Iowa Football: Center James Daniels Heading To The NFL

The Hawkeyes got news that they have their second early entry into the 2018 NFL Draft with the announcement that center James Daniels will forego his senior season in Iowa City. This following the announcement earlier in the week that cornerback Josh Jackson would be doing so.

Daniels who was the honorable mention All-Big Ten this past season at center projects to be one of the most athletic and best interior lineman in the draft. He joins his brother RB LeShun Daniels in the league, after the tailback finished his undrafted rookie season with the Washington Redskins.

Daniels came to the Hawkeyes as the 6th ranked center in the country out of Ohio per 24/7 Sports. 

This news is not a shocker to Iowa fans who came to know the talented Daniels over his three years in the black & gold. He started right off the bat which has been a rare occurrence among offensive lineman in the Hawkeye program. In his freshmen season, Daniels was apart of the 12-0 regular season which ended in a Rose Bowl appearance. Daniels and the Hawkeyes won their first Bowl game since 2010 in the end of December in the Pinstripe Bowl.

The Hawkeyes already lost two tackles to graduation in Ike Boettger and Boone Myers, and the talented interior blocker Sean Welsh. They will rely on sophomores Alaric Jackson and Tristan Wirfs at tackle in 2018. For the inside, it is anyone’s guess at this point.

Soon to be seniors Lucas LeGrand, Ross Reynolds, Keegan Render along with Levi and Landan Paulsen and Spencer Williams could fill the gap of Daniels of Welsh, or try to.

The ‘two-deep’ depth chart released sometime in January will be very interesting as Iowa will be replacing its fair share on the offensive side of the ball. Junior QB Nate Stanley will have to learn to take the ball from under center from someone new as well this Spring.