30 key Miami Hurricanes for 2025 season: CJ Daniels a veteran receiver leader
The Miami Hurricanes kick off the 2025 season on Aug. 31 with a marquee matchup against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Hard Rock Stadium (7:30 p.m., ABC).
With the calendar officially flipped to August, the Miami Herald is counting down 30 of the most important players on the Hurricanes’ roster, one per day leading up to the season opener, to provide a closer look at the team heading into coach Mario Cristobal’s fourth season.
Today: The No. 16 player on our list, CJ Daniels.
What to know
Position: Wide receiver
Hometown: Liburn, Georgia
Year: Sixth-year senior
How he got to Miami: 2025 transfer (LSU)
Key stats: 148 catches, 2,434 receiving yards, 21 touchdowns
In summary: The Hurricanes have had their eyes on Daniels for two years now, first when he entered the transfer portal out of Liberty following the 2023 season but ultimately chose LSU and again this past cycle when he finally made his way to Coral Gables. The veteran was stellar at Liberty, catching 106 passes for 1,959 yards and 21 touchdowns in 43 games for the Flames. Daniels’ production took a dip in his lone season at LSU, logging 42 catches for 480 yards and no touchdowns with the Tigers, but he has been a valuable leader for a wide receiver room that is trending toward the younger side this season and needs to replace its top four producers from a year ago. Daniels is projected to work almost exclusively on the outside with a group that includes fellow transfer Keelan Marion, sophomores Joshisa “JoJo” Trader and Ny Carr, and true freshman Josh Moore as the main contenders for regular playing time.
What they’re saying
“Coming in, [wide receivers] coach [Kevin] Beard told me, ’You’ve got a young group, man. It’s a lot of characters and it’s a lot of things to manage. And for me, I wanted to challenge myself this year and put that on my plate because I think I’m more than capable of doing that. Just leading these young guys and holding them accountable, and them holding me accountable as well too, I think it goes hand in hand, man. I’m a guy that they can come and ask questions. They can just come and kick it with me. I think that’s the main thing. I definitely think that I have done a great job so far at the leadership role, and I want to continue to do that. I just want to continue to build a great bond with these guys.” - CJ Daniels on his role as a veteran in the receivers room
“He’s a worker. You don’t have to tell him to catch balls on the JUGS machine. He’s the one initiating it. He’s kind of been through it, and he knows he has a lot of young guys behind him, so he’s trying to show them the way. ... That’s really what I’ve respected from his approach. And we’re gonna need it to keep continuing to get better.” - Wide receivers coach Kevin Beard on CJ Daniels
“He’s to the point where he wants the whole room to be on the same level. He wants us to be leaders. He’s put in the time with us. It’s kind of like an assistant receivers coach right now.” - sophomore wide receiver Ny Carr on CJ Daniels
The rest of the series
No. 17: Defensive lineman David Blay
No. 18: Defensive lineman Ahmad Moten
No. 19: Center James Brockermeyer
No. 20: Wide receiver Keelan Marion
No. 21: Defensive back Jakobe Thomas
No. 23: Defensive back Keionte Scott
No. 24: Running back Jordan Lyle
No. 25: Defensive back Damari Brown
No. 26: Defensive lineman Armondo Blount
No. 27: Wide receiver Malachi Toney
No. 28: Defensive back Ethan O’Connor
No. 29: Linebacker Kamal Bonner
No. 30: Running back CharMar Brown
.JPG)