Gunner Daniel Joins Ohio State Special Teams Coaching Staff

New assistant special teams coach Gunner Daniel brings six years of college football experience, capping off his playing career at Boston College in 2022.

Author:
Casey Smith
Feb 16, 2023 2:27 PM EST

In this story:

Ohio State Buckeyes

Boston College Eagles

Wagner Seahawks

Michigan Wolverines

Georgia Bulldogs

Michigan State Spartans

Arizona State Sun Devils

Ball State Cardinals

Gunner Daniel announced Wednesday that he will be joining the Ohio State Buckeyes staff as a special teams assistant, according to his Twitter bio.

Daniel, a college long snapper for the Wagner College Seahawks and Boston College Eagles, has experience as a graduate assistant at the 2023 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl — which is held annually for "any draft-eligible college football players" — for the National Team that was coached by former Buckeyes running back Eddie George.

Daniel's career started for Ball State Cardinals, but he did not see any game action in his freshman season in 2017. He earned the starting long snapper role his redshirt freshman season at Wagner where he played two seasons.

After the COVID-19 pandemic canceled Wagner's 2020 season, Daniel transferred to Boston College where he spent his final two seasons.

In 42 career games played, Daniel recorded 10 tackles.

Hammer Kicking Academy founder Adam Tanalski said in a video Tuesday that Daniel "helped build" the program "into what it really has become." Tanalski said the leadership and guidance Daniel brought to the long-snapping portion of the program has been "unbelievable."

Hammer Kicking Academy is a "form-focused kicking, punting and long snapping training camp" that has produced "over 550 college athletes" with "45 players tryout or sign in the NFL."

Ohio State's special teams unit was a strength all season but faltered late in some of the biggest moments of the year.

Against the Michigan Wolverines, Ohio State planned to run a fake punt from the Wolverines' 48-yard line, but instead of the ball going to tight end Mitch Rossi, it was snapped to punter Jesse Mirco.

Against the Georgia Bulldogs in the Peach Bowl, Ohio State's fake punt attempt was snuffed out with a timeout from Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart just prior to the snap, as Rossi — again the recipient of the would-be snap — would've picked up enough yards for a first down. Georgia's first offensive play after Mirco booted it away was a momentum-shifting 76-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Arian Smith.

Then, we all know about the field goal attempt at the end of regulation of the Peach Bowl.

Ohio State longtime long snapper Bradley Robinson graduated and Mason Arnold transferred to Michigan State in the offseason, but the Buckeyes picked up former Arizona Sun Devils long snapper John Ferlmann in the transfer portal.