Sixth-year senior wide receiver CJ Daniels has forged a remarkable path through college football — and now he’s back on one of the sport’s brightest stages: the Fiesta Bowl, his second career appearance in the New Year’s Six bowl games.
Daniels first tasted that big-game spotlight in 2024, lining up for Liberty University against Oregon, where he was the Flames’ leading target and eclipsed 1,959 receiving yards on the season with eight catches for 79 yards in Glendale, Arizona.
“It was amazing. That was probably one of my first biggest bowl games. I was at Liberty at the time. Coming from Conference USA, it was definitely a blessing to be in a game like that,” CJ Daniels said.
This time, Daniels arrives not as a Group of Five star but as a centerpiece of a Miami Hurricanes offense hungry for playoff glory. After an accomplished career at Liberty – 19 starts, 106 receiving catches and 21 touchdowns — and a productive season at LSU, where he caught 42 passes for 480 yards, Daniels chose Miami for his final season of eligibility, bringing experience and swagger to South Florida’s receiver room.
What Daniels has meant to Miami in 2025 goes far beyond mere catches and yardage. In a year that has seen the Hurricanes rise to College Football Playoff relevance, Daniels has been a steady technical presence and cultural leader.
His early-season one-handed touchdown catch against Notre Dame — a play that quickly went viral and earned national highlight honors — gave Miami momentum and belief that they could compete with storied programs.
On the field, he’s been a reliable option for quarterback Carson Beck, hauling in key receptions throughout the season and helping stretch defenses with his size and savvy route-running. In the Cotton Bowl quarterfinal win over Ohio State, Daniels’ clutch catches — including a pivotal third-down conversion late in the game — helped seal a signature victory and propel Miami into the Fiesta Bowl semifinal.
But Daniels’ influence doesn’t stop at statistics. Coaches and teammates credit him with teaching younger players how to prepare, study film, and carry themselves like professionals. Off the field, his academic success and community work reflect the kind of leadership Miami wants to foster in its program.
Now, as he prepares for his second Fiesta Bowl — this time with a legitimate shot at a national title — Daniels embodies Miami’s resurgence: brash, talented and unafraid of the spotlight.
His journey from Liberty standout to Hurricanes cornerstone is not just a story of personal triumph, but a reflection of Miami’s renewed identity — one built on experience, resilience, and big-moment playmakers.
