Kennett RB Daniel Boatman signs with Culver-Stockton College

KENNETT – Daniel Boatman, senior running back for the Kennett Indians football team, committed to continue his academic and athletic career at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Mo., Tuesday, February 28.

“Just to see that I can have an opportunity to do what I love best, it's a dream to just go to the next level and take it step by step,” Boatman said. “I'm just going to keep grinding and hopefully get to a bigger level.”

With the Indians, Boatman earned first team All-Conference, All-District and All-Region honors. He concluded Kennett's 7-4 2022 season with 210 carries for 1,470 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also had 16 receptions for 181 yards and four additional touchdowns.

Kennett running back Daniel Boatman (20) races for a touchdown against Valle Catholic during the Indians' final game of the 2022 season. Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

Also active on the Kennett basketball team, Boatman worked his way to the starting spot as the Indians' feature running back last season after being secondary and tertiary to two successful backs in Jordan Jarrett and Marsayv'Aun Harrell.

Kennett football coach Andrew Webster has “no doubts” that Boatman will do the same at the collegiate level – that he will “show up and work his tail off” – to prove himself to be a valuable addition to the Culver-Stockton Wildcats team.

“He's meant so much for the team because he's obviously a great player, but this kid is a great leader,” Webster said. “You can always count on him, and he just does everything you need him to do. I think he'll do great at the next level.”

Boatman will play with the Wildcats in the HAAC Conference of the NAIA. Boatman received two official offers, but he knew where he wanted to go early on, especially when the Wildcats presented him with a full-ride scholarship.

“I was kind of stressing out at the beginning of the season, but luckily after the season they started contacting us,” Boatman said. “I had offers from Greenville and Culver-Stockton, but I took the offer from Culver-Stockton to catch, punt and return, which is something I love on the offensive side.”

After Webster spoke with a representative from Culver-Stockton beginning the recruitment process and the Wildcats began watching Boatman's film, 15 minutes later a deal was in the works.

“Once you're around him, then you know,” Webster said. “When you're around him for any length of time you understand what he's about. He doesn't get into trouble, he's a great kid, he's a great worker, and we have a lot of expectations for him.”

Kennett running back Daniel Boatman runs into the end zone for a touchdown in a game against Dexter which the Indians won 42-14 Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. Christian Johnson, Delta Dunklin Democrat

Boatman made clear he was not just one of the fastest players on the field time and time again – he is a team player who is always up for adjustments and ready to lead the way. Throughout the adversity plaguing the Indians through injuries, illness and swings in player depth, Boatman was reliably the go-to guy to make a play.

“When our quarterback was hurt in the Potosi game and we started a freshman who was like 14 years old, we relied heavily on Daniel who ended up with 300-something all purpose yards,” Webster recollected. “He put the team on his back and said “hey, let's go.'”

Boatman grew up playing football. He originally played in Blytheville with his teammate Marshall Rodgers, but they moved apart from one another in middle school. After they both met up in Kennett to start high school football, they've been “rocking out together” ever since and loving the game of football.

“I want to call out my coach, Coach Webster,” Boatman said. “He's a great man. He's been with me since my freshman year, and he's always had my back. I can always count on him. I love the other coaches and they do the same thing, but he's always been there for me.”

While it will be a step up to play at the collegiate level, Boatman's goals are clear.

“My main goal is to impress the coach,” Boatman explained. “I don't want to be a one-man show – I want to show them that I'm a team player, that I have love for the game. If I'm going to shine, I want my teammates to shine, and if I have an off-night then I want my teammates to be there and pick me up.”