- An undersized but especially productive college player who starred as an interior pass rusher for the Hawkeyes, posting a team-high 24½ tackles for loss and 13 sacks from 2010-11.
- Earned second-team All-Big Ten Conference honors from the league’s coaches following his senior season in 2011 after starting all 13 games and finishing with a career-high 67 tackles (32 solo) and nine sacks. Sack total ranked third in the Big Ten and 24th nationally.
- Joined Philadelphia Eagles sixth-round pick WR Marvin McNutt in representing Iowa at the 2012 Senior Bowl, participating as members of the North squad in the all-star game.
Father, Mike Sr., played baseball at Rutgers-Camden, and his brother, Sean, is a junior LB at Temple University.
- Was a member of the same 2007 recruiting class at Iowa that featured current Packers T Bryan Bulaga and rookie LB Dezman Moses.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
- Selected by the Packers at the end of the fourth round (No. 132 overall) with the first of four free-agent compensatory draft choices received following the 2011 season.
- An under-the-radar recruit who strayed from his northeastern roots to attend Iowa with little fanfare or acclaim, but lettered four times and left the program after two productive seasons as a starter up front.
- Appeared in 47 games with 21 starts during his four-year career, tallying 123 tackles (54 solo), including 27 for loss ,and 15½ sacks for Iowa teams that played in four bowl games (with three wins) over that span.
- Had his best season as a senior in 2011, starting all 13 games and earning second-team All-Big Ten distinction from the league’s coaches after setting new career highs with 67 tackles (32 solo), 13½ for loss, a team-high nine sacks and a pass defensed.
- Became a full-time starter for the first time as a junior in 2010, and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition from both the league’s coaches and media after appearing in all 13 games with eight starts and posting 40 tackles (17 solo, 11 for loss) and four sacks, the second-highest total on the team.
- Earned Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week acclaim for his performance in a 45-0 shutout of Ball State that season, a game that saw him make six tackles, including four solo that all went for a loss, and a sack as the defense allowed only 112 yards of offense during the contest.
- Appeared as a rotational player as a sophomore in 2009, appearing in all 13 games and finishing with 10 tackles (one solo) and 1½ sacks for the season.
- Saw his first collegiate action as a redshirt freshman in 2008, playing in eight games and recording six tackles (four solo) and his first career sack.
- Earned a degree in sociology.
2011: Named a permanent team captain for the defense and enjoyed his best season, earning second-team All-Big Ten accolades from the league’s coaches and honorable mention from the media…Started all 13 games and posted career highs in tackles (67), tackles for loss (13½) and sacks (nine)…Sack total led the team, ranked third in the Big Ten and 24th nationally…Finished the season in style with a torrid three-game stretch that saw him collect 23 tackles (13 solo) and five sacks in the final two regular-season contests and bowl game…Also was invited to participate in the Senior Bowl following the season, competing as a member of the North squad…At Penn State (Oct. 8): Started at DT and recorded eight tackles (two solo, one for loss)…At Purdue (Nov. 19): Had a career day in a win over the Boilermakers, notching career highs with nine tackles (seven solo), five tackles for loss and three sacks…At Nebraska (Nov. 25): Followed up his outstanding performance at Purdue with another good showing, matching his career high set the previous week by again posting nine tackles (two solo) along with his first career pass defensed…Vs. Oklahoma (Insight Bowl, Dec. 30): Played in his third consecutive bowl game and ended his college career with a memorable outing against the Sooners. Posted five tackles, including three for loss, and two sacks as the unit allowed just 275 yards of total offense during the game.
2010: Enjoyed what was his first season as a starter, appearing in all 13 games and starting eight of them at defensive tackle, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors from both the league’s coaches and media…Finished with 40 tackles (17 solo), including 11 for loss and four sacks…Vs. Eastern Illinois (Sept. 4): Started his first career game in the season opener and finished with five tackles (one solo), one for loss and his first sack of the season…Vs. Ball State (Sept. 25): Saw extended action in a 45-0 shutout victory, making a season-high six tackles (four solo), including four for loss and a sack. Earned Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors from the Big Ten for his performance after the Hawkeyes allowed just 112 yards of total offense during the game…Vs. Michigan State (Oct. 30): Started and recorded five tackles (two solo, two for loss) in Iowa’s 37-6 upset blowout of then-No. 5-ranked Spartans, a victory keyed by the defense only giving up 31 net rushing yards and 258 yards of total offense.
