Torrance "Tank" Daniels, in his second season in the NFL and his first with the New York Giants, will be a reserve linebacker and special-teams member on Feb. 3 when the Giants meet the undefeated New England Patriots.

Daniels, a native of Clarendon, Ark., is a graduate of Harding University in Searcy, Ark. He and his wife, Courtney, are members of the Pitman church in Sewell, N.J.


Daniels signed with the Giants as a practice-squad player on Sept. 19. After spending nine weeks on the practice squad, New York signed Daniels to the 53-man roster on Nov. 27. He played in four regular season games and had one special-teams tackle.

His biggest impact for the Giants came on Jan. 6 when he forced a fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half of the team's NFC Wild Card playoff game against Tampa Bay. The Giants recovered, kicked a field goal, and defeated the Buccaneers 24-14. Daniels also played against Dallas and had a tackle on a kickoff in Sunday's victory in sub-zero temperatures against Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game.

In 2006, Daniels was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, playing in six regular season games with nine special-teams tackles and five defensive tackles. He signed with Philadelphia as an undrafted free agent.

Daniels was a four-year starter for Harding from 2002-05 and had 237 career tackles, including 34 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks. He also had 10 forced fumbles, seven interceptions, and four fumble recoveries. Following his senior season, Daniels earned AP Little All-America honors. He is the first Harding graduate to play in the NFL.

Pitman minister Dan Cooper said the congregation is rejoicing with and helping the Daniels family - pitching in with child care for the couple's young son and daughter, Jackson and Grayson, so Courtney could watch her husband play in sub-zero temperatures in Green Bay, Wisc.

"Tank's humility and his desire to please God through this entire process continues to impress me," Cooper said, adding that that the Daniels are regular attendees at the men's prayer group and ladies' Bible class each week.

"Tank has a heart to honor God in his marriage, as a dad, and as a devout Christian man, even though he admits there are many temptations, because of his high visibility as an NFL player."