What I Learned Watching: 4-star DB David Daniel

Woodstock - His Woodstock team may have come out on the losing end, but Georgia commit David Daniel‍ sure looked like an SEC-caliber prospect on Friday night.

First off, he definitely looks the part already. He’s got great size for a bigger safety prospect at 6-foot-2 190-pounds and really showed off his speed during the game. He can hit his top speed pretty quick for his size and knows how to deliver a hit.

As far as how the game went, River Ridge did their best to stay away from Daniel. They didn’t throw his way and didn’t try to run it towards him much, either. Daniel still found a way to rack up multiple tackles and had to earn each one. Nothing came easy for him, but he still found a way to make an impact. 

After getting down 7-0 early in the game, David Daniel got angry. On the kickoff return, Daniel came downfield and absolutely crushed an opposing player who appeared to be lolly-gagging during the play. Daniel set the tone with that hit and played that way throughout the game.

He knows how to deliver a big hit with his shoulder, but he also knows how to wrap up. He’s been starting for Woodstock for three years now, and you don’t have the success he’s had if you don’t know how to wrap up. The kid knows how to tackle.

He was perfectly fine in coverage, breaking up the only pass that came his way during the first half. He closes on the ball well and has the natural instincts to separate the ball from the receiver when he’s able too.

It’s hard to be a game-changing type of player from the safety position. Offenses can adjust their game plan and move the ball away from a star player like Daniel, and that’s what happened Friday night. While he did rack up some big hits, one sack, a pass breakup, and multiple tackles in the first half, River Ridge made sure they stayed away from his side of the field.

Daniel also played some offense for Woodstock, carrying the ball multiple yards for minimal gains. He also caught a couple passes in the first half.

He was the best player on the field and it was easy to see. They might not have won the game, but Daniel made an impression. He’s long, athletic, and can be an “enforcer” type for the Bulldog’s secondary in the future.