Tarleton Texan Daniel McCants: A love for the game

Deandre Hogg– Graduate Assistant

Daniel McCants, a senior running back from Killeen, Texas, has been the Texans’ most explosive runner in recent memory. McCants has over 1,000 yards this season in only eight games. He is already on pace to break his season rushing numbers from last season and has seen several improvements from last year.  

“I would say my biggest improvement is being patient when I run,” McCants said. “I think my vision and my cuts got better with me slowing down and really focusing on what I’m seeing.” 

McCants has always had a love and passion for the game. He knew this is what he wanted to do.  

“I’ve always wanted to play football. I don’t remember a time when I didn’t,” McCants said.  

Last season, McCants shared the backfield and carries with another star runner, Xavier Turner, who ran for 1,000 yards as well. The duo became Tarleton’s first pair of backs to run over 1,000 yards in the same season.  

McCants sees himself and Turner as a “thunder/lighting tandem.” 

“I feel me and X have two different running styles that are perfect together. It’s like thunder then lightning with us,” McCants said.  

With Turner going to the Arizona Cardinals this past offseason, McCants said his main focus is on this season and the team’s goals. However, it would really be a dream come true if he does get drafted by a team in the upcoming draft in April. 

“It would be a dream come true to get drafted, but I’m just focused on what we have here at Tarleton right now,” McCants said.  

McCants is really focused on helping the Texans win a national championship this season, something that the team came up short on last season. He knows what it will take to get over that hump.  

“Staying humble, staying on the grind and not getting too high on ourselves,” McCants said. “For us to win the national championship, we just need to be what we are and that’s the Tarleton Texans.”