UAB’s McDaniel Caps Career Defined By Grit

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - November 22, 2025

Wrapping up one’s path through college football with one word is not often easy. It can be particularly difficult when that path includes four head coaches in five seasons, often a revolving door of teammates and the turmoil that can come with it.

For T’sai McDaniel, though, determining the word came much more easily than enduring the journey through five years at UAB.

“Perseverance,” said McDaniel, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound defensive back from Austin, Texas. “My story is repetitive, but it’s a story of perseverance.”

McDaniel’s perseverance on the football field didn’t begin at UAB, even though four years as a walk-on can stretch it to a limit. It began at Lake Travis High, a longtime football power that is that alma mater of Baker Mayfield and once won five consecutive state championships in football. McDaniel’s beginnings on the Lake Travis practice field began as a member of the Freshman C team.

How humble was that beginning?

“They weren't even supposed to have a C team to be honest,” McDaniel said. “We had much more kids than they expected. We weren’t supposed to have a C team, but they made a C team. I wasn't even starting on it. I was the smallest guy. I was fast but I was small.”

He didn’t make the varsity team until his senior season and spent the first two games as a reserve. He took over at one of the cornerback spots three games into his senior season and never relinquished his starting position.  When the season ended, McDaniel, also a standout sprinter in track and field, began looking for a walk-on spot.

McDaniel found his new home at UAB and arrived in the summer of 2021 as a walk-on under head coach Bill Clark. For two seasons, the second one playing for interim head coach Bryant Vincent, McDaniel practiced but never saw the field in games. He played in seven games, primarily on special teams, on Trent Dilfer’s first team in 2023.

“I knew coming in as a walk-on, I had a lot of work to do,” McDaniel said. “The mindset I had was to come in here with the understanding there's a lot of guys better than me or were pursuing better. So I had to work hard in football and outside of football with my classroom work. Just being a great example off the field for the team as well as for my family. That was part of being persistent, waiting for my turn and being prepared. They were long, tough years.”

It wasn’t glamourous work but he didn’t take for granted the special team opportunities he received in 2023.

“I didn't see the field until my third year and I barely saw the field at that,” McDaniel said. “I was grateful enough to see the field. I worked hard. I never want to be prideful about every opportunity I get because it could be my only opportunity. I just ran with it.”

His role was similar last season, once again playing in seven games with most of it on special teams. Perhaps his biggest highlight to that point at UAB came against South Florida when he recovered a muffed punt that set up a Jonah Delange field goal.

Things changed for McDaniel heading into his final season. It began when he was awarded a scholarship.

“It was like I got drafted, like I made it,” McDaniel said. “I didn't want to have the mindset of I made it so I'm cool. I had to have the same mindset of underdog. Even though I got the scholarship, I still had to work, try to start, try to make as many plays as possible. I was blessed enough to have this scholarship this year, help my family out financially. They’ve been paying all these years so that was just a blessing as it is and I appreciate it.”

On the field, McDaniel earned a spot in the regular rotation, primarily at the nickel back. He’s played in all 10 games, participating in 449 plays with 277 coming on defense, according to Pro Football Focus, and got his first start against Rice. He’s been credited with 22 tackles.

McDaniel’s football  journey closes with the home finale on against South Florida on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Protective Stadium and the season closing trip to Tulsa for a game on Nov. 29. He’s on track to graduate in December with a degree in psychology with a minor in athletic coaching. Then it’s on to the next chapter.

“I’m not going to lie, it usually would feel weird, but it doesn't feel weird,” McDaniel said of ending his college football career. “I think I'm very secure in who I am, where I want to be in life. Do I want to go to next level, in the NFL? Absolutely. But, you know, I understand that it's hard, so I'm going to work as hard as I can. I know there's other avenues too. I have connections that I've built that I can really trust and depend on. I’m just looking forward. I’m not trying to look back and say ‘What if I did this or that?’ I have this opportunity. I might as well make the most of it and see how far it takes me.”