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The night before this year's National Signing Day, quarterback JT Daniels committed to play at Rice. Daniels, who'll turn 23 in February and is on the cusp of joining his fourth college program, couldn't resist a joke. "Mine was back in 1997," he told ESPN of his high school signing day. "I'll use that joke like 40 times this year." Daniels has already played at USC, Georgia and West Virginia. Rice will mark his fourth school in six years. There's even the possibility of a seventh season if needed, as he could apply for a medical redshirt from his 2019 injury in the season opener at USC. In an interview Wednesday, Daniels reflected -- both lightheartedly and seriously -- on his circuitous path and why he thinks that Rice could be the situation that helps unlock his talent. Daniels won National High School Player of the Year in 2017 and in 2018 became just the second freshman to ever start a season opener for USC. A torn ACL in the first game of the 2019 season began his winding path, which included a national title at Georgia and a season of early promise at West Virginia ended with him losing the job after 10 starts. Over the three schools, he's 17-12 as a starter. Now he'll be leading Rice into its inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference in 2023. That will be the fourth league he's played in, joining the Pac-12, SEC and Big 12. "That's probably the coolest part of it," he said. "Has anyone else ever done that?" If Daniels wins the Rice starting job -- and there's a strong chance considering he'll be the highest-rated recruit to ever play there -- he would be, according to ESPN Stats & Information research, the first quarterback to start a game at four different FBS schools. With Rice opening at Texas, it would also mark the third time with the third different team that Daniels has started a game against Texas in Austin. He started there in 2018 as a freshman at USC and with West Virginia last year. "That's the third time playing at Texas," he said with a chuckle. "The first time, Vince Young was a recruit on the sideline." Between lobs of self-deprecation, there were bursts of introspection on a career and future that once appeared linear but turned circuitous. He said the reason he chose Rice is that he feels most comfortable with both the multiple pro-style system the Owls run and also has deep bonds with coach Mike Bloomgren and offensive coordinator Marques Tuiasosopo. First, there's a personal connection that stretches back nearly a decade. Daniels recalls meeting Bloomgren while he was the offensive coordinator at Stanford sometime between his freshman and sophomore year at Mater Dei in Orange County, California. Tuiasosopo was an assistant on the West Coast at USC, UCLA and Cal during Daniels' high school years at Mater Dei, so they built a strong rapport. "It definitely helped," he said of the familiarity. "Every time that I've been a recruitable athlete, they've been one of, if not my first, calls. I've always, always, always respected them for the coaches they are and appreciate them for the men that they are." He added that the familiarity helped on his visit. ]"With the amount of times I've been in [the portal]," he said, "we've talked a lot throughout the years. When I was leaving Georgia. They came and visited my house. So it wasn't the first time in that long. It's good to see a familiar face." Daniels is optimistic that Bloomgren and Tuiasosopo can deliver some familiar results. Daniels' freshman year at USC back in 2018 remains his best statistically, as he threw for 2,672 yards and 14 touchdowns. Daniels has notable arm talent, which is why he left Mater Dei early to attend USC and was regarded as the third-best pocket passing quarterback in his high school class, per ESPN's rankings, behind Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) and Jacob Sirmon (Washington). He said the pro-style system at Rice is an ideal fit for him -- "it's what I was born to do," he said -- as he grew up in that offense at Mater Dei. He said he relishes the complications and pre-snap challenges to adjust. "It's an offense with a lot of different checks," he said. "A lot is sitting on the quarterback before the ball is snapped. There's a lot that relies on the quarterback getting you in the right play over and over again." Daniels added: "I know that offense. There's only so many pro styles and true NFL systems in college football today. I think it's my favorite offense that I fit best in. There's a reason that a lot of people in college don't do it as much anymore. It's what I grew up doing and love doing and can provide value in it." Daniels said he's still confident he can play well enough in college to reach the NFL. He acknowledges there's likely some snark associated with his meandering path through college. He said he doesn't have any social media apps on his phone and said he's even been shut out of his Twitter account. He hasn't paid too much attention, and he brought up something that WVU coach Neal Brown preached to his team as they struggled through a 5-7 season last year. Daniels said Brown would note that the teams' problems were better than the problems of 99-percent of people. "Are there certain ways you want things to go?" Daniels said. "Of course. This is what I chose to do for a living. I'd have loved everything to go smoother though all my college career. But I've never been worried about if I can eat. I've had my education paid for. "I got a [bachelor's] in psychology from Georgia. I'm starting my masters at Rice. Of course, you want everything to go perfect and smoother and exactly the way you want it. I don't feel like I've been wronged by a university or a group of people. I have great relationships with USC and UGA and great relationships at West Virginia. It's all just been a part of process." Daniels stressed that he truly enjoyed his time at West Virginia -- "I absolutely loved it here" -- and felt beloved by the campus and community. He said he's watched a lot of Rice tape with Tuiasosopo, and with the Owls returning starters at every position but quarterback and center, there's a chance for him to join an experienced group and help elevate the program. Rice earned a bowl bid after the program's 5-7 regular season, the program's first since 2014. They've started five quarterbacks the past two seasons, and Daniels' addition appears from the outside as a missing part for the foundation that Bloomgren has built in five seasons. Daniels said he's energized by the opportunity, excited about playing in a pro-style offense and has enjoyed his path. "It's been really fun," he said of his college experience. "If I had cared a lot more about what people thought, if I'd read more messages that got sent to me, I'd enjoy college football a lot less. I've had a great time in college. I've got a lot of really good friends, learned a lot, played a lot of good ball and some to be desired. All in all, this has been a fun time."
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