PREP FOOTBALL: Central's Daniel headed to Stanford

Central quarterback Darren Daniel, shown here during the Red Devils' win over Smiths Station last season, has committed to play football at Stanford University.

By: David Morrison | Opelika Auburn News
Published: January 19, 2010

Central’s Darren Daniel has committed to play football at Stanford University next year.

Daniel, a 6-foot-4, 185-pound quarterback, is a three-star recruit according to Rivals.com and a two-star recruit according to Scout.com.

He passed for 813 yards and seven touchdowns, along with rushing for 272 and three scores, helping lead the Red Devils to a 10-2 record and past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

Daniel said he took his official visit to the Pac-10 school over the weekend.

“The great academics and Coach (Jim) Harbaugh,” Daniel said of the reasons for his decision. “He’s a great quarterbacks coach, played quarterback in the NFL and has a lot of good connections.”

Daniel, who is the leading scorer for the No. 6 Red Devils’ basketball team, said he will also be playing basketball for the Cardinal.

He was also weighing offers from schools such as Clemson, Southern Miss, Troy, UAB and Vanderbilt, according to Rivals.

Daniel is the eighth area player to commit to an FBS — or future FBS — school for football this season, after Opelika running back Corey Grant (Alabama), Auburn High quarterback Calvin Jenkins and defensive tackle Rodney Thomas, and Central offensive lineman Ucambre Williams (South Alabama), Auburn offensive linemen Taylor Peterson (Southern Miss) and John Hix (UAB) and Tallassee running back Mike Smith (Troy).