DURHAM, N.C. — Wide receiver Roderick Daniels Jr. has been one of SMU’s most versatile players this season, but after his performance last week against Stanford, he needed a redemption game.
Daniels, who serves as SMU’s punt returner, turned the ball over twice on special teams in SMU’s 40-10 win over Stanford on the West Coast. As solid as he’s been all year at both running back and wide receiver, he was unable to catch a break on special teams.
Against Duke Saturday, Daniels followed that performance up with a career day.
SMU wide receiver Jake Bailey went down with an injury in the first half of the 28-27 overtime win, depleting a wide receiver room that was already missing Romello Brinson. Quarterback Kevin Jennings was also without one of his top receiving targets, tight end RJ Maryland, for the first time this year due to a season-ending knee injury.
SMU head coach Lashlee decided Daniels, who has appeared on the depth chart as a running back these last few weeks due to injuries in that room, would move back to his former position.
“Roderick Daniels has not taken a snap at receiver in over a month,” Lashlee said postgame. “As soon as Jake got hurt, he went back to receiver without taking a single snap. That’s how smart he is. That’s what a football player, that’s what a team guy is. All he does is have two massive explosive plays.”
Daniels needed just two receptions to set a career-high in receiving yards with 153. He used his speed on both plays to beat all Duke defenders near him, the first going for 72 yards and the second going 81 yards to the house.
Won't catch him! 👀
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) October 27, 2024
Roderick Daniels Jr. goes 81-yards to the house!
📺 @accnetwork x @SMUFB pic.twitter.com/F5TaUX9TMw
Daniels nearly had a touchdown on the first play but was ruled down at the 1-yard line. SMU was unable to punch it in on four consecutive plays after. But the next drive, he and Jennings connected again for the deep touchdown.
“He’s a dog,” Jennings said of Daniels. “We can put him at running back, receiver, anything, he’s gonna make a play. He stepped up. We had a guy [go] down, he stepped up, and it was some big-time plays in the game.”
Daniels also had two returns on special teams for 13 total yards and one rush for six yards.
“He’s just a winner, man, and that’s what he’s been these last three years here for us,” Lashlee said.
Twitter: @lassimak
