Hurricanes’ CJ Daniels picked in NFL draft, headed to Los Angeles

Halfway into his first game with the Hurricanes, CJ Daniels made a play that will follow him for his whole career.

With 18 seconds left in the first half, Daniels lined up in a three-man bunched formation with two other receivers. He deked a move inside and got the nearest Notre Dame defender to bite on the move. Daniels had one Fighting Irish defender trailing him. Another was standing at the goal line, waiting to pick off an errant pass.

Quarterback Carson Beck threw off his back foot. The throw was above Daniels’ head. But the veteran receiver leaped, stretched his arm and came down with the one-handed catch. The touchdown put the Hurricanes ahead. They won the game. That win boosted UM into the College Football Playoff, which allowed them to make their first title game since the 2002 season.

“I wouldn’t say I was surprised,” Daniels said the following week. “It was just the world was surprised. I know I’m capable of making any play. When the ball (is) in the air, I just feel like it’s really just me and the ball.”

Daniels converted his one season at Miami into a pro career. The Los Angeles Rams took the UM wide receiver in the sixth round of the draft on Saturday. Daniels was the No. 197 pick.

Daniels was a long-time Miami target. Daniels started his career at Liberty, and he notched a 1,000-yard season in his fourth season with the Flames. He entered the portal, and UM recruited him. But Daniels opted for LSU.

In one season with the Tigers, Daniels had 42 catches for 480 yards and no touchdowns. He entered the portal the second time, and the Hurricanes landed him that time.

Daniels was a leader in the Miami wide receiver room, and he finished the season third on the team in receiving yards. Daniels missed three regular-season games, and he racked up 557 yards. He was second on the team with seven touchdown catches.