Reports: Elite 2021 safety released from NLI signed with Texas A&M
Elite 2021 Kendal Daniels is reportedly back on the market, as multiple outlets are saying he has been released from his National Letter of Intent signed with Texas A&M. The Sooner Bred Podcast was first to report the news. Brian Perroni writes that Daniels confirmed the news to GigEm247.
Perroni reports that Daniels’ decision is the result of defensive analyst Ishmael Aristide’s departure to leave Jimbo Fisher’s staff for an on-field position at Miami. Out of Beggs, Oklahoma, Daniels is the 247Sports Composite’s No. 1 player in the state, No. 5 safety and No. 101 prospect overall nationally in the class of 2021.
Daniels may stay in the SEC West. The Sooner Bred Podcast reports that “LSU is expected to be a player” while in-state schools Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will also be recruiting Daniels.
Daniels committed to Texas A&M on Aug. 1, 2020, and signed with the Aggies on Dec. 16. His senior Hudl highlight tape is embedded below:
Oklahoma State has been in contact recently. This will be interesting to watch as this is expected to go back to ground zero and start the process over. A repair in the relationship between Oklahoma and Daniels will need to happen, but starting with a blank sheet should help.
— Sooner Bred Podcast (@SoonerBredPod) February 26, 2021
hate to lose him great skills, good luck wherever he lands
UGA SHOULD BE HIS FAVORITE!!! UGA WILL BE FAVORED TO WIN THE SEC!!! Why not come sign with UGA? In a position of need if we have one!!!
UGA UGA UGA
Bobby the brain Negan
Hmmm… word in the red stick is Derrick Davis Jr is the next big thing at safety for LSU. He is expected to start as a true freshman. And then of course we have 5 star Sage Ryan who many outside the program think is the best safety in the 2021 class. Sure we will take the best player from Oklahoma… but he is going to have some serious competition for PT his whole career, especially with both Matthews(Jacoby and lang wah) at the program. Man the depth at DBU is unreal. Geaux tigahs
That’s a shame. The Aggies have a position open now for a transfer to play immediately, so that’s a plus. It’s never a good thing to lose a talent like this guy, though. Even with the loss, I’m excited by the talent we’ll be able to place on the line and in the secondary this year. Gonna gig ’em.
The conventional wisdom used to be, don’t sign to play for a certain coach – sign with the school. The way the NCAA is heading with transfer eligibility waivers, that advice may be obsolete soon. I know it doesn’t apply in this case, but a coaching change was what spurred him to leave.
Buckle up – I believe we’re in for a radically different CFB over the next few years.
I don’t think that was ever really the conventional wisdom, just what some people said. They still say that, but coaches and systems are what are most important to players. That’s pretty much been the case for years and years.
It’s the coaches that determine the football team and its ability, not the school. Kids should absolutely be committing based on the coaching staff they believe will be coaching and watching for them for the next 4-5 years. It’s about who you play for now, not where.
Funny thing. Ish was not really an on-field coach, but an analyst and recruiter. If this was the true reason for reneging, you’d think Daniels would be on the way to Miami.
Exactly. Think back just 3-4 years, though. Not only would you almost automatically be sitting out a year if you transferred, but your school or conference had the ability to block your transfer to the school of your choice.
The school-blocking is history and the NCAA is in the process of loosening the eligibility waiver restrictions, with the ultimate goal being no requirement to sit a year. The transfer portal is now in place to facilitate dialogue between schools and players considering a transfer but still enrolled, whereas before that was considered tampering.
NIL kicks in soon – no later than the beginning of the 2021-2022 academic year – and that will be a major carrot for some schools attempting to lure kids away from their current situation.
Whether it be following a coach, seeking more playing time, or chasing promo dollars, the transfer landscape is changing dramatically. Whether this will be good or bad for CFB remains to be seen, but “free agency” is definitely becoming integral to the sport.