As a college quarterback, Florida State signal-caller Ashton Daniels has never led the offense on the field for a winning team.
While at Stanford, the Cardinal posted three consecutive 3-9 campaigns. Last season, Daniels transferred to the Auburn Tigers, and they finished with a 5-7 record, and Daniels was the backup to Jackson Arnold.
In his fifth year of college ball, Daniels is working hard to erase that stigma that has attached itself to Daniels by focusing on execution, fundamentals, reducing the mistakes, and growing as a leader. By all reports, Daniels has earned the respect of the Seminoles team and has improved his overall game.
“He's hit a home run in that regard with this football team,” Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell said in a post-practice press conference on Wednesday. And so, um, just continue to push, stay true to himself, you know, have a focus of improvement every day, and, you know, when this team needs him to.”
Last season at Auburn, Daniels languished as a backup, even as Arnold went 5-5 as a starter, threw for 1,309 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions.
“He's embraced the expectations and I think he's definitely earned all the respect of these guys and he's a guy's played a lot of college football,” said Norvell, “but definitely playing at a high level right now.”
Daniels took advantage of the times he did get in the game, especially against two top 15 teams toward the end of last season. Against the No. 15 Vanderbilt Commodores, Daniels completed 31 of 44 passes (70.5 percent) for 353 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-38 loss.
In the Iron Bowl, Daniels accounted for 367 total yards (259 passing, 108 rushing), one touchdown, and one interception in a 27-20 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide.
While he had issues with his confidence during spring practice, Daniels certainly has shown that he has built his confidence back up during fall camp.
“Confidence, that is something you guys are gonna hear me say a lot, but that’s something that’s been so huge for me,” said Daniels. “I think early on in my career, and even early on in the spring, I struggled a little bit just finding that confidence.”
The season kicks off on August 29 when the Seminoles host New Mexico State. However, Daniels won’t be truly tested until Florida State hosts SMU on Sept. 7.
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