California LB looking for a chance
It was difficult for linebacker Daniel Cordick to get college's attention out of high school in 2007. It wasn't because of lack of talent but more of a geographical issue. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Cordick wasn't exactly located in a popular recruiting area.
Still, hard-hitting recruiting coach Jeff Reinebold somehow discovered Cordick. At the time, Reinebold was at the University of Hawaii.
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"The only school that really looked at me was Hawaii with Jeff Reinebold," said Cordick. "He was pretty aggressive off the go when he started calling me and everything."
The Warriors were interested in the prospect playing in their program but in the end there was a credit transfer issue, from Canada to the States, which ultimately snagged the process.
Though he didn't have an opportunity to play Division-I football immediately, Cordick still believed that he would one day get his shot. He packed his belongings and moved south to California, where he is currently enrolled as a sophomore at Sacramento City Community College.
"My high school coach didn't think I could do it. I'm out here showing him that I can. He didn't think that I'm division-I quality when right now I'm getting looked at by a couple of Division-I schools."
In his freshman season, Cordick racked up 12 sacks and lead his conference in that category. Just three games into the season, the standout linebacker is already averaging a sack per game.
North Carolina began looking Cordick's way first and is continuing to be in talks. Then just a few days ago, Reinebold dialed up his old Canadian friend.
"He called me about two days. It went really well. He said that he was going to start recruiting me again. He liked my junior college tape. He said that they need my transcripts and that's about it."
Now at SMU, Reinebold and the Mustangs are looking for a linebacker in which Cordick could fit the mold with his 6-foot-3, 235-pound frame and 4.59 40 time. Cordick enjoyed hearing Reinebold's voice on the phone again.
"I was like 'oh, he's calling me back!' This could be a good opportunity. It's pretty exciting to hear from him. The last time I heard from him was in the spring when he was trying to bring me out there in the spring. I wasn't able to go out there in the spring."
Though an official offer has not come from the Mustangs just yet, Cordick says that it would the break that he's been looking for.
"I would go for the chance to play. He'd be giving me a shot right out of junior college. He'd be giving me a chance to show what I can do."
What's the probability that SMU will be offering Cordick? Find out in Friday's edition of The Pony Express at PonyPride.com.