but earned scout team player of the week honors the week of the Rutgers game. Daniels then appeared in two games, against Eastern Illinois and Northwestern, and was named the special teams scout team player of the week on two occasions.

Unfortunately for the playing time prospects of Daniels, the safety position is stacked. The redshirt sophomore is not going to breakthrough and be in the regular rotation with this group. It is entirely possible though that he sees a few snaps on defense and becomes a regular on special teams, particularly if the unit is hit hard by injuries or COVID.