He accepted a scholarship from Mississippi Valley State University, where he played at wide receiver.
He was inducted into the Mississippi Valley State University Athletics Hall of Fame.
He had a disappointing rookie season, playing in only 4 games and spending most of the year on the team's taxi squad.
[2] On July 31, 1969, he was traded during training camp to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a seven-round pick (#158-Terry Brennan).
McDaniels lasted just a week with the Chicago Bears before being traded to the Los Angeles Rams, in exchange for a seven-round draft choice (#176-Dennis Ferris) on August 11, 1969.