Clem Daniels (1998) - Hall of Fame - Southwestern Athletic Conference

Hall of Fame

Early Life & College

Clem Daniels was born July 9, 1937, in McKinney, Texas.
He attended an all-Black high school in McKinney and then enrolled at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) from 1956–59.
While at PVAMU, Daniels played for the Panthers football team. He was part of the 1958 team that went 10-0-1 and won the Black College National Championship.
Also, at PVAMU: he completed the ROTC program and later served in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Collegiate Achievements

At PVAMU, Daniels earned All-Conference honors during his sophomore and junior years.
His performance contributed to the strong season in 1958, including wins over top programs.

Professional Career

After college, Daniels entered professional football, though he was undrafted in 1960.
He played for the Dallas Texans (1960), then the Oakland Raiders from 1961–67, and later the San Francisco 49ers.
His stats with the Raiders: over 1,133 carries for 5,103 yards and 30 rushing touchdowns; also 201 receptions for 3,291 yards and 24 receiving touchdowns.
He was considered one of the top running backs in the American Football League (AFL), earning multiple All-AFL honors, and was included on the AFL All-Time Team.
· At PVAMU, he was inducted into the PVAMU Sports Hall of Fame (class of 1989) in recognition of his collegiate achievements.
· He used his platform to impact social issues: for example, he was one of the leaders of the boycott by Black AFL All-Stars in 1965 when they refused to play in New Orleans under discriminatory conditions.
· After his playing career, he taught high school, became a business owner, and was active in supporting HBCU athletics and Black business initiatives.