Travis Daniels
Encyclopedia
Travis Antwon Daniels is an American football
cornerback
for the Kansas City Chiefs
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins
in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Louisiana State
.
Daniels has also been a member of the Cleveland Browns
.
in South Florida. As a senior, he recorded 60 tackles and five interceptions as a defensive back
, while catching 34 passes for 500 yards and four touchdown
s as a wide receiver
. He returned one kickoff for a touchdown and returned an interception for a score as well. For his performance, he was named First Team 4A All-State, All-District and All-County.
in the SEC Championship game. He was forced into action after an injury to Randall Gay
. Prior to his appearance, he was going to redshirt his freshman year. When asked about giving up his redshirt, he said, "I play for the name on my helmet, not the name on the back of my jersey." During the game, he broke up two passes including one in the end zone, but did not record any tackles. In a Sugar Bowl
win over Illinois
, Daniels played but did not accumulate any statistics.
Daniels was a top backup in the Tigers' secondary as a sophomore, seeing most of his time in nickel and dime packages. A hamstring
injury shortened his season, but he did appear in five games in 2002. On the year, Daniels recorded three tackles, including one for a loss. He also broke up one pass and had two quarterback hurries.
Daniels stepped into a starting role in 2003, opening all 14 games for the Tigers as a junior. He started the first six games of the season at free safety before moving to cornerback for the final eight contests after the emergence of LaRon Landry
. Daniels recorded 58 tackles, including 6.5 for losses, two sacks, three quarterback hurries and two interceptions. He also led the Tigers with 26 pass breakups. His first interception came just before halftime in a win over Mississippi State
, which he returned 48 yards for a score. His other interception came against Arizona
.
Daniels set a season-high with seven tackles in a September game against Georgia
. In the aforementioned game against Mississippi State, Daniels six tackles, a sack and a forced fumble to his interception. In the BCS National Championship
win over Oklahoma
, he recorded four tackles including one for a two-yard loss.
In 2004, Daniels and fellow senior Corey Webster
combined to form one top cornerback tandems in the nation. Daniels started all 12 games for the Tigers, finishing his career with 26 straight starts. Against Iowa
in the Capital One Bowl
, he tallied seven tackles. Daniels finished the season with 48 tackles and nine pass break-ups. He participated in the Senior Bowl
in Mobile, Alabama
following the season.
, who was in his first season as head coach of the Dolphins in 2005. Daniels was one of three SEC
players chosen by the Dolphins in 2005. He signed a four-year contract with the Dolphins on July 22. The deal included a $458,000 signing bonus, and also a potential $1.4 million incentive bonus in the final year (2008).
As a rookie in 2005, Daniels appeared in all 16 games for the Dolphins including 14 starts that tied for the team record for a rookie defensive back. Along with Ronnie Brown
and Channing Crowder
, it marked the first time since 1996 that three or more Dolphins rookies started a minimum of 10 games. Daniels recorded 61 (47 solo) tackles on the year, a figure that ranked fifth on the team and second among defensive backs behind only Lance Schulters
' 77. He also added an interception, a fumble recovery and 13 passes defensed. His first career interception came in the season opener, when he picked off a Jake Plummer
pass in the fourth quarter of a 34-10 win over the Denver Broncos
. His lone fumble recovery came after linebacker Channing Crowder forced the ball from then-Atlanta Falcons
fullback
Justin Griffith
.
In 2006, an ankle
injury caused Daniels to miss the entire preseason as well as the first four games of the regular season. He went on to appear in the team's final 12 contests, starting six. On the year, racked up 36 tackles, an interception and two passes defensed. His lone interception came against the Tennessee Titans
on September 24, as he picked off a Kerry Collins
pass at the Dolphins’ 31 with less than two minutes remaining in the game to preserve a 13-10 win. Daniels record a season-high eight tackles in the season finale against the Indianapolis Colts
.
acquired Daniels from the Dolphins in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft
.
on March 10, 2009. He was waived on September 4. He was re-signed on November 4.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
for the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Louisiana State
LSU Tigers football
The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. Since 1999 when Nick Saban took over as...
.
Daniels has also been a member of the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
Daniels attended South Broward High SchoolSouth Broward High School
South Broward High School is a Marine Science Magnet school located in the Royal Poinciana neighborhood of Hollywood, Florida. The school is a part of the Broward County Public Schools district....
in South Florida. As a senior, he recorded 60 tackles and five interceptions as a defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
, while catching 34 passes for 500 yards and four touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s as a wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
. He returned one kickoff for a touchdown and returned an interception for a score as well. For his performance, he was named First Team 4A All-State, All-District and All-County.
College career
As a freshman at LSU in 2001, Daniels saw his first action of the season against TennesseeTennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
in the SEC Championship game. He was forced into action after an injury to Randall Gay
Randall Gay
Randall "Blue" Jerome Gay, Jr. is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football at Louisiana State...
. Prior to his appearance, he was going to redshirt his freshman year. When asked about giving up his redshirt, he said, "I play for the name on my helmet, not the name on the back of my jersey." During the game, he broke up two passes including one in the end zone, but did not record any tackles. In a Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
win over Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini football
The Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51...
, Daniels played but did not accumulate any statistics.