2009: Appeared in all 13 games on special teams and as a rotational player up front, recording 10 tackles and 1½ sacks for an Iowa team that posted an 11-2 record and won both the Big Ten title and the FedEx Orange Bowl over No. 9-ranked Georgia Tech…At Wisconsin (Oct. 17): Appeared in the game on defense, recording two tackles (one solo), highlighted by his first sack of the season…Vs. Georgia Tech (Orange Bowl, Jan. 5): Was part of what was an impressive defensive effort against the Yellow Jackets’ powerful triple-option offense that was limited to just 155 total yards during the game.
2008: Saw his first collegiate action after redshirting his first season on campus in 2007, appearing in both spot duty on defense and on special teams…For the season, appeared in eight games, and tallied six tackles (four solo) and the first sack of his career…Vs. Maine (Aug. 30): Made his collegiate debut against the Black Bears, but did not record any statistics…Vs. Florida International (Sept. 6): Appeared in the 42-0 win, registering three tackles (two solo) and his first career sack.
2007: Redshirted.
HIGH SCHOOL: Lettered three times as both a DL and RB at Highland Regional High School in Blackwood, N.J., serving as a two-time team captain and recording 222 tackles and 27 sacks in his varsity career…Earned first-team all-conference honors as a senior in 2006 after recording 97 tackles and 12 sacks and running for 1,029 yards and 12 TDs on offense…Posted 84 tackles and nine sacks as a junior in 2005, also gaining 844 yards and scoring seven TDs on offense…Lettered four years in track and field, and three times in wrestling.
PERSONAL: Given name Michael Wayne Daniels Jr. …Born in Stratford, N.J. …Single…Has an infant son, Michael III…Father, Mike Sr., played baseball at Rutgers-Camden University, and his brother, Sean, is a junior linebacker at Temple University…Names his older sister, Jeneca, who is actively serving in the military, and his best friend, Mike Saenz, as the two biggest influences on him as an athlete, citing the fact that they never let him quit or make excuses…While in college, volunteered at The Spot, an organization that provides activity programming for at-risk youth and also held a job stocking shelves at a grocery store in Iowa City…Enjoys browsing the Internet to learn about special-interest topics, spending time with family and friends, and playing video games…Says he is a fan of Japanese anime manga comic books and reads them regularly…Names Mike Tyson as his favorite athlete, Seinfeld as his favorite TV show and The Contender as his favorite movie…Residence: Blackwood, N.J.
- An undersized but especially productive college player who starred as an interior pass rusher for the Hawkeyes, posting a team-high 24½ tackles for loss and 13 sacks from 2010-11.
- Earned second-team All-Big Ten Conference honors from the league’s coaches following his senior season in 2011 after starting all 13 games and finishing with a career-high 67 tackles (32 solo) and nine sacks. Sack total ranked third in the Big Ten and 24th nationally.
- Joined Philadelphia Eagles sixth-round pick WR Marvin McNutt in representing Iowa at the 2012 Senior Bowl, participating as members of the North squad in the all-star game.
Father, Mike Sr., played baseball at Rutgers-Camden, and his brother, Sean, is a junior LB at Temple University.
- Was a member of the same 2007 recruiting class at Iowa that featured current Packers T Bryan Bulaga and rookie LB Dezman Moses.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
- Selected by the Packers at the end of the fourth round (No. 132 overall) with the first of four free-agent compensatory draft choices received following the 2011 season.
- An under-the-radar recruit who strayed from his northeastern roots to attend Iowa with little fanfare or acclaim, but lettered four times and left the program after two productive seasons as a starter up front.
- Appeared in 47 games with 21 starts during his four-year career, tallying 123 tackles (54 solo), including 27 for loss ,and 15½ sacks for Iowa teams that played in four bowl games (with three wins) over that span.
- Had his best season as a senior in 2011, starting all 13 games and earning second-team All-Big Ten distinction from the league’s coaches after setting new career highs with 67 tackles (32 solo), 13½ for loss, a team-high nine sacks and a pass defensed.
- Became a full-time starter for the first time as a junior in 2010, and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition from both the league’s coaches and media after appearing in all 13 games with eight starts and posting 40 tackles (17 solo, 11 for loss) and four sacks, the second-highest total on the team.
- Earned Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week acclaim for his performance in a 45-0 shutout of Ball State that season, a game that saw him make six tackles, including four solo that all went for a loss, and a sack as the defense allowed only 112 yards of offense during the contest.
- Appeared as a rotational player as a sophomore in 2009, appearing in all 13 games and finishing with 10 tackles (one solo) and 1½ sacks for the season.
- Saw his first collegiate action as a redshirt freshman in 2008, playing in eight games and recording six tackles (four solo) and his first career sack.
