'09 GA DT Eric McDaniel (Purdue Verbal)

[GoRU]

'09 GA DT Eric McDaniel



Defensive tackle
Calhoun (GA) Calhoun

Ht: 6-foot-2
Wt: 295 lbs
Forty: 5 secs
Bench max: 365 pounds
Squat max: 550 pounds
Vertical: 27 inches
GPA: 2.7
Class: 2009 (High School)

ESPN

McDaniel is a disruptive presence in the trenches. He has good size and moves well for a kid around 300 pounds. He needs to hug the line of scrimmage more when he gets in his stance and needs to be more consistent in his get-off, but he will flash the ability to be explosive at times coming off the ball. He can make contact and knock a blocker back on his heels. He will shoot his hands, but at times will be more like a battering ram and get a little overextended. Needs to be more consistent with his hands, but displays the ability to quickly shed. He can get some penetration in the backfield, but also does a good job of being able to keep his pads down, get in a gap, and hold his ground. Does a good job of not blindly running up-field when he gets free. He breaks down, stays square locates the ball, and keeps himself in a position to make a play. He hustles around and is a solid tackler. He has adequate short-area change-of-direction skills. When he stays square and low, moves well laterally along the line of scrimmage. Like many linemen he needs to watch his pad level. When he gets high and does not quickly get off the ball he can be pushed back. He may not be a sack artist, but has the tools to be a guy that can apply pressure and rack up QB hurries. Has the ability to get push and collapse the pocket. He does a good job as he gets push, of working to the blockers shoulder, trying to work a move to separate, and bending to work past and to the quarterback. McDaniel has the makings of being a productive defensive tackle and could be a nice fit as a "three" technique in a 4-3 defense.

First offer for Calhoun DT | College recruiting | ajc.com

Calhoun defensive tackle Eric McDaniel’s first scholarship offer is from an ACC program.

“Eric got his first offer last week, and it came from N.C. State,” Calhoun coach Hal Lamb said Wednesday evening. “And I feel there are three others - Georgia Tech, Louisville and UAB - that are close to offering.”

Spring practice at Calhoun concluded on Tuesday. McDaniel’s schedule allowed him to participate on a limited basis.

“Eric didn’t practice until the two last two days because he runs track,” Lamb said. “But those two days, we couldn’t block him.

“I think he’s really matured and this recruiting stuff has opened his eyes. He’s turned it up a notch in the classroom and on the field. I really expect him to have a big year.”

Coaches from Auburn, Louisville and Tech have stopped by Calhoun recently to get a glimpse of the 6-foot-2, 297-pound McDaniel.

[GoRU]

N.C. State among those to offer for Calhoun DL | College recruiting | ajc.com

Calhoun’s Eric McDaniel recently landed scholarship offers from East Carolina, N.C. State, Louisville and UAB.

And Alabama, Auburn and Clemson continue to inquire about the 6-foot-2, 297-pound defensive lineman.

“Auburn is probably the one showing the most interest right now from those three schools,” Calhoun coach Hal Lamb said. “But he’s really fired up about N.C. State, East Carolina and Louisville.”

There would likely be more offers for McDaniel had he been able to play his more natural position last fall and participate in all of spring practice.

“He’s probably a sleeper just because we played him out of position last year [at defensive tackle],” Lamb said. “He’ll play at nose for us this year, and I think he’ll dominate at that position.

“We had a lot of coaches come by to see him at spring practice. The only problem was he qualified for the state track meet and he only got out there with us for a couple of days.”

[HotMic]

Scout $

7/6

By B Hayes. Purdue has offered and Eric says he is very excited about it. He knows they are thin at his position, and early playing time will be a very important factor. Louisville (offer) leads Pudue (offer), NC State (offer), Alabama (no offer) and Auburn (no offer).

[GoRU]

Louisville and N.C. State top choices for Calhoun DT | College recruiting | ajc.com

Calhoun defensive tackle Eric McDaniel will likely accept a scholarship offer from Louisville or N.C. State during the upcoming season.

The 6-foot-2, 290-pound lineman had been rumored to be on the verge of a commitment to the Cardinals last month. But McDaniel has decided to take a close look at the Wolfpack.

“[Louisville and N.C. State] are the front-runners,” Calhoun coach Hal Lamb said. “He’ll visit N.C. State this fall before deciding. But he’s also going to visit Purdue, and probably East Carolina.”

McDaniel, who logged 52 tackles and three sacks during his junior season, also has an offer from UAB.

“He had a great summer,” Lamb said. “I think he’ll do well this season. I’m looking forward to coaching him.”

[GoRU]

Calhoun DT schedules official visit to Purdue | College recruiting | ajc.com

Calhoun defensive tackle Eric McDaniel (6-foot-2, 295 pounds) said Tuesday night that he has scheduled an official visit to Purdue on Sept. 19.

Purdue is one of four schools that have made scholarship offers to McDaniel, who was selected to the AJC’s The Georgia 150 list. The other three are Louisville, North Carolina State and East Carolina. McDaniel said he is scheduled to meet with a Louisville assistant this week to set up a visit.

“I’d say Purdue and Louisville are in the lead because I have such a great relationship with the coaches who are recruiting me,” McDaniel said. “But I’ll probably [visit] N.C. State too, and East Carolina is still in the mix.”

McDaniel said Clemson and Central Florida have stepped up their recruiting of him lately, but neither has offered a scholarship.

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Georgia lineman commits to Purdue | www.jconline.com | Journal and Courier

By TOM KUBAT tkubat@jconline.com October 7, 2008

Eric McDaniel, a 6-foot-2, 295-pound defensive tackle from Calhoun, Ga., has verbally committed to play college football at Purdue.

McDaniel, who officially visited the campus the weekend of the Central Michigan game on Sept. 20, called the Boilermaker coaches with his decision Monday night.

"I picked Purdue because I feel like it's a great situation for me," McDaniel said. "I feel like West Lafayette is a great place to be, and the coaches and the players are great. Purdue is a great academic school, and they also win. They have a history of going to bowl games.

"It's a great place to be and it's a great fit. There's no need to look any further."

Purdue was his only official visit, but McDaniel also had scholarship offers from Alabama-Birmingham, Louisville, North Carolina State and East Carolina.

As a junior last season, he had 56 tackles, including seven for loss and three sacks. McDaniel, who has a 2.7 grade-point average, bench presses 365 pounds and squats 550 pounds. He has been timed in 5.0 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

Assistant coach Ed Zaunbrecher was McDaniel's primary recruiter.

The fact that this will be Joe Tiller's final season at Purdue, with offensive line coach Danny Hope taking over next year, was not an issue with McDaniel.

"It was fine, because this whole time 'coach Z' has been recruiting me, and I've also built a good relationship with coach Hope," McDaniel said.

"I feel like we're going to start on something together. I don't have any problems with the situation. I like coach Hope a lot."