TAMPA — His first start was at Florida State, a place where freshman quarterbacks used to crumble, but B.J. Daniels shook off the mystic and magic of Doak Campbell Stadium and moved USF past the Seminoles in a landmark victory for the Bulls program.
Not a bad way to announce your presence.
It hasn’t been all seashells and balloons for Daniels.
He struggled in a loss to Cincinnati and looked unstoppable in a win against West Virginia.
That’s how it often is with freshman quarterbacks.
In his first five games as the Bulls starter, Daniels has faced four top-25 ranked teams, going 2-2.
“He’s played against four ranked teams,” Bulls offensive coordinator Mike Canales said. “That just shows you what a quality person we have at that position.”
Daniels leads all Division I-A quarterbacks in yards per completion (17.1) and is fourth in yards per carry (8.05). That’s more yards per carry than such notable quarterbacks as Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor (5.25) and Florida’s Tim Tebow (3.73).
He is the reason the Bulls were able to survive the season-ending loss of quarterback Matt Grothe and why, entering Thursday’s nationally televised game at Rutgers, the Bulls (6-2, 2-2) have a chance to do better this bowl season than the St. Pete Bowl.
Daniels said Monday he feels older than a red-shirt freshman, that his time at USF feels longer than it has been.
Still, he offered this: “I’m still learning, each game, each week.”
Canales called Daniels “A sponge,” when it comes to learning.
“He continues to grow with every rep he takes,” Canales said. “We’re extremely happy with his progress.”
This week’s lesson is blitzes. More specifically, the blitz package Daniels will see when USF meets Rutgers (6-2, 1-2).
The Scarlet Knights will throw everything they have at the young quarterback. Canales said that won’t be anything different from what Daniels has experienced already this fall.
“Every team had a plan to stop B.J. It’s all been different,” Canales said.
Bulls coach Jim Leavitt took the blame for Daniels’ poor night against Cincinnati, admitting the game plan kind of held Daniels back.
Still, Daniels took that loss hard. Same with the one the following week at Pitt. He took out his frustrations against No. 20 West Virginia by passing for 232 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 104 yards in the Bulls 30-19.
West Virginia linebacker Anthony Leonard told fanHouse.com, “He’s a great player, being out there playing the game. Just like he’s playing backyard football — street ball. He made a lot of plays. He made a lot of big plays.”
Each of Daniels’ five starts have appeared one on of ESPN’s many channels. Thursday’s game will be his third shown nationally on either ESPN (two) or ESPN2.
A mid-week game on the road played in front of a national audience, not every quarterback can handle such exposure and such surroundings. Canales isn’t worried.
“He’s been in that spotlight,” Canales said.
“He’s been on that stage. I don’t think it’s nothing new to him. When he gets on the field he just plays the game. Whether it’s on national television or on the intramural football fields, he wants to play his best, and I think that’s what separates him from a lot of other quarterbacks.”
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