- Earned a degree in sociology.
2011: Named a permanent team captain for the defense and enjoyed his best season, earning second-team All-Big Ten accolades from the league’s coaches and honorable mention from the media…Started all 13 games and posted career highs in tackles (67), tackles for loss (13½) and sacks (nine)…Sack total led the team, ranked third in the Big Ten and 24th nationally…Finished the season in style with a torrid three-game stretch that saw him collect 23 tackles (13 solo) and five sacks in the final two regular-season contests and bowl game…Also was invited to participate in the Senior Bowl following the season, competing as a member of the North squad…At Penn State (Oct. 8): Started at DT and recorded eight tackles (two solo, one for loss)…At Purdue (Nov. 19): Had a career day in a win over the Boilermakers, notching career highs with nine tackles (seven solo), five tackles for loss and three sacks…At Nebraska (Nov. 25): Followed up his outstanding performance at Purdue with another good showing, matching his career high set the previous week by again posting nine tackles (two solo) along with his first career pass defensed…Vs. Oklahoma (Insight Bowl, Dec. 30): Played in his third consecutive bowl game and ended his college career with a memorable outing against the Sooners. Posted five tackles, including three for loss, and two sacks as the unit allowed just 275 yards of total offense during the game.
2010: Enjoyed what was his first season as a starter, appearing in all 13 games and starting eight of them at defensive tackle, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors from both the league’s coaches and media…Finished with 40 tackles (17 solo), including 11 for loss and four sacks…Vs. Eastern Illinois (Sept. 4): Started his first career game in the season opener and finished with five tackles (one solo), one for loss and his first sack of the season…Vs. Ball State (Sept. 25): Saw extended action in a 45-0 shutout victory, making a season-high six tackles (four solo), including four for loss and a sack. Earned Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors from the Big Ten for his performance after the Hawkeyes allowed just 112 yards of total offense during the game…Vs. Michigan State (Oct. 30): Started and recorded five tackles (two solo, two for loss) in Iowa’s 37-6 upset blowout of then-No. 5-ranked Spartans, a victory keyed by the defense only giving up 31 net rushing yards and 258 yards of total offense.
2009: Appeared in all 13 games on special teams and as a rotational player up front, recording 10 tackles and 1½ sacks for an Iowa team that posted an 11-2 record and won both the Big Ten title and the FedEx Orange Bowl over No. 9-ranked Georgia Tech…At Wisconsin (Oct. 17): Appeared in the game on defense, recording two tackles (one solo), highlighted by his first sack of the season…Vs. Georgia Tech (Orange Bowl, Jan. 5): Was part of what was an impressive defensive effort against the Yellow Jackets’ powerful triple-option offense that was limited to just 155 total yards during the game.
2008: Saw his first collegiate action after redshirting his first season on campus in 2007, appearing in both spot duty on defense and on special teams…For the season, appeared in eight games, and tallied six tackles (four solo) and the first sack of his career…Vs. Maine (Aug. 30): Made his collegiate debut against the Black Bears, but did not record any statistics…Vs. Florida International (Sept. 6): Appeared in the 42-0 win, registering three tackles (two solo) and his first career sack.
2007: Redshirted.
HIGH SCHOOL: Lettered three times as both a DL and RB at Highland Regional High School in Blackwood, N.J., serving as a two-time team captain and recording 222 tackles and 27 sacks in his varsity career…Earned first-team all-conference honors as a senior in 2006 after recording 97 tackles and 12 sacks and running for 1,029 yards and 12 TDs on offense…Posted 84 tackles and nine sacks as a junior in 2005, also gaining 844 yards and scoring seven TDs on offense…Lettered four years in track and field, and three times in wrestling.
PERSONAL: Given name Michael Wayne Daniels Jr. …Born in Stratford, N.J. …Single…Has an infant son, Michael III…Father, Mike Sr., played baseball at Rutgers-Camden University, and his brother, Sean, is a junior linebacker at Temple University…Names his older sister, Jeneca, who is actively serving in the military, and his best friend, Mike Saenz, as the two biggest influences on him as an athlete, citing the fact that they never let him quit or make excuses…While in college, volunteered at The Spot, an organization that provides activity programming for at-risk youth and also held a job stocking shelves at a grocery store in Iowa City…Enjoys browsing the Internet to learn about special-interest topics, spending time with family and friends, and playing video games…Says he is a fan of Japanese anime manga comic books and reads them regularly…Names Mike Tyson as his favorite athlete, Seinfeld as his favorite TV show and The Contender as his favorite movie…Residence: Blackwood, N.J.