Daniels was a top backup in the Tigers' secondary as a sophomore, seeing most of his time in nickel and dime packages. A hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
injury shortened his season, but he did appear in five games in 2002. On the year, Daniels recorded three tackles, including one for a loss. He also broke up one pass and had two quarterback hurries.
Daniels stepped into a starting role in 2003, opening all 14 games for the Tigers as a junior. He started the first six games of the season at free safety before moving to cornerback for the final eight contests after the emergence of LaRon Landry
LaRon Landry
LaRon Louis Landry is an American football strong safety for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Redskins sixth overall in the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisiana State...
. Daniels recorded 58 tackles, including 6.5 for losses, two sacks, three quarterback hurries and two interceptions. He also led the Tigers with 26 pass breakups. His first interception came just before halftime in a win over Mississippi State
Mississippi State Bulldogs
The Mississippi State Bulldogs are the athletic teams of Mississippi State University. They participate in NCAA's Division I in the competitive 12-member Southeastern Conference under the mascot Bulldogs and the school colors of maroon and white...
, which he returned 48 yards for a score. His other interception came against Arizona
Arizona Wildcats
-Athletic program:The University of Arizona participates in the NCAA's Division I-A in the Pacific-12 Conference Arizona participates in the conference's South Division, along with Arizona State, Colorado, UCLA, USC, and Utah...
.
Daniels set a season-high with seven tackles in a September game against Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
. In the aforementioned game against Mississippi State, Daniels six tackles, a sack and a forced fumble to his interception. In the BCS National Championship
BCS National Championship Game
The BCS National Championship Game, or BCS National Championship, is the final bowl game of the annual Bowl Championship Series and is intended by the organizers of the BCS to determine the U.S. national champion of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision...
win over Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
, he recorded four tackles including one for a two-yard loss.
In 2004, Daniels and fellow senior Corey Webster
Corey Webster
Corey Jonas Webster is an American football cornerback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisiana State University.-High school career:Webster attended St. James High...
combined to form one top cornerback tandems in the nation. Daniels started all 12 games for the Tigers, finishing his career with 26 straight starts. Against Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes football
The Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
in the Capital One Bowl
Capital One Bowl
The Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl...
, he tallied seven tackles. Daniels finished the season with 48 tackles and nine pass break-ups. He participated in the Senior Bowl
Senior Bowl
The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
in Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
following the season.
Pre-draft
At LSU's Pro Day in March 2005, Daniels was clocked at 4.57 and 4.55 in the 40-yard dash, had a 37-inch vertical jump, 10-foot-2 long jump, 4.07 short shuttle and 6.86 three-cone drill.Miami Dolphins
On April 24, Daniels was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round (104th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft. At LSU, Daniels was recruited by and played for Nick SabanNick Saban
Nicholas Lou "Nick" Saban is the head coach of the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football team. Saban has previously served as head coach of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins and three other NCAA universities: LSU, Michigan State and Toledo...
, who was in his first season as head coach of the Dolphins in 2005. Daniels was one of three SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
players chosen by the Dolphins in 2005. He signed a four-year contract with the Dolphins on July 22. The deal included a $458,000 signing bonus, and also a potential $1.4 million incentive bonus in the final year (2008).
As a rookie in 2005, Daniels appeared in all 16 games for the Dolphins including 14 starts that tied for the team record for a rookie defensive back. Along with Ronnie Brown
Ronnie Brown
Ronnie G. Brown, Jr. is an American football running back for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . After graduating from Cartersville High School in Georgia, Brown attended Auburn University to play college football for the Auburn Tigers...
and Channing Crowder
Channing Crowder
Randolph Channing Crowder, Jr. is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League . He played college football for the University of Florida, and was recognized as an All-American...
, it marked the first time since 1996 that three or more Dolphins rookies started a minimum of 10 games. Daniels recorded 61 (47 solo) tackles on the year, a figure that ranked fifth on the team and second among defensive backs behind only Lance Schulters
Lance Schulters
Lance A. Schulters is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
' 77. He also added an interception, a fumble recovery and 13 passes defensed. His first career interception came in the season opener, when he picked off a Jake Plummer
Jake Plummer
Jason Steven "Jake" Plummer is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona State....
pass in the fourth quarter of a 34-10 win over the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. His lone fumble recovery came after linebacker Channing Crowder forced the ball from then-Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
Justin Griffith
Justin Griffith
Justin Montrel Griffith is an American football fullback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
.
In 2006, an ankle
Ankle
The ankle joint is formed where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot...
injury caused Daniels to miss the entire preseason as well as the first four games of the regular season. He went on to appear in the team's final 12 contests, starting six. On the year, racked up 36 tackles, an interception and two passes defensed. His lone interception came against the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
on September 24, as he picked off a Kerry Collins
Kerry Collins
Kerry Michael Collins is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the fifth overall pick of the 1995 NFL Draft, the first choice in the franchise's history...
pass at the Dolphins’ 31 with less than two minutes remaining in the game to preserve a 13-10 win. Daniels record a season-high eight tackles in the season finale against the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
.
Cleveland Browns
On August 20, 2008, the Cleveland BrownsCleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
acquired Daniels from the Dolphins in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
.
Kansas City Chiefs
Daniels was signed by the Kansas City ChiefsKansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
on March 10, 2009. He was waived on September 4. He was re-signed on November 4.