On the Plains with Ashton Daniels: Family, sports and a new opportunity

Being active has been a part of Ashton Daniels’ DNA since day one. Both of his parents were college athletes at the University of Georgia. His father, Juan Daniels, played football, and his mother, Hadli Daniels, played volleyball.  

“My parents told me that when I was younger, they could not get me away from sports, whether it be basketball, football, soccer, or baseball,” Daniels said. “I’ve just always loved sports, and I think that just comes from them being great role models.”

Daniels has always embraced the pressure of being from an athletic family. His father was a constant presence and coached him up until high school. 

“In the best way possible, I think they [his parents] expected greatness out of me,” Daniels said. 

For Daniels, greatness was a pursuit of his throughout high school, winning three state championships for Buford High School and earning the state championship game Most Valuable Player title all three years.  

“Being able to go out there with 10 other guys on a field was so appealing to me from a young age,” Daniels said. “I just loved it.”

Daniels continued his streak of achievement at Stanford, appearing in 10 games as a freshman before earning the starting quarterback role in his sophomore and junior years.  Additionally, he graduated with a degree in Science, Technology, and Society. 

While grateful for his time in California, Daniels confessed to being a bit of a homebody, and being closer to home played a significant role in his decision to spend his senior season at Auburn. 

“I met some great people and got some good experience,” Daniels said. “Having the opportunity to come back closer to home and have all my family members be able to see me play was a big thing for me when it came to transfer process.”

After the 2025 season, Daniels has dreams of playing in the NFL. He says that football is in his future, whether through coaching or playing. 

“My dreams are always to go play in the NFL,” he said. “I obviously can’t get away from sports. It’s a part of my identity. I know I’m going to be around football for probably a long time. But I haven’t put too much thought into it because I’m so focused on the present. I think we’re going to have a great year here.”

This season, the Auburn-Georgia game in Jordan-Hare Stadium on Oct. 11 is the date circled on Daniels’ calendar. It’s an environment he’s been in before, when attending as a kid, but he knows that it will be different to be on the field. 

“I did grow up a Georgia fan, unfortunately,” Daniels said. “My dad grew up an Auburn fan and went to Georgia, and so I grew up a Georgia fan, and now I’m here. It’s the craziest full-circle moment.”

Knowing that this could be his final year of playing football has lit a new fire in Daniels. 

“I'm just ready to lay it all out on the line, no matter what my role or job is,” Daniels said. “I'm excited for it.”

Daniels began his football career at age 5 as a running back before transitioning to quarterback the next year. 

“Being a leader on the field is always something that just comes so naturally to me, and there’s not really any other sports or positions where you can do that,” Daniels said. “It’s something that I stuck to and have loved ever since.” 

As a quarterback, Daniels has refined his leadership skills and ability to lead by example. He understands that in his position, people on and off the field are looking to him. 

Auburn’s quarterback room blends talent and experience between Daniels, junior Jackson Arnold and freshman Deuce Knight – creating anticipation and expectations for the upcoming season. 

Those expectations, says Daniels, have created healthy competition, where everyone is working to better the team and pushing one another. 

“It's the ‘iron sharpens iron’ mentality,” Daniels said. “No matter what, we know that if one of us goes down, we need to make sure that everyone else is ready to go in, just in case. And we're all here for the same reason, and that's to win football games.”

Healthy competition is the bond that has brought the quarterback room together. Daniels expressed his gratitude for how welcoming the group was and for the friendships he’s already formed. 

Community was one thing that immediately stuck out upon his arrival. Not only the community within the team, but the Auburn family as a whole. He described his experience at A-Day as “eye-opening” with how invested and interactive the crowd was. 

“We have a lot of people that really care for us and care about us, and that means a lot to me,” Daniels said. “I know we have to go out there and put on a show for them. The community is unreal.”

In his season on the Plains, Daniels wants to make an impact on both the team and the town. 

“When I'm on a team, I'm so committed to doing whatever I can to make this team better and to make this community better, and I'm going to lay it all out on the line for this whole season,” Daniels said. “I know how much Auburn football means to this community, which just makes it mean a lot more to me. I'm excited to see that and show that.”