NC State Transfer Dante Daniels Talks Bold About His Family Life and Childhood Story

N.C. State tight end Dante Daniels made an incredible catch, leaping over Syracuse defensive back Clarence Lewis while securing the football, earning a 9-yard gain and a first down as grass flew from his cleats. Onlookers likely viewed it as a remarkable display of athleticism, but that single moment was the culmination of a much more complex journey.

Describing Daniels’ life and feelings about his childhood as “complicated” would be a significant understatement. Discussing his family background reveals both the highs and lows of the human experience, showcasing life’s intricacies and the perseverance that comes with it. His path has not been easy, and he will likely face its repercussions for years to come. The encouraging part? The Wolfpack’s junior transfer is just beginning his journey.

“I SHOULDN’T HAVE WITNESSED THAT”

Daniels recalls the night the police arrived, whisking him away to his aunt’s house while adrenaline coursed through him. He couldn’t sleep, consumed by worry about his mother’s well-being. Born in Canada, Daniels is the third of six siblings: he has two older brothers, Tyler and Taylor, and three younger siblings, Santino, Aliyah, and Savannah. His biological mother, Danielle, is currently recovering from addiction, but there were times when she seemed to be sleeping on the couch, affected by drug use.

“I shouldn’t have witnessed that. I remember it so vividly—the chaos, where I was, what she was doing. It’s something kids shouldn’t have to deal with. It was tough,” Daniels reflected. His biological father, Edward, moved to Detroit when Daniels was about 7. As a child, Daniels often told others he didn’t have a dad. It wasn’t until his 15th birthday that Edward explained his departure was due to Danielle’s drug issues, saying, “I just couldn’t be around it.”

As Daniels grew older, his older siblings, Tyler and Taylor, moved out, leaving him to take care of the younger children. He did everything he could to support his family, from collecting recyclable cans for extra groceries to searching for jobs. He often walked or used public transport to get to school. While he wasn’t entirely alone—his mother’s boyfriend provided some financial help and his maternal grandmother assisted with caregiving—life was challenging.

“My mom just wasn’t being a good parent at that time,” Daniels admitted. He struggled academically during his freshman year of high school, as he was constantly trying to help out at home. As he got older, his mother’s condition worsened; he watched her slur her words, stumble, and even overdose in bed.

“I was scared to bring my friends home because I didn’t want them to witness any of this,” he shared. When Danielle moved to Detroit, about 10 minutes from Windsor, Ontario, during his sophomore year, Daniels found himself homeless and couch-surfing until he eventually settled with the Fillion family, who took him in full-time.

‘You’ve always got a place’

In a two-bedroom home not far from where Daniels grew up, three teenage boys shared a triple-bunk bed. Jen and Joel Fillion, who have two children—Paul, one of Daniels’ childhood best friends, and Joseph—quickly opened their home to him when they learned he needed a place to stay in 2018. “My instinct was, ‘We’ve always got room for you,’” Joel Fillion recalled. “You might have to sleep on the couch, but you’re always welcome here.” Daniels and Paul had met in T-ball when Daniels’ parents were still married, but since Daniels didn’t attend the same schools as the Fillions’ kids, they mainly saw him during the summer. After bonding with the family on a summer trip, he was soon considered an honorary member of the Fillion household.

Daniels remembered their support in financing his school sports and helping him find scholarships, although they weren’t fully aware of his family situation. “We probably knew a little more being closer to him,” Fillion said, “but even we didn’t know everything.” In the spring of 2018, shortly after Daniels turned 16, his sister Taylor called to inform him that their mother, Danielle, had overdosed and was in the hospital. Knowing he couldn’t return home, the Fillions decided to pursue legal guardianship for Daniels, a process akin to foster care or adoption in Canada. He also considers himself adopted by them.

They assisted him in obtaining his driver’s license, gaining American citizenship to attend school—Daniels’ biological father, Edward, is from the U.S.—and securing health insurance. They enforced curfews, upheld high standards, signed permission slips, and taught him various life skills. Their refrigerator was always stocked with milk and orange juice, which had previously been a luxury for his younger siblings due to financial constraints. Although they never formally adopted him, he sees them as parents, and they regard him as a son. “They helped me excel in school. I improved my grades and attended classes regularly—only missing days when I was really sick,” Daniels noted. “They provided me with the same opportunities they gave their kids to succeed in sports and in life.”

Joel Fillion reflected, “As much as people say we’ve done a lot for Dante, he’s done a lot for us. Life has a mysterious way of balancing things out. Some may think we did something great, but really, we just did what was right. It was the only course of action.”

