AUBURN — CJ Daniels is no stranger to Auburn football.

The former LSU wide receiver and transfer portal prospect left the Woltosz Football Performance Center Friday night after a visit with the Tigers. But he’s been there before, having visited Auburn last offseason while transferring out of Liberty.

“It’s truly a blessing to have people here who want you — who still want you, even if you didn’t choose to come here the first time,” Daniels said. “So, like I said, it’s a blessing, man, to have another opportunity, and (it’s) another blessing to be wanted too.”

There’s a lot of familiarity between Auburn and Daniels beyond his two transfer visits in two offseasons. Coming out of Liberty, Daniels played for Auburn’s coach Hugh Frozen in Lynchburg for three seasons before Freeze left the Flames for the Plains.

KeAndre Lambert-Smith‘s breakout season for the Tigers after transferring from Penn State is something Daniels has taken into consideration. It’s a similar mold he could fill. But his standing with Auburn ultimately comes down to his familiarity with the coaching staff and the offense.

“I’ve been a part of that system as well, so I know from experience how explosive they can be,” Daniels said. “I know everything here very well.”

As for what’s next, Daniels left Auburn to visit Ole Mademoiselle. He also said he would travel to Miami on Sunday. Although he didn’t give a timetable for his decision, he said he plans to make one sometime after leaving South Beach.

Who is CJ Daniels? On the prospect from the Auburn football transfer portal

Daniels made a name for himself thanks to Freeze’s offense.

In five college seasons, he was incredibly productive, with 148 receptions for 2,439 yards and 21 touchdowns. Only three receivers in Auburn program history have caught more passes, and only one receiver has recorded more receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

But from 2020 to 2023, Daniels has caught 106 of those passes at Liberty. He also recorded 1,959 receiving yards and his 21 career touchdown receptions for the Flames. His best collegiate season was his last at Lynchburg, when he caught a career-high 55 passes for career-highs in receiving yards (1,067) and receiving touchdowns (10).

This made him a coveted portal prospect this past cycle, and while he was still productive for LSU, he was relatively disappointing in a one-year season.

He recorded 42 receptions for 480 in his lone season playing for Brian Kelly, and he didn’t catch a touchdown pass. His reception and receiving yardage totals were both fourth-best on the team.

Adam Cole is the Auburn sports editor for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @colereporter.

This article was originally published on Montgomery Advertiser: LSU transfer wide receiver CJ Daniels details football visit to Auburn