JMU Football Commit D.J. Daniels to Play Minor League Baseball

D.J. Daniels was a prized recruit for JMU football. He’s a dynamic QB who wasn’t slated to start this Fall, but had enough talent that many people thought he’d find his way onto the field somehow. Daniels is also an excellent baseball player. In addition to playing football at JMU, he was going to suit up for Martin Ikenberry’s Diamond Dukes. Now he’ll be doing neither. The Toronto Blue Jays selected Daniels in the 6th round of the Major League Baseball Draft. Daniels announced that that he’s going to forego college and pursue a career in pro baseball. The Blue Jays offered him a $300,000 signing bonus and he’s taking it to play.

This is a big opportunity for D.J. and we wish him well. But it’s also a big blow to JMU football, and obviously to JMU baseball as well. Daniels is an athletic QB with a big arm. He played in a fast paced offense in high school that would have helped him transition to JMU and the FCS. However, $300K is a lot of money for a high school kid. It’s a lot of money for anyone. And with it comes a chance to play major league baseball. We were looking forward to him playing in Bridgeforth on Saturdays, but there’s no faulting a kid for pursuing his dream. We’ll be rooting for him.