Blind University of Charleston Player to Sign with Buccaneers

By Stephanie Kocer

University of Charleston pass-rusher Zahzin Daniels has agreed to an undrafted free-agent contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Daniels was already an NFL underdog playing for the Division II Golden Eagles with a 34.5 sacks tally in four years with Charleston. By the way, he’s also blind in his right eye.

The defensive end first caught scouts’ attention at the NFLPA Bowl. Daniels lost vision in his right eye when he was five years old when he crashed his scooter into a metal pole in his neighborhood. Many of his coaches and teammates did not know Daniels had vision trouble, and they say it has little to do with how he plays the game. Charleston head coach Pat Kirkland said via Mike Garafolo of NFL Network that, “it did not limit his play at all. He played on both sides, left and right, and never used it as an excuse or crutch or anything like that.”

“I’ve been doing this for a while. Nothing’s changed. I have a lack of sight in one eye, but that makes me just want to go harder in all aspects,” Daniels said, per Garafolo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kjdmo2m44x0