Football: Utica's Daniel Santiago commits to Holy Cross

Daniel Santiago has made a key decision about his football future.

The former Thomas R. Proctor High School athlete who played his junior and senior seasons at Horizon High School in Arizona is planning to be closer to home to play college football next season.

Santiago announced he has accepted a full scholarship offer from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Santiago, a 6-foot-2, 283-pound defensive lineman whose time in Arizona helped make him a top defensive prospect from the Mohawk Valley, said he liked the fit with Holy Cross. The school’s coaching staff offered him a scholarship Dec. 22, he said.

“Holy Cross is one of the teams that has been super-transparent with me the whole time,” said Santiago, who planned to visit Holy Cross this weekend. “Ever since they’ve been on board, they’ve kept things super-real with me. I felt I was wanted. I want to be somewhere where I’m wanted just as much as I want them.”

Santiago is wrapping up his time in Arizona is planning to transfer back to Proctor to finish his senior year.

The NCAA Division I school is a member of the Patriot League and the Football Championship Subdivision. Hamilton-based Colgate also is a member of the Patriot League.

Holy Cross, led by head coach Bob Chesney, finished 10-3 overall and advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs during the 2021 season. Holy Cross finished as the FCS’ top statistical defense in 2021 allowing 3,308 yards. That was the fewest yards allowed at that level.

Santiago said he didn’t have concerns about any stability while talking with defensive coordinator Scott James and Chesney. Santiago is hopeful about earning a starting job this fall.

“Holy Cross is where I have a good opportunity to play early. That had a lot to do with my decision,” Santiago said.

Connor Cough, a mentor to Santiago and Proctor assistant coach, said it is a good opportunity.

“Frankly, I think he’s going to be a star there,” Cough said. “For him to be able to go to Holy Cross, which is an elite academic school, is pretty amazing. I think he’s going to be able to go in there an contribute right away. That’s big to go somewhere and play right away as opposed to waiting your turn or sometimes never getting the opportunity.”

Santiago said he picked Holy Cross over 13 other offers. Fellow Patriot League schools Fordham, Lehigh and Colgate also made offers. He said he also had scholarship offers from Arizona, San Diego State, Colorado State, Army, Navy, Air Force, Yale, Fordham, Richmond and New Hampshire.

He said he also visited Oregon State, Illinois, South Carolina, Army, Buffalo and Syracuse, where his uncle Nick played college ball.

Getting looks: Santiago raises football profile after move from Utica to Arizona

Decisions: College football offers continue for Daniel Santiago, who is set to play for Proctor again

Santiago’s time in Arizona contributed to helping him in recruiting. Cough said Proctor staff could see the size and potential in Santiago beginning as an eighth-grader.

“He had the ‘it’ factor,” Cough said. “In March 2020 he was going to really commit himself. He transformed his whole body. That time he had off between March 2020 and his junior year (in Arizona) is when he became a serious Division I recruit.”

He had a standout junior season in six games with Horizon. Because of COVID-19 challenges with Proctor last fall, he made the decision to return to Horizon. He helped the school in Scottsdale win a state title.

In 14 games, he had 58 tackles (31 solo), 16.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, an interception, a blocked punt and a four blocked field goals. Cough noted he was double- and triple-teamed at times during games.

For his efforts, Santiago was named a Defensive Player of the Year nominee by the Arizona Republic as part of its All-Arizona team.

“I felt like it was the year to make everything happen,” said Santiago, who noted he appreciated the support in Utica especially from staff at Tito’s NY Barbershop in Utica who was streaming his Horizon games. “I had a really good year. It brought me to where I am now.”

Ben Birnell is a sports reporter for the Observer-Dispatch. Email Ben Birnell at bbirnell@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Utica's Daniel Santiago commits to Holy Cross for football