Sackmeister Hardly Impaired
May 6th, 2019
Story behind Bucs UDFA.
If Kahzin Daniels fails to make the Bucs, he has already succeeded in life.
Coming from a hardscrabble background was perhaps secondary to him climbing over obstacles.
The Bucs signed the pass-rushing specialist from Division-II University of Charleston, per Tyler Conway of Bleacher Report, because Bucs scouts were impressed with him playing in the NFLPA college all-star game. Yes, he’s an undrafted rookie, which means he has a long road ahead of him, even though the Bucs could use his pass-rushing skills; he had 34.5 sacks in college.
Daniels is a winner whether he lands on the Bucs roster or not because the guy is totally blind in his right eye.
Rookie mini-camp is this weekend and that is where Daniels will get his first taste of the NFL. Joe is eager to see him at training camp later this summer provided he can show the Bucs a reason to keep him around.
Daniels is already a guy to root for, as Mike Garafolo of NFL Network profiled Daniels in the video you can watch below.
He’s completely blind in one eye and he’s never let that stop him.
How @Buccaneers DE Kahzin Daniels turned tragedy to inspiration en route to his NFL dream. pic.twitter.com/nKnzme7yKD
— NFL (@NFL) April 28, 2019
May 6th, 2019 at 10:03 am
love this kid
May 6th, 2019 at 10:13 am
what an awesome story! I know who I will be pulling for! Thanks Joes!
May 6th, 2019 at 10:13 am
Now, I hope he’s judged on talent and merit rather than perceived limitations. This sheds an unfair perception and disadvantage from the start. Had it been kept a secret, he’d be judged on talent alone. This changes things unfortunately not in his favor.
May 6th, 2019 at 10:17 am
That’s a pretty cool eye patch he’s wearing.
Almost looks like a play button!
May 6th, 2019 at 10:17 am
Man, my allergies really started acting up watching that clip. Will be rooting for him, for sure.
May 6th, 2019 at 10:24 am
Great story, easy to root for. I’m inspired.
May 6th, 2019 at 10:27 am
PSL.. I was blaming early onset manopause. Allergies, yeh thats much better.
May 6th, 2019 at 10:29 am
Wow…do we have some players to root for?
Kahzin Daniels……half blind
Terry Beckner Jr…….Survived East St. Louis
Scotty Miller…..little guy from MAC
Jamal Dean…..both knees injured….still runs a 4.3
Matt Gay…..battling depression…..(have to root for any kicker, especially one drafted)
Sean Bunting….Central Michigan (who in the world is this guy?)
Bruce Anderson (UDFA, local guy, Rustin)
And then last but not least…>Devin White…..deemed that savior of the Bucs defense by Joe….the Joe’s “Wrath of the Draft”
May 6th, 2019 at 10:29 am
Hope he makes the final 53, that would be next level!
May 6th, 2019 at 10:40 am
Tampabaybucfan,and with that comes some HUGE CHIPS on their shoulders. Not sure if people are aware or not but Undrafted guys were the foundation of that Seattle run not that long ago. More than half their roster was undrafted guys. Pete Carrol was wise knowing that fuels some to play harder because the hill they start on is steeper.
May 6th, 2019 at 10:41 am
When I heard Jamel Dean media call after we drafted him I could easily hear the hunger in his voice. It’s going to hard keeping him off the football field.
May 6th, 2019 at 10:42 am
This Bucs fan is going to be a special player for us. Now he is unknown and unproven. By the end of the season, the entire NFL will know his name. The steal of the draft being undrafted. Many teams will regret it. He is an unpolished diamond in the rough.
May 6th, 2019 at 10:49 am
NOSBOS
There is a very thin line between drafted (usually rounds 5-7) and UDFA……and the prove it nature of the UDFA gives them extra motivation.
There is also more of them……for every late round pick there are 3 or 4 UDFAs……the odds of finding a good player out of that bunch is greater than hitting on a late round pick.
May 6th, 2019 at 11:11 am
TampaBayBucFan: that kid you mentioned from Newsome: Bruce Anderson, has gotten some love as a sleeper UDFA by some and as you and NOSBOS wisely pointed out a lot of these UFDA are indistinguishable from late round draft picks per their position on draft boards across the league and some teams have found bonafide talent via the UDFA’s …. Hopefully the kid can make a positive contribution as well as the kid from Charleston WV who is blind in one eye…. Licht has found a few diamonds in the rough this way such as Cameron Brate so anything is possible….. Hunger can be a big motivator for these guys who really want to make a roster in the NFL…..
May 6th, 2019 at 11:23 am
Superb video Joe; thanks for sharing. 8-year old Zane’s mother’s statement that ‘there’s a life beyond your disability’ hit the nail right on the head. Easy young man to root for.
May 6th, 2019 at 11:31 am
Bucs signed kerwin Williams
May 6th, 2019 at 11:35 am
Go get em!
May 6th, 2019 at 11:36 am
kid has drive and determination…..just the type of character/mid set we need up at OBP…..
GO BUCS!!!!
May 6th, 2019 at 11:42 am
How can you not root for this guy. It’s definitely allergy season
May 6th, 2019 at 11:44 am
Gives new meaning to the saying, keep your head on a swivel.
These guys are going to have to fight for those few handicapped parking spaces at One Buc Place.
May 6th, 2019 at 12:08 pm
Really rooting for you kahzan. Hope you make it because you’re good enough and for no other reason.
He is not asking for pity, but just a fair chance. I had a brief stint playing professional soccer and then 10 years ago lost my right leg. Since then I spend a lot of my time volunteering with kids with disabilities. You have no idea how important and inspirational these success stories are to kids struggling with disabilities. Every person like kahzan that is able to succeed inspires thousands of kids not to settle and to push forward in their lives towards their dreams. No matter what happens you have already inspired kahzan. This post was written for you. Thank You and good luck this season. I’ll be there in person August 23rd to root you on. Go Bucs!
May 6th, 2019 at 12:15 pm
Inspirational stuff right there! Congrats on all you’ve accomplished…now earn that roster spot young man, the entire league will be better for it. We’re behind you 100%.
May 6th, 2019 at 2:08 pm
Yea – easy to root for this guy to make it in the NFL.
Good Luck Khazin. And keep up the great work of making a positive difference in the lives of others….
May 6th, 2019 at 5:25 pm
He also has spent plenty of time Body Building too and he looks like chiseled muscles from head to toe in shorts without his shirt. He should have a real shot at being a backup outside linebacker and making our roster. You know he is going to leave it all out on the practice field and give it all he has got. I am cheering for him too! I think we have enough capable sackers to make our aggressive defense lethal. Licht did a good job finding more talent beyond the draft. We have the largest number of coaches in the NFL and will be able to develop all talent no matter if they are third team players.
May 6th, 2019 at 6:12 pm
Can you ball or not? If he can see a crack block coming he will make the team.