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“That Alabama offer is another validation for schools all over the country,” Simmons said. “If he’s good enough for Alabama to offer, then he’s good enough for us to take a look at him and why don’t we know about this kid? Or who is this kid that Alabama offered?
“You see that a lot with offer lists in general. As those offers start to pile up and as big names start to indicate that they believe in this kid, that’s going to draw attention and make other schools take a second look or a first look.”
Of course, with 91 receptions for 1,299 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first three seasons, and with his performances at camps, Dalton created his own exposure.
“I think he was helped by the fact that the regional programs had caught on to him early,” Simmons said. “Boston College obviously thought highly of him and accepted a commitment from him early in the process. So that initially validates him and can sort of get him on the radar of some other programs.
“But he’s also a guy that went out and competed in some camps. He was at the US Army Combine. He went to college camps during the spring and summer. So I think he helped himself and he has some things to him that I think attracted schools.”
As attractive as Alabama was, Dalton still had to figure out for himself where he believed he fit best.
“You’re making a decision for the next 40 years of your life,” his father told him. “Not just the next four years.”
Father’s experience
Tom Dalton knew the weight of the decision his son had to make, because when he was Danny’s age, he had to make one himself.
Tom grew up in Piscataway, N.J. As the home of Rutgers University, the town takes pride in being the birthplace of football. Tom was a three-year starter at defensive end at Piscataway High School, a place where success is the standard and churning out future NFL talent is the norm.
He was a captain his senior season in 1985, but it was a dramatically different landscape for recruiting. Film wasn’t on the Internet, it was on reels. For each tape he shipped, Tom had to wait for schools to return it so he could send it to other schools. Recruits weren’t ranked or fawned over.
“There were no star systems when I was a kid, to be honest,” Tom said.
Still, Tom had suitors. Maryland was one of the first schools to show interest.
“They really liked him,” Danny said. “That was where he really wanted to go.”
But the Terrapins were going through a regime change. Bobby Ross was giving up the reins after five seasons, handing them over to Joe Krivak. It left Tom looking for options.
Then Bucknell came knocking. Things were promising, but luck was fickle. Bisons coach Robert Curtis decided to step down after 11 years, and Dalton’s plans were again dashed.
“So two schools in a row that he was looking at and they were looking at him highly, coaches change right before they would’ve offered him or anything would’ve happened,” Danny said.
Tom ended up at Delaware, where he played from 1986-88 under Harold “Tubby” Raymond. What he learned was patience. That first-hand experience with the unpredictability of the recruiting process was something he made sure to pass along to his son.
“I made sure that he understood that in the process everyone can want to say how great you are, but always keep yourself grounded,” Tom said. “You’re the same kid you were a week ago, a month ago. Just because Alabama came in, you’re not any better or worse.
“Know everyone’s going to tell you all the things they want to tell you, because they want to tell you all the best things about you, and realize that they’re doing their job.
“You have to then find the right fit. Make sure that wherever you go, if football was taken away from you tomorrow that you’d be happy to be there.”
Decision time
The Daltons have a room in their home where they sit as a family to talk through important decisions. Every family member has a voice, including Danny’s sister, who phones in from Notre Dame.
As fast as things seemed to be moving, Dalton had a timeline in mind. He knew he wanted to make his decision by May, so that he would be able to focus on his last season at Marshfield. Dalton and a core group of current seniors, including quarterback Jack Masterson and center Shane Leonard, had turned an 0-11 team two years ago into a Super Bowl winner last season, and the goal now is to win back-to-back championships.
“That was my No. 1 thing,” Dalton said. “I knew I was going to make my decision before football season started, so none of that would be a distraction. I didn’t want that looming over my head through football season.”
In March, Dalton made two more visits. The first was to Rutgers. The other to Penn State. With his father at his side, Dalton paid close attention to the way Penn State coach James Franklin ran his spring practice. It reminded them of the way Silva and his staff did things in Marshfield.
All through May, coaches were still trying to sway Dalton. Near the end of the month, Tom was at one of his son’s lacrosse games when he heard buzz that Michigan assistant coach Jay Harbaugh and Penn State assistant coach John Donovan were in the stands.
“I was walking up to people, my friends in the stands were saying, ‘That Harbaugh guy is looking for Danny and looking for you. And that Donovan guy’s looking for you,’ ” Tom said.
At that point in the recruiting process, coaches couldn’t talk to players or parents.
“They had to kind of just walk the halls and watch,” Tom said. “Then in the parking lot kind of wave to you.
“It was fun moment as a father. I said, ‘This has really come full circle.’ I was proud but also amazed at that moment.”
None of them expected the roller coaster of events to bring them to where they are now: committing, then de-committing, at BC; the courtship by the football royalty; and the hard decisions that Dalton had to make along the way. It was not how Dalton expected his senior year to go, by far. But after all the unexpected turns, his decision was made.
“I have nothing but great things to say about BC,” Dalton said. “They gave me my first opportunity. I’m really thankful for that because if it weren’t for them, I don’t think I’d be in the situation I am in right now with Penn State, which I’m really happy about.
“It was crazy. It was really crazy, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I’m lucky to have all the opportunities that were given to me and I’m lucky to be able to go to my dream school. It was crazy, but it was definitely worth it.”
Danny Dalton before football practice at Marshfield High in September.
