Turf Show Times
The Los Angeles Rams and wide receiver CJ Daniels kept tabs on each other long before their paths crossed in the 2026 NFL draft.
Daniels, who Los Angeles traded up 10 spots with the Eagles to acquire in the sixth round, told the Rams’ official website that he models his game, specifically his releases, after Davante Adams and has also watched a bunch of Puka Nacua film. He added that the team has followed his game since his time at Liberty and LSU, and it was a “dream come true” to join the organization.
Both Daniels and the Rams seemed destined to intertwine at some point, even if the path there seemed never-ending.
After graduating from Parkview High School in Georgia, Daniels was especially well-traveled in his collegiate career. The first stop on his college tour took him to Liberty, where he had a quiet 2020 campaign with the Flames.
Then, the following season, he broke out with 634 receiving yards and seven touchdown receptions. Unfortunately, he was unable to capitalize on his stellar campaign as he tore his ACL on the first day of spring 2022 practices, sidelining him for much of the year.
However, in 2023, Daniels more than made up for lost time, as he recorded career highs in receptions (55), yards
(1,067) and touchdown receptions (10). He earned second-team Conference USA honors as Liberty began the season 13-0, highlighted by a 49-35 win over New Mexico State in the conference championship game. In that one, Daniels had perhaps the best game of his collegiate career, hauling in seven receptions for 157 yards and a 20-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.
Once Oregon finished fanning the Flames in that year’s Fiesta Bowl 45-6, Liberty’s lone blemish on an otherwise remarkable season, Daniels opted to enter the transfer portal for the first time. The next stop on his college tour took him around 970 miles from Lynchburg, Virginia, down to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Things started fine, given he was named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list ahead of the 2024 season. Daniels quickly figured out that the grass wasn’t greener at a significantly larger university against SEC competition. With the Tigers, he recorded 42 receptions for 480 yards, including seven receptions for 86 yards in a 34-10 victory over Arkansas.
His biggest contribution came off the field through serving as the vice president of Angels of Epilepsy, a charity organization dedicated to providing information and resources to those in the epilepsy community. Daniels’ mother, Natalie Beavers, founded the organization in 2008 after living with epilepsy for most of her life.
The wideout held an event at Tiger Stadium that season as part of National Epilepsy Awareness Month, where attendees were taught seizure first aid and safety training by local doctors specializing in epilepsy.
“It’s amazing bringing people together and showing how many people are affected by epilepsy, because a lot of people don’t know about what epilepsy...
