McDaniel played high school football and baseball for Madison County High School. He earned first team Big Bend honors in baseball as a junior and a senior, while also receiving first team All-State accolades his senior year. He nearly won the Big Bend triple crown as a junior, hitting .589 with 13 home runs. McDaniel was named the 2008-09 Gatorade Player of the Year in football in the state of Florida, earning Big Bend first team honors his senior year. He was honored as a USA Today and Under Armour All-American. He was drafted in the 33rd round by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2009 MLB Draft. McDaniel was listed as a third baseman in the Draft.