Danny Oquendo
Encyclopedia
Daniel "Danny" Oquendo, Jr. is an American football
player. He is a former wide receiver
for the Maryland Terrapins
of the University of Maryland
.
to parents Daniel Oquendo, Sr. and Ana Garcia. He attended Hackensack High School
where he was a three-year starter as a wide receiver and safety. As a junior he led the team in tackles and returned two punts and a kick for touchdowns. As a senior in 2004, he caught 45 passes for 843 yards and nine touchdowns, returned seven punts for 125 yards, returned 12 kickoffs for 293 yards, made two quarterback sack
s, three interceptions, and 81 tackles including 53 solo. As a junior he was named an all-league and all-county player. As a senior he was named an all-league, all-county, and PrepStar All-East Region player. He was also posted the fourth-best time (7.62) in the high hurdles in the nation.
He was recruited by Maryland, Virginia Tech
, Boston College
, Purdue
, and Rutgers
.
In 2008, Oquendo saw action in all 13 games including five starts. He made 29 receptions for 371 yards including two touchdowns and a 50-yard long. Due to his sure hands, Oquendo was quarterback Chris Turner
's preferred third-down receiver, and caught 13 passes on third downs, all of which gained enough yardage to convert to a first down. Star Z receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey
said, "I tell people [Turner] doesn’t look my way on third down, he's looking for Danny ... I’ve been telling people all year. I even told a [defensive back] one time in the game 'He ain't coming my way.' Danny’s the man." On special teams, Oquendo returned 20 punt returns for 104 yards when he was utilized in that position for his reliable hands rather than an elusive returning ability. Oquendo also recorded one completion on two trick play
pass attempts for a 43-yard touchdown.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He is a former wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
for the Maryland Terrapins
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
of the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
.
Early years
Oquendo was born on July 8, 1987 in Hackensack, New JerseyHackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
to parents Daniel Oquendo, Sr. and Ana Garcia. He attended Hackensack High School
Hackensack High School
Hackensack High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Hackensack, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Hackensack Public Schools...
where he was a three-year starter as a wide receiver and safety. As a junior he led the team in tackles and returned two punts and a kick for touchdowns. As a senior in 2004, he caught 45 passes for 843 yards and nine touchdowns, returned seven punts for 125 yards, returned 12 kickoffs for 293 yards, made two quarterback sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
s, three interceptions, and 81 tackles including 53 solo. As a junior he was named an all-league and all-county player. As a senior he was named an all-league, all-county, and PrepStar All-East Region player. He was also posted the fourth-best time (7.62) in the high hurdles in the nation.
He was recruited by Maryland, Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech Hokies football
The Virginia Tech Hokies football team is a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-FBS, in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have more wins in team history than any other program in the ACC. Their home games are played at Lane Stadium which seats over...
, Boston College
Boston College Eagles football
The Boston College Eagles football team is the collegiate football program of Boston College. The team is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, a Division I Bowl Subdivision league governed by the NCAA. Within the ACC, the Eagles are one of six teams in the Atlantic Division...
, Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
, and Rutgers
Rutgers Scarlet Knights football
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represents Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision play...
.
College career
In 2005, he saw action in all 11 games as a true freshman including one start. Oquendo posted three receptions for 20 yards. On special teams, he posted ten tackles and two fumble recoveries. In 2006, he played in all 13 games including 5 starts, mostly at slot receiver. He caught 34 passes for 396 yards and two touchdowns, and was the second-highest receiving yards leader on the team. He returned 12 punts for 218 yards. In 2007, after starting quarterback Jordan Steffy was injured mid-season, he briefly participated in an open tryout for a reservist to provide more depth at the position. Oquendo played in the first nine games and made 19 receptions before suffering a season-ending knee injury during practice.In 2008, Oquendo saw action in all 13 games including five starts. He made 29 receptions for 371 yards including two touchdowns and a 50-yard long. Due to his sure hands, Oquendo was quarterback Chris Turner
Chris Turner (American football)
Chris Turner is an American football quarterback. He played quarterback for the Maryland Terrapins at the University of Maryland from 2007 to 2009...
's preferred third-down receiver, and caught 13 passes on third downs, all of which gained enough yardage to convert to a first down. Star Z receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey
Darrius Heyward-Bey
-Oakland Raiders:During Organized Team Activities following the draft, Heyward-Bey practiced early but was plagued by multiple hamstring injuries. On July 30, 2009, the Oakland Raiders agreed to terms on a five-year deal with Heyward-Bey.-External links:***...
said, "I tell people [Turner] doesn’t look my way on third down, he's looking for Danny ... I’ve been telling people all year. I even told a [defensive back] one time in the game 'He ain't coming my way.' Danny’s the man." On special teams, Oquendo returned 20 punt returns for 104 yards when he was utilized in that position for his reliable hands rather than an elusive returning ability. Oquendo also recorded one completion on two trick play
Trick play
A trick play, also known as a gadget play or a gimmick play, is a play in American football that uses deception and unorthodox strategies to fool the opposing team. A trick play is often risky, offering the potential for a large gain or a touchdown if it is successful, but with the chance of a...
pass attempts for a 43-yard touchdown.
External links
- Quietly, Terps' Oquendo makes a resounding impact, The Washington PostThe Washington PostThe Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, November 21, 2008. - 'Tough guys' on the Terps, The Baltimore Sun, September 2008.
- Oquendo uses speed as hurdler on track team, The DiamondbackThe DiamondbackThe Diamondback is the independent student newspaper of the University of Maryland, College Park. It was founded in 1910 as The Triangle and renamed in 1921 in honor of a local reptile, the Diamondback terrapin...
, April 19, 2007. - 'The New Breed' has more confidence than experience, The Herald-Mail, September 8, 2006.
- Rutgers' Resurgence Is Like Day, Knights, The Washington Post, September 29, 2007.
- 'Sack comes back, The RecordThe Record (Bergen County)The Record is a newspaper in northern New Jersey. It has the second largest circulation of New Jersey's daily newspapers, behind The Star-Ledger. Owned by the Borg family since 1930, it is the flagship publication of the North Jersey Media Group. Stephen Borg is the publisher of The Record...
, October 23, 2004. - Terps WR status for Wake still unclear, The America's Intelligence Wire, Financial TimesFinancial TimesThe Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
, November 22, 2006. - Looking for catches before happy returns, The Washington Times, August 12, 2008.