BHFAN Posted January 3, 2008 Report Posted January 3, 2008 Congrats To Chris!!By Michael PinedaBaytown Sun Published January 2, 2008Since graduating from Barbers Hill in the spring of 2006, Chris Daniels has pursued a dream to play college football.It’s been an uphill battle for the three-year starting quarterback for the Eagles since he blew his knee out in the fourth game of his senior season against Diboll.The work came to fruition this winter when the United States Military Academy offered Daniels the chance to join the team and receive an education.“I am going to get a chance to play Division I football, which has always been a dream of mine and the education is considered to be at the same level as the Ivy League,†Daniels said. “The experience is one that you can’t get anywhere else.â€To say Daniels’ road to West Point is the road less traveled would be something of an understatement.Daniels has attended two community colleges and spent a semester as a member of the football team at Universidad de Anahuac in Cancun, Mexico, working toward an opportunity to play football at the collegiate level.Working out in a church basement in Pittsburgh, Pa., and at a local high school, Daniels enlisted the help of his sister and brother who filmed his workouts.Since graduating from Barbers Hill, Daniels has grown to 6 feet, 212 pounds, up from the 185 pounds he graduated at. In rehabbing his knee, Daniels has maintained his speed in the forty running a 4.6.“There were some Ivy League schools that kept in touch and I sent them film last spring,†Daniels said. “They wanted to see more film this fall once I got up to speed with my knee.“West Point liked my film and invited me to watch them play Rutgers. It was about 28 degrees, raining and windy, but people stayed on their feet the whole time.“It is such a historic place and the facilities are top notch.â€The visit to the academy was followed by an in-home visit. After weighing his options, the decision was a no-brainer for Daniels. “I know they are going to give me a shot at quarterback,†Daniels said. “When I was working out, I never thought I would get a shot to play quarterback because of the two-year layoff. “They have recruited four quarterbacks this year and if I wind up at defensive back, that is fine. I am still in the process of filling out some papers, but I have taken a physical and a fitness test.“The football team takes care of the recommendations from Congress, which is kind of a weird thing because they didn’t know whether to get one from Pennsylvania or Texas, because I have not been in Pennsylvania very long.â€Ironically, one of the incoming quarterback recruits for Army is Lee senior Josh Jones, who committed to the Academy in the fall.During Daniels’ senior season at Barbers Hill, he was receiving looks from several universities, but a season-ending injury in the fourth game of the year cost him a shot at a scholarship.Looking to continue his career, Daniels, along with several Houston area high school football players, accepted an offer to play football for the Universidad de Anahuac in Cancun. Daniels saw action in one game before coming back to Texas.“They had just started the football program and tried to do too many things at once,†Daniels said. “It was underdeveloped and I left after one semester.“It’s one thing to go off to school and even more difficult to go to a school where they don’t speak your language.â€When Daniels returned from Mexico, Bayer transferred his father to Pittsburgh. After finishing a semester at Lee College, Daniels moved with his family to Pittsburgh where he was considering walking on to the football teams at either Pittsburgh or Penn State.Daniels was attending the Community College of Allegheny County for a semester with the intention of enrolling at either university once he qualified for in-state tuition.Once Army made the offer, Daniels took into consideration not only football, but also life after football.“In high school I never showed a lot of interest in the service academies,†Daniels said. “Air Force had talked to coach Price (Barbers Hill coach Don Price), but it seemed like too much of a commitment.“But now I realize that it is a great opportunity. I probably won’t look at it as a four-year commitment. It is an honor to serve your country.â€
MHS32 Posted January 3, 2008 Report Posted January 3, 2008 It sure was good to read the news about Chris. He is a super good kid and left some good memories here at The Hill. Army got them a good one no matter what position he plays. GOOD JOB CHRIS !!!!!!!
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