Calhoun: McDaniel relishes move to tackle

Calhoun High School’s Eric McDaniel has already been noticed by several NCAA Division I football recruiters. Imagine what they’ll think when he gets to play his best position this year.

McDaniel is a 6-foot-2, 297-pound senior coming off a season as an end in the Yellow Jackets’ 3-5-3 defense. This year he is eager to move inside to his comfort zone.

Coach Hal Lamb said ends are a lot like tackles in Calhoun’s scheme, yet they’re asked to do some things expected of ends. He said McDaniel played there because the Yellow Jackets had a good nose tackle in Nick Davison, who signed with Alabama-Birmingham. The coach also said McDaniel had a good junior season despite being “a little bit out of his element.” He could flourish this season.

“He’s very, very hard to block one-on-one,” Lamb said. “We expect him to get double-teamed or triple-teamed. If that’s the case, that should free some of our other players.”

McDaniel’s father, Michael, was a running back at Adairsville High School. Eric was never considered for anything but line since he began playing when he was 10 in Cartersville. He’s played some offense through the years but has been a fixture on defense.

“My dad played and I was pretty big, so with my size I figured I’d try it, and I liked it,” McDaniel said. “I was always pretty good. In eighth grade I started to get stronger. I noticed how physical and fast I was getting, too.”

McDaniel’s steady progress has led to pursuits from college programs including East Carolina, Louisville, UAB, Purdue and North Carolina State.

On his selection to the Times Free Press Dynamite Dozen, McDaniel said: “It’s an honor to be put in a category with the best in the area.”

Fourth-quarter conditioning and improving his work with his hands are areas where he wants to improve. He’s Rivals’ No. 56-ranked prospect in Georgia.

“He really hasn’t reached his potential,” Lamb said. “He’s really got a lot of upside.”