After overcoming injuries and transferring, CJ Daniels finds a new NFL home with the Los Angeles Rams, aiming to carve out a role alongside established stars.
The Miami Hurricanes' wide receiver core primarily shone through homegrown star Malachi Toney throughout a historic freshman season: catching a nation-high 109 passes for 1,211 yards, scoring 13 total touchdowns in 16 games, 15 starts. However, he had a valuable mentor in CJ Daniels. The Lilburn, Georgia, native joined the program through the transfer portal, seeking an expanded role.
The 24-year-old made a significant first impression after a one-handed touchdown catch in the home and season opener against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Daniels will look to carve out more electrifying plays after being selected by the Los Angeles Rams with the 197th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The wide receiver’s collegiate career began with the Liberty Flames, a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. He spent four seasons with the program, but began to battle significant injuries before departing.
Daniels caught 106 passes for 1,959 yards, scoring 21 touchdowns in 42 games, 20 starts, as a member of the Flames. He dealt with injuries as a redshirt sophomore, resulting in limited action on the field. Afterwards, Daniels entered the transfer portal and joined the LSU Tigers.
After one year in the Southeastern Conference, the redshirt senior caught 42 passes for 480 yards, didn’t score a touchdown, but appeared in 11 games, 10 starts. The Tigers went 9-4 overall and missed the College Football Playoffs.
Daniels had extra NCAA eligibility left and utilized it to join the Hurricanes as a sixth-year graduate. He went on to have a productive season: 50 catches for 557 yards, scoring seven touchdowns in 13 games, 12 starts.
The Rams are coming off a 12-5 season, losing in the NFC Championship game to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks. They had one of the best offenses in the league, recording 4,707 receiving yards and 46 touchdowns, both top two in each category.
Daniels joins a wide receiver core featuring a couple of All-Pros in Davante Adams and Puca Nacua. The sixth-round prospect will unlikely start, but will have an opportunity to compete for a rotational role.
The 24-year-old has overcome personal adversity, mainly battling with injuries, but closed a six-year chapter in the biggest stage of college football. He will embark on a new journey on the West Coast. However, the work isn’t done as Daniels will likely need to prove himself to earn a roster spot for the upcoming NFL season.
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