If I wore a hat, I would tip it to Nicholls State head football coach Daryl Daye.

Daye has currently gotten two commitments for his football team from players in the Miss-Lou and is working hard to have another one soon from the opposite side of the river.

Vidalia High linebacker Leren Curry and Ferriday High quarterback Aron Thomas both committed to the Colonels last week.

Daye just completed his first season at Nicholls State, leading a Colonel football team that has had little success in the past to a 1-10 record, defeating Jacksonville State.

But the Colonel took teams like Western Illinois, Samford and Louisiana-Monroe to the wire.

You might think that Daye would be going to the big football cities to try and upgrade his program.

But being from Ferriday, Daye knows the type of talent that is in the Miss-Lou, and unlike a lot of other coaches, is not hesitating to go after it.

If Daye does sign three players from this area, that would be more than Alcorn has done the last five years.

The biggest problem as far as recruiting this area is that it’s out of the way, or so they say.

Hey, Daye was one of those guys who had to work for what he got.

He walked on at LSU and eventually earned a scholarship and letter as an inside linebacker.

Daye arrived at Nicholls State after serving eight seasons on the staff at Liberty University, including the last two as the school’s co-defensive coordinator. Daye’s coaching responsibilities also included the defensive line during his tenure there.

He obviously knows defensive talent and sees a lot of potential in Curry.

In Daye’s first season in his defensive coordinator role, Liberty showcased itself as one of the most opportunistic squads in the NCAA I-AA ranks, leading the nation in turnovers (40), second in turnover margin (1.82), and yielded only 17.7 points per contest, the best mark by a Flames’ defensive squad over the the previous 15 seasons.

Along with his squad forcing 40 turnovers his first season as defensive coordinator, his 1998 team obtained 28 to bring the two-year total to 68.

I guarantee you Curry will be starting soon for Daye. He’s got good size and quickness and a great nose for the football.

Thomas has a rocket-like arm and also has a lot of potential.

Thomas had his ups and downs during the season, but has plenty of room to grow and learn.

The thing about both of these guys is that they are good students and both show a lot of class and character.

That’s another thing that gets overlooked way too much nowadays.

Daye’s coaching experience began at LSU in 1986, where he worked under Bill Arnsparger as a student assistant for one year. He then coached two seasons as a graduate assistant for then-coach Mike Archer.

That’s two outstanding defensive coaches right there.

While at LSU, Daye was a part of five teams that went to bowl games either as a player or coach.

Daye has not forgotten where he came from. And for that reason many football players who were looked over in the past will at least get a good look from the coach at Nicholls State. And that makes both parties winners.

Joey Martin is sports editor of The Democrat. He can be reached by calling 445-3632 or at joey.martin@natchezdemocrat.com.