2027 QB Daniel Mielke is a rising prospect that's looking closely at national programs

Fontana (Calif.) Ontario Christian quarterback Daniel Mielke did not start his football career under center. He played right tackle for six years and believed he would eventually line up as a wide receiver or tight end.

Instead, Mielke became a quarterback in sixth grade. He remembers throwing during a training session and since that day, “there’s never been a question” on what position he wanted to play.

“I love being in the leadership role and the person that’s controlling the offense,” Mielke told On3. “That’s a really big deal to me. Creating leaders was something growing up that was a big deal to me and my family.” 

Mielke has already visited Georgia, LSU and Michigan and has another trip scheduled to the Wolverines for April 5. He will also be at Notre Dame on April 3. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound signal-caller also hopes to see Florida and Florida State in the future. 

Growing up, Mielke watched Peyton Manning and is trying to model his game and leadership after the Hall of Fame quarterback. As he continues finding success on the field, he is excited to see where his recruitment takes him. 

“I want to go to a school that is going to develop me for the next level,” Mielke said. “My dream is to play in the NFL, so whatever school is going to make me into that better player and is going to help me play at the highest stage, that’s the biggest part for me.”

Georgia has already made a strong impression on Mielke

Mielke has visited Georgia multiple times. He attended the Bulldogs’ win over Tennessee on Nov. 5, 2022 and returned to Athens on June 9. 

“I would say Georgia is one of the most meticulous schools,” Mielke said. “They do everything right at that school. Every little detail is taken care of. I love the southern vibe of that place… I am interested in playing down south and playing in the SEC. I think Georgia is one of those schools that really embodies SEC football.” 

Mielke was close with Todd Monken before he left Georgia for the Baltimore Ravens, but has since established a connection with offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo. He called Bobo “an amazing guy” and very intelligent about the game of football. 

Michigan, Notre Dame and LSU also have Mielke’s attention

The California native, who wants to visit the Bulldogs again, is excited for his upcoming visits to Michigan and Notre Dame. He is looking forward to meeting with the Fighting Irish’s coaches in person and learning more about them. 

Like Bobo, Mielke expressed high praise for Wolverines offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell and complemented his football knowledge. The quarterback has previously made two trips to Ann Arbor, including one for a game at The Big House.

“They consistently have one of the best, if not the best, o-line,” Mielke said. “There’s no secret that those guys are amazing at recruiting. They’re amazing in the weight room. Their facilities are beautiful.”

LSU, who hosted Mielke on Oct. 21 and June 7, is also making a strong push for the signal-caller. Mielke likes that Louisiana is “a very nice place” and the success of Tigers offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan, who is a “big part” of his interest in the SEC program. 

“He’s a younger guy, so he’s very ambitious when it comes to the quarterbacks that he’s bringing in,” Mielke said. “There’s no secret that he’s put up some amazing quarterbacks. One of the big things I liked about LSU was that they have this insane staff just centered around quarterbacks. If I was going for a lot of development, it would be at LSU.”