Ben Daniels
Collinsville High School
By Bryce McKinnis
Ben Daniels proved he could play at the varsity level last year when he caught 28 passes for 409 yards and four touchdowns for Collinsville High School.
“My personal goals are to get 1,000 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns and to go undefeated going into the playoffs,” the junior wide receiver said. “Our team’s goals are to play for one of our teammates who died in a car accident.”
Gage Nunes died on Aug. 17 from injuries sustained in a crash. Daniels and Nunes were teammates and friends.
“We got super close when I had moved to Collinsville at the end of ninth grade,” Daniels said. I hung out with him almost every day during the summer. . . We have all been by each other’s side every day since [the crash]. No one should go through this alone, and we are here for his family. They are loved big time by the Lord and by the community.”
“Everything we do will be for him.” – Ben Daniels
The school paid homage to Nunes’ memory at softball and volleyball games to start the year. Students wore blue, Nunes’ favorite color. Daniels wants opposing teams to know exactly for whom he’s playing — and how he spent the offseason — on Friday nights this fall.
“It’s been a grind this summer with everyone on the team. Our strength and conditioning coach has helped us prepare and get ready for the season. We’re all super excited to be practicing again and we’re looking forward to the upcoming season,” Daniels said. “I have put in a lot of work this offseason with receiver coaches and just by myself.”
Daniels has always tethered himself to his faith, but it has been an especially crucial aspect of his life during tragedy.
“I pray to the Lord every night. I stay as close as I can with him and I’ll always have a great relationship with him,” Daniels said. “My mom and dad, being young and going to church almost every weekend really helped me believe in Him and the people I surround myself with are really close with the Lord.”
After high school, Daniels plans to pursue a college football career and potentially start his own business.
