Miami Hurricanes wide receiver CJ Daniels wanted to submit his Catch of the Year bid early this season.
The Miami senior channeled his inner Odell Beckham Jr. to close out the first half of his team’s Sunday showdown against Notre Dame at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Hurricanes had 2nd-and-3 at the Irish’s 20 with just 18 seconds until halftime.
The pocket collapsed on Miami quarterback Carson Beck just a second after the snap, which forced him to make a desperation throw with Notre Dame’s Boubacar Traore draped all over him. Beck overthrew it to Daniels standing a few yards shy of the end zone.
OH. MY. CJ. DANIELS. 🤯🖐️
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) September 1, 2025
📺 ABC x @CanesFootball pic.twitter.com/FnoKVni8nw
To say Daniels was able to adjust on the fly would be a serious understatement. The Miami wideout made a perfectly timed leap backward to snag the pass with his right hand. The momentum carried him all the way to the end zone for a touchdown.
The slow-motion replays Daniels’ catch look even better.
CJ Daniels with an Odell impression for the Touchdown#NDvsMIA pic.twitter.com/3GhDeHlWwN
— Blego (@BlegoBro) September 1, 2025
Beck owes Daniels dinner for making the incredible play. Had the catch not been made, Notre Dame safety Adon Shuler would have had an interception served to him on a silver platter.
Instead, Beck got his second TD of the night to give Miami a 14-7 lead at the half.