‘Stick this thing through’

The sun shone down as Daniels carried grocery bags from Walmart to his dorm at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas. While it’s just a five-minute drive, walking the distance took him 30 minutes. During high school, Daniels didn’t receive any offers to play college football until a former youth coach introduced him to Brice Vignery, who runs the small junior college renowned for its football legacy, which includes producing players like Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, a former quarterback at Butler. Vignery offered Daniels a chance to compete and thrive. “This is what adulthood looks like,” he remarked. It represented a fresh start. “It allowed me to step away from the environment I grew up in and take time to reflect on my life and how I ended up where I was,” Daniels explained.

However, the experience wasn’t without its challenges. The players were not particularly close, Butler lacked modern facilities and chartered travel, and Daniels often felt homesick, even contemplating a return to Canada in 2022. “You’re not welcome home until you graduate,” recalled Joel Fillion, his wife’s words to Daniels. “It was basically saying, ‘Stick it out. Don’t feel sorry for yourself. Just work hard.’” Daniels spent three years at Butler, playing in 10 games and scoring a touchdown. He learned the importance of hard work and came to understand that playing college football is a privilege. While there, N.C. State recognized his potential, and he signed with the Wolfpack in December, enrolling that January.

“It’s been exciting to see him transition. I love recruiting junior college players. They come in so thankful because there’s not much available to them at those programs,” said Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren. “In some cases, there’s no one to tape their ankles, they lack training tables, and they eat in the cafeteria. Then, they arrive here, and someone hands them a shake, and they’re amazed, thinking, ‘You’re giving me something?’ There’s a sense of appreciation and gratitude, especially given his background and experiences as a young person.”

Emotional contradictions

Families of N.C. State football players typically sit near the 50-yard line in the lower section of Carter-Finley Stadium. This Saturday, for the first time in his career, Daniels will have both his adoptive and biological family members in attendance when N.C. State hosts Stanford for homecoming. The Fillions are making their third trip to North Carolina, having previously attended the spring game and a matchup in Charlotte. This will also mark the first time that Edward, Daniels’ biological father, sees him play college football. While this is an exciting moment, it also brings up complex emotions.

Edward has remarried and taken in his wife’s children after relocating from Canada. For many years, Daniels felt resentment towards his father for leaving him and his siblings. However, he now understands that it might have been challenging for Edward to raise children in Detroit. Daniels believes Edward was worried about how his wife, Danielle, would cope without the children around. Although their relationship is better now, Daniels worries about the possibility of Edward saying something that could hurt him again. Danielle, who has never seen her son play college football, is working to stay clean, but their relationship remains strained. Daniels often feels unable to discuss the past and its effects on him.

Fillion finds it difficult to watch Daniels navigate these conflicting emotions. It’s painful and, at times, frustrating for him. He knows that Daniels wishes to view Edward as the ideal father, but Edward was absent for much of his life, and they are only just beginning to rebuild their relationship. The way Daniels talks about his childhood demonstrates the internal conflicts he faces. He believes that no child should endure what he experienced, yet he also wishes he could go back and tell his younger self to “be a man.” “I know he struggles with it,” Fillion noted. “It’s a very complex situation for him.”

‘It made me who I am today’

Tears filled Daniels’ eyes as he emerged from the tunnels at Clemson Memorial and Bank of America Stadiums for his first Division I college games. All the struggles, sleepless nights, fears, and sadness faded away as he took in the scene around him. While many of his teammates grew up expecting to play under bright lights, Daniels wasn’t even sure he would attend college. For him, sports were a way to escape the challenges he faced at home. He shared that coming to N.C. State has transformed his life. He’s learning it’s okay to cry and show his emotions, and he’s expanding the family he began to build in Canada. In September, he proposed to his longtime girlfriend, and his teammates, like Justin Joly and Aiden Arias, captured the moment in photos. Coaches and teammates reached out with calls, texts, and supportive comments on social media, reminding him he doesn’t have to experience joy or sorrow alone. “His story is quite different from most,” said Doeren. “He’s faced a lot. I think he’s found peace and has forgiven those in his life. He’s very grounded and engaged, which makes his experience different from that of many college students.”

Daniels’ journey to this point has been anything but straightforward. He has witnessed broken families, addiction, and heartache, yet he has also found joy and new beginnings. While life may remain complicated and he might always feel conflicted, Daniels can take pride in the person he has become. “I’ve grown as an individual, and that has shaped who I am today,” he said. “Had I grown up in a two-parent household, I don’t believe I would have the same drive to play college football. I truly believe everything happens for a reason, and I’m grateful it turned out this way.”