2024 State commit Johnnie Daniels set for future in Starkville
Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Johnnie Daniels was the first 2024 prospect to commit to Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby. This past weekend the On3 three-star prospect was back in Starkville to talk more with Lebby and his staff via his official visit.
For Daniels, the visit was more of a chance to get a lay of the land and to feel comfortable with the place he will spend the next two years. Daniels is rated as the nation’s No. 1 juco running back and the nation’s No. 25 overall juco prospect by On3.
“It was a fun experience just being on campus,” Daniels explained. “It was good to be on campus just to see how everything goes. It was really smooth. I really like it there and it felt like home.”
With Lebby, Daniels said those conversations were not really about football. It was moreso about life after football.
“It was a great time with Coach Lebby,” recalled the 5-foot-10 and 200-pound Daniels. “We talked about football but we mainly talked about life. He said this thing is bigger than football. So I am looking forward to him helping me with life as well as my football career.”
This past season, the Crystal Springs native led the in-state juco ranks with 1,253 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, and he also totaled 23 catches for 209 yards and two touchdowns. During his visit, he got to talk about his future as a Bulldog with running backs coach Anthony Tucker, as well.
“Coach Tucker is a great coach,” Daniels mentioned. “He knows what he is doing. With my game, he said I can turn around a game with just one play. He said if the defense makes one mistake then I can take it 80 yards or 90 yards to the end zone.”
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Daniels also gathered more knowledge about State’s offense under Lebby from his player host. And one of his hosts has taken a similar path that Daniels has experienced on the gridiron.
“I had Jeffrey Pittman and Mike Wright as my hosts,” said Daniels. “I’ve been watching Pittman since juco, basically. We always kept in touch with each other since juco so we already had a relationship. He said the program is good now because the offense is not what it used to be and that it is a different scheme. He said it is more spread now and more open field that you can get loose in.”
While Daniels’ visit gave him a good view of what he will experience at State, it still hasn’t registered with him regarding his next chapter. But he expects that to happen when he enrolls in January.
“It hasn’t hit home yet,” noted Daniels about enrolling in January. “It will probably hit home when I get there for good. I am just taking it day by day right now.”
