Former Ohio State All-American may be partially to thank for big transfer portal addition by the Buckeyes

As a kid in Ohio, he cheered for the Buckeyes, though he didn’t receive an offer from OSU after high school. However, after two seasons at Minnesota, things changed. Daniels started the last four games at right tackle in 2024 for the Gophers and was expected to return as a starter in 2025. 

He visited Ohio State on Tuesday and quickly decided he wanted to play for the Buckeyes just a day later, without needing any other visits.

Gophers fans quickly got into their feelings after the announcement, not realizing the family ties between Daniels, Johnson, and the Buckeyes. They openly questioned whether tampering happened, and did not see that Daniels was on Ohio State's campus for multiple days.

This past season, Daniels played 300 offensive snaps for Minnesota, earning a 62.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. His pass blocking scored 65.4 and his run blocking was graded at 66.7, demonstrating similar performance in both areas. 

As the 2025 season approaches, he’s likely to be a leading candidate for a starting position at either left or right tackle for Ohio State. Daniels will have three seasons of eligibility left with the Buckeyes.

According to 247Sports' transfer portal rankings, the 6-foot-5, 315-pound Daniels is ranked as the No. 4 tackle in the portal. He was a three-star recruit in high school and received over 20 Division I offers, primarily from Group of Five programs.