QB B.J. Daniels picks Bulls

After a few disappointments this morning, USF has landed one of the biggest names in play for the Bulls on signing day: Tallahassee Lincoln quarterback B.J. Daniels is signing with the Bulls, the Times' Brian Landman reports.

Daniels chose the Bulls over an offer from Memphis, and he joins Miami Archbishop Carroll cornerback George Baker as key last-minute coups for the Bulls. Daniels is rated as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com (three, according to Scout) so he'll join defensive end David Bedford as the most decorated players in USF's signing class.

Daniels told Landman that two things helped clinch his decision to pick the Bulls, first that Jim Leavitt reassured him Tuesday night he would be able to play basketball for the Bulls, so long as he stayed healthy and kept his grades up. Memphis has the No. 1 basketball team in the country, but that actually might have worked against the Tigers, in that Daniels wasn't sure he'd be able to play there; at USF, there's a more realistic expectation he could see the court, and Stan Heath told him he'd have a chance to do that. Daniels is averaging 27 points a game as a point guard for Lincoln's basketball team.

The other factor is that Daniels was very close to former Lincoln and USF football player Keeley Dorsey, who collapsed and died during a team conditioning workout at USF after his freshman season with the Bulls, in January 2007. Daniels said Leavitt's compassion in traveling to Tallahassee, in speaking at Dorsey's funeral, gave him a closer bond with him, made him more comfortable talking with him about things that had nothing to do with football.

Want to see Daniels' highlights? Youtube has a three-minute compilation -- complete with super-slo-mo at some open-field moves -- you can check out yourself (can they get that logo at midfield a little bigger?)

-- I can also report that Miami Northwestern linebacker/safety Quavon Taylor said he has signed with USF, which means the only commitment not accounted for is Theo Wilson from Pearl River Community College. His coach there, Tim Hatten, told me Tuesday everything was on schedule for him to sign with the Bulls, but I'll get confirmation this afternoon.

We'll have more on Daniels -- I need to get the story on that blue cap he was holding -- and the rest of USF's class as the afternoon progresses. ...

Comments

[keith]

Big pick-up.

[Herman Momart]

Best news of the day! Get that kid a basketball uniform too! GO BULLS!

[702JV]

Someone check on Fat Jake and his heart!!! Go Bulls!!!!

[Mama Bull]

Absolutely awesome news!

This is a ultra big signing for the Bulls!

lets hope hes not another Carlton Hill

Yes!!!! And it counts!!!!!!

[Jim Johnson]

12:38... Daniels is not another C-Hill. More like another Grothe.

[Reality]

Shucks, you mean we have to settle for B.J. Daniels when we could have had Orhian Johnson. Way to go B.J. and good riddance Johnson.

[sv]

Another Grothe? Thats not saying much...

[Chad]

This is huge. After watching his highlight video on YouTube, I'm convinced he can be our QB of the future. Grothe is good, no doubt about it. But if we learned one thing this year it's that his ceiling may not be as high as some people initially thought. Daniels appears to have a much stronger arm and is certainly a step or two quicker than Grothe, so it should be interesting to see what kind of role he plays over the next couple of years.

[Mike Lakeland]

SWEETNESS!

[Seth]

Now there will actually be some competition at QB to push Grothe.

[Herman Momart]

By that youtube clip he already looks like a better QB than Grothe and a lot quicker than PG, Chris Howard. USF's own Donovan McNabb. Maybe it was the good tribe called quest song that had me feeling it. Who knows. Great pickup

[B^S]

Thank God. BJ is a stud!

[B^S]

And man, I watched his highlight a few times. The way he just lets the ball fly while he is evading and it flies 45 yard is so sick. He is very accurate also. Watch out Matt, BJ is good!!

Grothe can be converted to a DB to make room at QB for BJ

[sv]

Grothe is going to have the same fate as Pat Julmiste. Riding the Pine.

[The Champ]

Congrats to Heath and the Bulls team for picking up a player w/o using a scholarship.

Hopefully Coach Leavitt will honor his word and support this kid in his efforts to play two sports.Former Razorbacks HC Houston Nutt once screwed Heath over about a talented FB/BB player in the past.

[Ken]

I love this guy. I'll be shocked if he puts MG on the bench, but he'll be a great backup and eventually MG's replacement.

[Brendan]

Good stuff. Very exciting. A shame we missed on Streeter though. I had dreams of those 2 hooking up for some nice catches.

This saved this class from falling apart. How was the recruiting so far off on these WRs? I bet Daniels wishes he had one of them to throw to.

[GregP]

Hey Greg, you think you could post a full list of the commitments as of now, I'm having a problem going from post to post to get all the names. Regardless thats good detective work Lou

[Kyle F.]

Any word on Q. Taylor?????

[RR]

Greg:

Where does Voss stand as of now? Does it look like he's going to have a shot to be the QB when Grothe leaves, or are they thinking safety?

[sv]

According to GOUSFBULLS.COM, Q. Taylor signed at 12:55 pm.

There is another young crop of fast talented Junior WR's around the State right now. We definitely have to pick some up next year!

ANy word on Tay Odoms?!?!?!?

