McDaniels witnessed an abundance of speed on a daily basis for the past 23 years as coach at Canton McKinley and Warren Harding, a pair of powerhouse football programs.
Maurice Clarett and Mario Manningham are two of several players he coached who earned college scholarships and played Division I football. A select few, such as Mike Doss and Kenny Peterson, also played in the NFL.
Although some of his former players were great, McDaniels said no one was faster than Jackson's current tailback: senior Carlin Isles.
''He is the fastest kid I have ever coached,'' McDaniels said of Isles. ''That's a remarkable thing to come out of my mouth, having coached at McKinley and Harding.''
Isles' 40-yard dash times and track and field resume prove that he is indeed fast. He ran a 4.28-second, electronically-timed 40-yard dash in February at a camp in Pittsburgh. Recently he ran a 40 in a hand-held time of 4.13 at the University of Akron.
Those times along with his statistics 1,014 rushing yards on 167 carries for a 6.1-yard average and 12 total touchdowns (10 by rush) have drawn interest from college recruiters. Isles already has scholarship offers from UA and Ohio University, yet he is ''still waiting and seeing what else is out there.''
One drawback for Isles, a Division I second-team all-district selection last season who will also play defensive back, is his size. He is 5-foot-81/2, 158 pounds. Those vitals worry some college coaches, who question his durability.
''When I got to spring combines everybody was bigger than me . . . once I got out there and showed what I could do, their (college recruiters) whole perspective about me changed,'' Isles said. ''I have a lot of heart and I believe in myself.''
Isles, entering his second full season as a starter, said he is grateful for his gift.
''My speed . . . I thank God that I have it,'' he said. ''It separates me from other players. I can hit top-end speed really quick, sometimes I have to be really patient and wait for my block and then go. I try to emulate Teddy Ginn.''
This past spring Isles qualified for the Division I state track and field meet in three events: the 100-meter dash, 200 and 400. Isles finished second in the 200 and third in the 100 after winning both events at the Austintown Fitch regional. He won the 100, 200 and 400 at the North Canton Hoover district and the Federal League meet.
His speed has drawn conversations about the Olympics, and Isles said that is a goal.
Before any college or Olympic career begins, Isles must get through his senior year. He said McDaniels and his staff are leading the Polar Bears in the right direction with a ''West Coast offense.''
''It has been a big adjustment from last year, the plays are totally different and we're running new assignments,'' he said. ''I am getting a lot more touches, rushing the ball and catching passes out of the backfield. It's an offense that revolves around me and I basically love it.''
McDaniels has been impressed by not just Isles' amazing speed, but also his personality.
''He pretty much leads by example,'' McDaniels said. ''He is not a vocal kid. He practices hard. I might be demanding more of him than any other coach he has ever had, but he is responding to it very well.''
McDaniels is realistic about what the team has and what it doesn't.
''We're not really fast, with the exception of one guy and he is exceptionally fast,'' he said. ''It's important to know who we are and do what we do best. We're not going to get bigger or stronger.''
Isles expects his senior season to be memorable. Seniors Paul Rohr, Adam Young-Murphy, John Wright, Joe Campitelli, John Swansiger and Mike Smith, and juniors Erik Carlson, Dustin Musser and Brad Holt will lead the way on the offensive line.
Isles is also a twin, with sister Tambra Isles being just two minutes older. She is also a sprinter.
''We are pretty close, I am always nagging her and trying to make her work hard,'' he said. ''We like to tease each other a lot.''
When asked who is the better athlete, Isles said with a laugh: ''Me. I'm faster, bigger, stronger and better.''
