McDaniel returning from injury in style

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Senior wide receiver Jeremy McDaniel (15) gets run off the field during Saturday's game against UCLA. McDaniel has caught 33 passes for a total of 501 yards this season.

It is even stranger when the player at hand may not even be the best on the team at his position.

Arizona senior wide receiver Jeremy McDaniel, or "J-Rock" as his teammates call him, is proving to the nation that the Wildcats don't just have a two-headed monster at quarterback, but at wide receiver as well.

With the first half of the Wildcats' season in the books, he and junior Dennis Northcutt have combined for 72 receptions, 1,154 yards and 11 touchdowns.

"I think he is a big play guy," UA quarterback Ortege Jenkins said. "We know we can throw the ball anywhere in his vicinity and he can get it done. He also makes a lot of things happen after the catch like making people miss and scoring touchdowns."

Last year, McDaniel had to suffer through a full season of just watching his favorite sport from the sidelines.

He sustained a deep thigh bruise in fall practice which forced him to redshirt the season.

"I missed the game so much," McDaniel said. "I was crying in Camp Cochise once I found out that I couldn't play."

This year, McDaniel is definitely making up for lost time.

He is second on the team in receiving behind Northcutt with 33 receptions for 501 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns, a mark he shares with senior running back Kelvin Eafon.

"I feel like I'm giving the team my all," McDaniel said. "They are like a second family to me. If I would have played last year I don't think I would be having a season like I am. Sitting out helped me grow and gain confidence."

In 1996, McDaniel was the go-to guy for quarterbacks Keith Smith and Brady Batten as he led the team in receiving with 31 catches for 607 yards and three touchdowns. He earned honorable mention All-Pacific 10 Conference.

In the four-overtime thriller at California that year, which the Wildcats eventually lost, McDaniel set Arizona receiving records by catching 14 balls for 283 yards.

Those 283 yards also set the Pac-10 record for most receiving yards in a conference game.

Last Saturday night against UCLA, in a game he was not even supposed to play in because of a leg injury he suffered in Washington, McDaniel led all receivers with 126 yards and two touchdowns while catching seven passes.

"Jeremy played great and he continues to impress," UA head coach Dick Tomey said. "He catches everything and blocks superbly. He is a cut above most I have seen in our league."

It may be difficult to imagine, but after missing an entire season McDaniel has been thrown into a leadership role for the Wildcats.

"A lot of people have different ways of how they lead," McDaniel said. "I like to lead by example."

McDaniel knows that his leadership as a senior is desperately needed this week as the Wildcats prepare for Oregon State.

"It is hard to start a fire after it has been put out," he said. "But guys like myself, Mike Lucky, Chris McAlister and Kelvin Eafon are going to have to go hard this week in practice and, like I said, lead by example."

Dan Rosen can be reached via e-mail at Dan.Rosen@wildcat.arizona.edu.