Lopez overcomes odds in making his mark on Baylor football team

Perseverance is one of the qualities that best describes Daniel Lopez.

His football career at Baylor University would seem to be solid proof of that notion.

When Lopez, a 2003 Hanna High School graduate, joined the Bears’ squad five years ago, he was one of 25 walk-ons. Before the 2007 season began, Lopez, a 5-foot-11, 231-pound reserve linebacker, looked around and noticed that he was one of only two walk-ons from the original group still on the Baylor roster.

Both Lopez, who redshirted as a freshman, and the other walk-on were awarded athletic scholarships as seniors, so their diligence finally paid off.

"A lot of players when they walk on don’t get noticed, or they find it too tough and quit after a year or so," said Lopez, 22, who graduated from Baylor earlier this month with a degree in anthropology with a concentration in forensic science. He minored in criminal justice and will start graduate studies in sports management at Baylor in January. He would someday like to work for the FBI or CIA.

"I was able to become a scholarship athlete for Baylor in the Big 12 Conference, and that’s what really means a lot to me," Lopez said. "Guy Morriss was the head coach the whole time I was there, but I went through three different defensive coordinators. That made it very tough because the longer you know a coach, the more trust he develops in you to put you into a game.

"Even though it was a difficult situation (with changing coaches on the Baylor staff), it’s something I was able to overcome," he added. "Earning that scholarship is the thing I’m proudest about.

"There are times (in practice) when it’s easy to think about quitting because you’re going against five-star recruits from all across the country. But then you’re in a drill and the guy you go up against says you hit him harder than anybody else, and that’s what really makes your day. That’s what I live for."

Lopez lettered in football four years at Hanna and was a first-team 32-5A All-District selection at linebacker and running back as a senior in 2002. He was a member of Hanna’s 2001 district championship team and played for then-head coach Tony Villarreal.

He also competed in the shot put and hurdles on the Golden Eagles’ track team and played two years of basketball, but football was always his main sport.

Lopez graduated from Hanna in 2003 with distinction. He was a member of the school’s chess team and received Health Occupation Students of America recognition.

"Daniel was always very hard-working and a very coachable young man," former Hanna assistant football coach Rick Schuster said. "He was also a very gifted student in the classroom and was involved in many extracurricular activities.

"He always brought a lot of enthusiasm with him to football and exhibited a positive attitude toward the team," Schuster added. "He was a pleasure to coach and work with. I am glad he is doing well at Baylor, both academically and athletically. We are very proud of his accomplishments."

Lopez said one of the strongest motivations he had in trying to succeed on the football field at Baylor was the advice he had received from a couple of Hanna teachers, who urged him to concentrate on academics in college and forego football.

"I never went back (to Hanna) to tell anyone, ‘Look what I did,’ or anything like that, but I have to admit, it did make me try harder (as a football player)," Lopez said.

Besides earning an athletic scholarship as a senior, Lopez said another memorable moment during his time playing for the Bears came his junior year when he went into the game against nationally ranked Oklahoma and All-America running back Adrian Peterson.

"It feels good when the coaches have trust in you and put you in instead of somebody else," he said. "Oklahoma was in the Red Zone and driving for a score."

For the next week or so, Lopez plans to enjoy his time at home in Brownsville with his parents Eduardo and Sandra Lopez and with his brother Eduardo Jr. and sister Victoria, who are currently students at Hanna.

Even with the start of graduate school looming in his immediate future, Lopez said he has not entirely ruled out a continuation of his football career. Lopez said in the past week he was contacted by a sports agent who offered to help him attempt to land a spot on the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad.

Also, Lopez said he will continue to stay in shape and train for a pro tryout camp scheduled this spring at Baylor that will be attended by NFL scouts.

"Even though I know it’s a longshot, I’ll still be preparing for it (camp)," he said. "It’s about three months away. There will be other (pro) scouts there besides the ones from the NFL. God willing, maybe something will happen."

Regardless of what takes place in the future, Lopez knows he already has accomplished something fairly unique for a football player coming out of the Rio Grande Valley.

"I feel pretty good because something that I always did before every game was look at the other team’s roster to see if there was anybody from the Valley, and especially from Brownsville, on there," Lopez said. "The truth of the matter is there’s not a lot of players from the Valley in the Big 12. I maybe saw just a few guys during my career at Baylor. I wish I would have seen more, but at the same time, it makes me proud that I was able to be one of them."