Playing on a high school football team with superstars like Chris Splinter and Evan Bunker, it's easy to fly under the radar.
But the Masconomet coaching staff was well aware of the qualities tight end/defensive end John Daniels brought to the table.
College football coaches apparently saw the same thing.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Daniels, an integral part of four straight Cape Ann League Large titles for the Chieftains, will continue his football career at Dartmouth College.
"All of our coaches appreciated what John did," said Chieftains head coach Jim Pugh. "We think he could be a great defensive player at the college level. For the past two years, (defensive line coach) Gavin Monagle has been singing his praises to anyone who wanted to listen. We all knew he was 100 percent correct."
"Division 1-AA football is tough, but I think Daniels has a great career ahead of him. He needs to get in the weight room and put on some weight, but he's an intense, hard working kid. John's one of the most competitive we've ever had in our program."
Although he is also a basketball forward and a spring track captain specializing in the triple jump, high jump and 110 high hurdles, Daniels will focus on football at the next level.
"I sent out (football) film and was recruited," said Daniels. "(Former Masco standout) Teddy Reed was a freshman on the Dartmouth team this year, and he loves the school. My dad (Bruce) went to Dartmouth, and we have family friends that really enjoyed their time there, too. Everybody had good things to say the school; it was definitely my first choice."
There were several Ivy and NESCAC schools interested in Daniels. He would have applied to Cornell, the University of Pennsylvania, Middlebury, Bowdoin, Colby, Boston College and Tufts if he didn't get into Dartmouth.
The Bowdoin coaching staff contacted Daniels several times, trying to convince him to play for the Polar Bears.
"When (college) coaches came around, John's name always came up," said Pugh. "All the Ivy and NESCAC schools had him on their radar. Penn and Brown were very interested in getting him.
"He may not have the same notoriety as Splinter and Bunker, but he has had a great career for us. I can't say enough good things about him. He is one of the most coachable kids I ever had, and he's from a great family. John made big plays for us, especially in key games against Gloucester, Malden Catholic and Concord-Carlisle. He's well liked and respected by all his teammates."
Daniels, who hopes to study business at Dartmouth, spends a lot of time with his family in the Hanover, N.H. area (where Dartmouth is located) when they visit Lake Sunapee.
"It's nice and close so if I want to come home (to Topsfield) it's two hours away. I don't have to worry about getting a plane ticket or driving for six hours," he said. "(Masco track star) Abbey D'Agostino is going to Dartmouth, too, so it will be nice having one of my classmates starting when I do."
