Name: Austan Daniels
School: Midland
Position: WR
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 195
Q: What goals did you set and/or accomplish in your final collegiate season?
Since I was a transfer student coming to Midland for my senior year, from the very beginning my goal was to just help these guys in anyway I could to win games. I wanted to help elevate the guys around me and just get better & have fun everyday. For my personal goal I had my eyes set on 1,000 yards of offense. I ended up accomplishing that goal which subsequently helped contribute to our 7 wins this season. Something that wasn’t a goal but was one of the most rewarding things that I accomplished this season was being voted as a team captain. It was awesome to know that in my short time there during the summer I had that much of a positive impact on the team and gained their trust enough to be voted as captain.
Q: What would your coaches and teammates say about the type of player you are?
Something we did as a team and position group at the end of the season was answer a similar question about the seniors. It was great to hear some of the things that my coaches/teammates said. Things like a great role model, a leader, someone who is always getting extra work in, someone who made other people better, hard worker, determined, motivated, and ambitious are some examples. If you were to ask any of my past coaches I’m confident they would have nothing but positive things to say about my character, work ethic, and who I am as a person/player on and off the field.
Q: When you are studying film, what do you focus on to improve your game?
When watching film over myself I like to watch the play, what the defense is running, see what I did then how I could’ve done it better. I go down the line and look for things like my alignment, stance, hand placement, false steps, footwork, how tall am I when running the route, how many steps it takes to get in & out of breaks, how I caught the ball or fitted my block, different angles I could’ve taken to get to blind spots, changes in speed I could’ve incorporated.
When watching film over the opponent our coaches do a great job of providing their top defenses they like to run along with situational tendencies so that’s the first thing I look at. I look for tendencies the DB has pre/post snap that can give away what he’s wanting to do. Is he more comfortable in off or press coverage, what hand he likes to strike with, his stance, footwork at the snap of the ball, his eyes, his alignment, does he play aggressive or conservatively, favorite block shedding move. These are a few things I can study & recognize then take advantage of to improve my chances of winning the route/play.
Q: What separates you from the other pro prospects at your position?
I’m a player you can trust to get his job done every play. Im coachable & love the grind and the process of getting better wether that’s on the field, weight-room, film study, or whatever it is. I’m detail oriented which at my position separates the good and the great. I’m an unselfish player who wants to help the team win in all phases of the game. I love the big moments where it’s do or die, that’s where I’m at my best.
Q: What is your offseason plan to train and prepare for professional opportunities?
I’ve been training 6 days a week with my strength & conditioning coach and WR coach since January. My WR coach has experience on the professional level & my strength coach used to work for a combine prep company called EXOS.
Q: What kind of strengths and abilities will you bring to a team that will stand out both on and off the field?
My greatest strength is my consistency. You can count on me to be in the right spot at the right time, to do my job at a high level. You’re getting a WR with elite route running, sure hands, with an aggressive attitude when the ball is in the air. My passion for the game pushes me to be constantly looking to improve my game and I love bringing other people up with me. Im a quick learner and can adjust on the fly. I’m also a great teammate with good communication skills both on and off the field.
Q: What is your final pitch to the NFL or any other pro leagues?
I’ve made a lot of sacrifices to be where I’m at now so I’m willing to do whatever it takes to put myself in a position to be successful. All I need is an opportunity to showcase my skills & I can live with the results. If given that chance I will take advantage of that opportunity & I know I can help a team win games. I am extremely competitive & am eager to learn, improve my weaknesses, take on any role/task/challenge that I am given, and continue to prove people wrong. I set high expectations for myself and with that the work ethic to reach those expectations and achieve those goals. In me you’d be getting a reliable, coachable man who is determined and dedicated to his craft.
Thank you to anyone who took the time to read & learn more about who I am.