After a recent spring practice, prior to the annual Kay Yow Spring Game, a conglomerate of sports reporters anxiously waited for interviews with players like starting quarterback Mike Glennon, two-time All-ACC tight end George Bryan, and last year’s starting running back Dean Haynes and veteran offensive lineman Camden Wentz.
However, I took the opportunity to talk to a player who is seldom in the media spotlight – redshirt senior quarterback Daniel Imhoff. The charismatic Sanford native, grinning from ear to ear, was quick to ask me how my classes were going, what my summer plans were and whether I would be attending the spring game.
“Dan the Man,” as he is affectionately called by his teammates, joined the Wolfpack as a walk-on in the spring of 2009. Imhoff was rewarded this year, being named 2010’s Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year and earning a scholarship in his final season at State.
“It’s been the road less traveled, I guess,” Imhoff said. “Not a lot of guys start off as a walk-on then earn a scholarship. It’s been a tremendous honor and I’m proud to have the opportunity.”
After playing intramural flag football and club lacrosse for the entirety of his freshman year, and the fall semester of his sophomore year, Imhoff, with the persuasion from friend and fellow Scout Team Player of the Year redshirt senior Zach Powell, decided to try out for the team.
“I knew we needed quarterbacks, because all we had was Russell [Wilson] and [Mike] Glennon at the time,” Powell said. “That was right after Harrison Beck and Daniel Evans graduated. I told Dan to come try out and that I thought we might be able to use him. He did and he made it. It was kind of cool.”
Imhoff was a first team all conference quarterback and MVP of the tennis team for Lee County High School. After high school, Imhoff admitted he thought his football career was over, but when the opportunity to play again presented itself, he jumped at the opportunity with a ‘why not?’ attitude.
“I didn’t think I’d ever have a chance to play football again,” Imhoff said. “I really missed competing. But honestly, I kept telling myself, ‘the worst thing they can tell me is no.’ So I just kept working hard at what I do, trying to get better at what coaches ask me to do, you finish every set in the weight room, finish every sprint at practice, you have to just try to be the best player you can be, not taking any shortcuts, that’s the best way to go.”
After taking the reins of the scout team offense two years ago, head coach Tom O’Brien called him 2010’s Most Improved Player following last years spring game performance where he was 11-21 with 221 yards and three touchdowns.
Imhoff has embraced his position on the scout team, and has taken on the roll as both a leader for younger players and somewhat of an offensive assistant coach. He signals plays to the quarterback and observes coverages and defensive schemes to provide insight to the quarterback in the game. Redshirt junior Mike Glennon praised Imhoff’s team-first mentality.
“Dan is awesome,” Glennon said. “He’s a great friend of mine and he’s the ultimate team player. Everything he does is team first and I enjoy coming to the sideline and talking to him. He’s one of the team’s favorite players.”
Powell reiterated Glennon’s statement. He was jubilant about the success the two players have had since playing flag football together on Miller Fields. Though the two have only played in a handful of games combined, both Powell and Imhoff are grateful to contribute to the N.C. State football program.
“He’s been a great friend for me,” Powell said. “Both of us coming from an intramural team together freshman year, then four years later both of being Scout Team Players of the Year, it’s just been like a dream come true for both of us. He’s been an awesome friend and a great teammate the whole time.”
