The Clemson Insider caught up with a standout signal-caller from the Cornhusker State who impressed Clemson offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter along with his efficiency on the Dabo Swinney Camp earlier this summer season.
Bellevue West Excessive Faculty (Bellevue, Neb.) quarterback Daniel Kaelin – a 6-foot-3, 195-pound rising junior within the 2024 class – just lately spoke with TCI as he received set to begin his season, which kicks off tonight in opposition to Creighton Prep (Omaha, Neb).
“I believe this summer season and offseason has gone actually good,” he mentioned. “Final yr ended within the semis. We thought we had a very good staff that would’ve went the entire manner, so I believe that’s one thing we used as motivation this offseason. However we’re previous that now. We’ve been working actually onerous. Particularly these final couple weeks and in camp, been seeing a number of enchancment. So, I believe we’re in a very great place proper now and able to get this season began.”
Enjoying final season as a part of a quarterback rotation, Kaelin threw for 700 yards and 5 touchdowns with no interceptions whereas serving to Bellevue West to a 10-2 file in 2021.
As he approached his junior marketing campaign, Kaelin’s focus was geared extra towards the psychological facet of soccer slightly than the bodily facet of the sport.
“Proper now, I believe coming nearer to the season, I believe actually simply my preparation, extra of the soccer IQ facet is absolutely the most important factor that I’m making an attempt to hone in – I might say so far as execution of performs and the extra psychological facet of the sport,” he mentioned. “As a result of a number of the offseason is if you’re doing onerous coaching, even in the summertime, is coaching your physique to be on the peak athletic efficiency that you would be after which simply coaching your arm. So I believe proper now the most important factor that I’m specializing in in my sport is simply understanding our playbook inside and outside, being an extension of my coach on the sphere for my teammates and having the best attainable execution on the sphere.”
The No. 4 prospect within the state of Nebraska no matter place in keeping with Rivals, 247Sports and the 247Sports Composite, Kaelin has collected a double-digit checklist of scholarship provides that features Arizona State, Duke, Florida State, Kansas, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Rutgers and Vanderbilt.
The recruiting course of isn’t Kaelin’s main focus proper now, with most of his consideration on his staff and season, although he expects to should juggle soccer and recruiting extra come Sept. 1 when school coaches can start actively reaching out to junior prospects like himself.
“I simply need to restrict all that in order that nothing’s coming in the way in which of my efficiency and my staff for this season,” he mentioned of the recruiting course of. “Clearly September 1st is arising and that’ll convey a pair extra stuff with recruiting, and I’ll ensure that to quiet that out as shortly as attainable. However proper now, simply the season and my staff is what I’m specializing in proper now.”
Previous to collaborating within the Swinney Camp this summer season, Kaelin additionally traveled to Tiger City for an unofficial go to on April 8.
In accordance with Kaelin, his coach has been involved with Clemson just a little bit since he camped there in June, and he can be blissful to listen to from the Tigers himself when Sept. 1 rolls round.
“I’m certain there’ll be some coaches that I don’t count on to achieve out, to achieve out,” he mentioned. “Whoever does, I’m grateful for. I’m not essentially hoping for anybody to. I have already got a number of nice choices proper now. However Clemson would positively be an excellent college and an excellent program. In the event that they reached out, it’d positively be fairly cool.”
When Kaelin thinks about Clemson’s program, its custom on the quarterback place is one thing that definitely appeals to him, with the Tigers having developed gamers like Tajh Boyd, Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence in recent times.
“That positively stands out,” he mentioned. “Whenever you take a look at a program, part of that’s seeing the coach that’s been there and who they’ve produced, how that program has produced quarterbacks. However clearly a quarterback-friendly offense, and so they’ve had actually profitable quarterbacks which have gone on to do good issues within the league. So, that positively stands out about Clemson, for certain.”
Trying forward, after this season, Kaelin expects to start working towards making his dedication choice.
“Someday after the season, I’ll begin narrowing that down and figuring that out,” he mentioned. “However I might say late winter would most likely be the newest it may occur, proper now. We’ll see.”
There are a handful of faculties on his present supply checklist standing out to him proper now, he mentioned.
“I really feel like I’ll get extra readability on that after September 1st and the extra I can discuss to coaches,” he mentioned. “However who I’m speaking to quite a bit proper now could be Michigan State, Minnesota, Vanderbilt, Rutgers. That’s most likely the 4 I discuss to probably the most. Duke and Mizzou just a little bit proper now. However we’ll see what occurs September 1st.”
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