[Herman Momart]

This Streeter kid might regret his decision. according to espn, he is the 4th ranked wr going to UM THIS year alone? Why would you want all that competition? must be confident.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

Alton Voss is going to be the QB when Grothe leaves.

He was crucial on the practice sqaud according to CJL.

He put up quality numbers at Gulf High too.

Would be surprised to see him get beat out after 3 solid years in the USF system.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

Why didnt FSU recruit this kid??

And basketball??? I don't care how many points he averaged... You do realize that Solomon Boozeman averaged 25 pts a game in high school.. he has turn into a total stud hasn't he.

WOO - Watch out in the 32nd row, you might get hit by a Solomon Boozemen pass

At Gulf... enough said.
And Odoms is not signing today. He is going to wait for some reason.

[Jake]

702JV I made it...I was celebrating the signing. I can't wait to see this kid and how he helps both our football and B-ball team.

[Ken]

You may be right, Ari, but the video looks pretty good. Great to have two of them in contention to replace Grothe. I'll be surprised, though, if either puts him on the bench.

[Norb]

According to Miami Herald Streeter picked Miami due to UM having the most up-to-date broadcasting equipment. He's going to be a broadcasting major.

Hate losing him but it's nice to see a kid thinking about more than just his college football career when choosing schools.

[J]

"Why didn't FSU recruit this kid?"

Because they already signed E.J. Manuel. Manual is ranked the number 2 HS QB in the country behind Pryor.

As far as the QB after Grothe, if he lives up to his potential, I'm pretty sure it'll be B.J. Daniels. He didn't go to Michigan because he didn't want to chance just sitting the bench behind Pryor. If the coaching staff didn't think Daniels was a legitimate starter for us, he wouldn't be here.

The job is Grothe's until he leaves in my opinion, but after he leaves I think B.J. Daniels is the frontrunner to take over.

[Ken]

Broadcasting students everywhere train on out of date equipment--no school, not UM or USF or any of them have current professional standard equipment, but that's okay because the students aren't there to learn how to run the equipment. Oh, and most kids change their majors anyway a time or two.

[Dave W]

BJ is the guy we really needed. He's got a better than Grothe, is a similar runner, and perhaps he is smarter. But is he as lucky? No way Grothe loses his job without an injury.

I think we now have decent depth at the position. 3rd year starter, senior backup, RS-freshman 3rd stringer, and a stud freshman. Plus, athletes like Nate Allen and Landi could do it in a terrible pinch. Is Piloto going to be around?

And who will hold on kicks?

[Mike Lakeland]

Piloto left the team in September, IIRC.

[Dave W]

I forgot to add, are there any other guys out there in the mix? Or is Odoms the only one left?

[Tom]

This guy is a stud. Not many QB's make moves like that. Looks like gregory found some competition.

[Ken]

No new news, huh, Greg?

I think overall we ended up with a great recruiting class, everyone should be happy. We got some major players to help on the o and d line and we got help for the corner and safety and linebacker posisitions. We got a great qb and rb and some great althetes in general. This is our best class yet, no doubt and will help us become a better team!

[ETC]

12:38... Daniels is not another C-Hill. More like another Grothe.

Posted by: Jim Johnson | February 06, 2008 at 12:41 PM

BJ has great character so there is no C-Hill in him and he projects better than Grothe did out of high school.

Alton Voss is going to be the QB when Grothe leaves.

He was crucial on the practice sqaud according to CJL.

He put up quality numbers at Gulf High too.

Would be surprised to see him get beat out after 3 solid years in the USF system.

Posted by: Ari Hinkelberger | February 06, 2008 at 01:50 PM

Having seen both play in High School i would have to give the edge in BJ in a big way. Alton does have a year of exp on him though and that will factor as well.

Talent wise BJ to me is probably the most underrated QB in America right now. Do you realize he started EVERY GAME SINCE HE WAS A FRESHMAN. And on the Lincoln Trojans at that. A school that has produced the likes of Antonio Cromartie, Gavin Dickey, Pat Watkins, Greg Threat, Ryan Gilliam just to name a few.

I think BJ is the crown Jewel of this class. If EJ had not signed with FSU so early they would have been after BJ as well.

[BullsFan]

With all of the WR's Miami has assembled in this years class I think USf should be at the top of Tay Odoms list. He should really look at Miami's class, depth chart and then look at USF's and if he does that, he will choose USF. Also, what is the deal with Thornton? Where is he signing, USF or FSU?

[G.A.]

Hey guys. Was over at USF for the recruiting news conference. Will have a bunch more stuff in the next few hours. Lots of good information to come ...

Nice event at Splitsville. Good to hear Leavitt talk when he has 3/4 of a voice!

[TimeKeeper]

"the next few hours"

Could you define "few hours" for us?

[G.A.]

TimeKeeper, TimeKeeper ... just putting kids (and stories) to bed. Lots to come.

[JL]

GA,

Not sure you have heard this today....

Damn! U da man!!! GREAT JOB!!!

I have not looked at any other site for USF info! Not one...awesome!

[702JV]

Glad you made it Jake, great sense of humor, can Ari borrow it LOL...G.A. Can't wait for the updates. Your info was faster than the paysites. My friend was logged in and had full access (Clemson fan), we would check the USF stuff and you were much faster!