Jokes have been made this offseason that B.J. Daniels, the star senior quarterback for the Bulls, is entering his 10th year as the starter. While he has been on campus for many years, he has been one of the most productive players in the young program's history and with a big season ahead, could leave a mark among the best signal callers in program history, but what will that mark be and how does it compare to the other quarterbacks in the program's history?
To understand Daniels place in history, we have to take a step back and look back at the quarterback that really brought the program that a started as a Division 2 team back in 1997 to the forefront of the Tampa community and really changed the way the Bulls were scene by everyone not only in the state, but the nation as the new program began, Marquel Blackwell. Blackwell, the first big time name for the Bulls, but up numbers that have stood the test of time and continue to be the gold standard for quarterbacks rising up. In 1999, in his first full season, he completed 136 passes out of 262 attempts for 1620 yards including 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, he also carried the ball 93 times for 126 yards and 3 scores. He didn't run too much, but moved in the pocket well and got the job done. In 2000, Blackwell continued to progress, completing 171 passes out of 291 attempts for 2016 yards including 13 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions, getting better with his decision making. He also carried the ball 128 times for 566 yards and 3 scores, becoming a more balanced attacker. In 2001, he increased his work load, completing 258 passes out of 456 attempts for 2888 yards and 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He ran 92 times for 241 yards and 9 touchdowns as he became the heart and soul of the offense. In his final season in 2002, he completed 230 passes out of 408 attempts for 2590 yards including 18 touchdowns and 3 interceptions and ran 89 times for 302 yards and 5 touchdowns. Blackwell was the first real big star for the Bulls as the moved their way from a tailor in the back of campus to a real, D1 program that would begin to upset foes and make a name for itself.
After Blackwell, there was Ronnie Banks in 2003 and Pat Julmiste in 2004 and 2005 that looked like a running back out of place under center for the team. But in 2006, when Julmiste went down with an injury for the season, a new star rose to top and became the second great legend at quarterback for the Bulls and his numbers eclipsed Blackwell's stellar career, Matt Grothe.
When Grothe took over in 2006, he completed 202 passes out of 317 attempts for 2576 yards, 15 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, carrying the ball 178 times for 622 yards and 9 touchdowns. Grothe showed a knack for escaping danger with his legs, extending plays and rushing for yardage. The offense became tailored for him, allowing him to become the main runner, either passing to his first target or pulling it down and running for it, putting up big numbers along the line. In 2007, he completed 232 passes out of 392 attempts for 2670 yards including 14 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, rushing 198 times for 872 yards and 10 touchdowns, gaining recognition across the nation for his big play ability and leading the Bulls in their upset win over Auburn that season. In 2008, Grothe completed 240 passes out of 380 attempts for 2911 yards including 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, rushing 146 times for 591 yards and 4 touchdowns, becoming a more consistent passer and not rushing for it as much (Daniels completed 4 out of 5 passes that season for 86 yards that season). In 2009, what should have been his biggest year as a senior was ended early against Stony Brook. Before he went down with an ACL injury, he completed 43 out of 59 attempts for 512 yards, including 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, rushing the ball 23 times for 121 yards. As he went down, our man, B.J. Daniels took over, completing 122 passes out of 227 attempts that season for 1983 yards, 14 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, rushing the ball 175 times for 772 yards and 9 total touchdowns.
Daniels is 2010, with limited receivers on the depth chart, completed 143 passes out of 245 attempts for 1685 yards including 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, rushing 122 times for 259 yards and 5 touchdowns, struggling a bit in his second season as the starter, but in 2011, he produced more numbers despite the 5-7 finish to the season. Last year, he completed 215 attempts out of 365 attempts for 2585 yards, 13 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, rushing 132 times for 601 yards and 6 touchdowns.
With his production, Daniels has the potential to become the all time yardage leader in Big East history, beating Matt Grothe, but beyond the numbers, where does Daniels stand on the ranks of all time quarterbacks (before the season begins)?
To my eyes, Blackwell was the foundation setter for the Bulls. As the team was working its way out of a trailer Blackwell put the program on the map with his arm and legs, leading the team to wins and into Conference USA and D1 as the team moved up the ranks in college history. His numbers were great and no one else has been able to come close to those. He was our first quarterback that produced big time numbers and will always be remembered for years to come. Grothe is the next name and he is the guy that came into the program as a 2-star recruit, never had the strongest arm in the world, but made it happened, overachieving and leading to the big expectation for the program. Grothe was the first quarterback to lead upsets over ranked teams and had the fans out of their seats and storming the field, rising above his skill set and becoming a big name and continues to see his jersey number being worn all over the campus.
This is where Daniels steps in. Where does he stand and rank with the other two big names under center? Blackwell, the foundation layer and Grothe, the overachiever and program riser. Daniels over his career has had a lot of expectations with the standards set by the other two before him and so far, he has been average, not stepping back but not stepping forward. This season, Daniels has the potential to step the program up and become the man to break through and raise the program to the level of conference champion and even more.
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