WRAL Sports Fan

Duke

Daniels to play in East-West Shrine Game

Jan 16, 2012

Durham, N.C. — Former Duke safety Matt Daniels will participate in the annual East-West Shrine Game set for 4 p.m. on Saturday, January 21 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. The game will be televised live by the NFL Network.

Daniels will play for the East squad coached by Bobby Ross, who guided Maryland to three consecutive ACC championships (1983-84-85), led Georgia Tech to the 1990 national championship and later directed the 1994 San Diego Chargers to Super Bowl XXIX. Former NFL head coach Brad Childress will coach the West team.

A native of Fayetteville, Ga., Daniels played in 46 games for the Blue Devils and started all 36 contests over the past three seasons. One of 14 players in Duke history to record 300-plus tackles, he finished his career with 324 total stops, 13.0 tackles for loss, 27 pass break-ups, four interceptions, seven caused fumbles and three fumble recoveries. On the school’s all-time charts, Daniels ranks 13th in tackles, tied for sixth in PBUs and third in caused fumbles.

In 2011, Daniels served as a team captain and earned first team All-ACC and second team All-America accolades after leading the Blue Devils and ranking third in the conference in tackles per game (10.5). He finished the year with 126 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, two interceptions, 14 pass break-ups and one caused fumble.

Daniels is the 35th former Duke player to participate in the prestigious event, which began in 1925 and benefits Shriners Hospitals for Children.