By CHRISSY SMITH
Slidell sportswriter
SLIDELL — Josh Dakin was waiting for his turn. After having teammates from Northshore sign with college teams to play football and other underclassman having met with future college coaches, Dakin was ready to get his shot.
So the NHS senior, who graduated this month from high school, was planning to walk-on to the Nicholl’s State University football team in the fall. Dakin had been told by the head coach that there would be a spot on the team for him, but not as a scholarship position, at least for this year.
Fortunately for Dakin, NHS head football coach Mike Bourg wasn’t giving up hope that the safety would get a scholarship for this season. With the Southeastern Louisiana Univerisity football program recently hiring new head coach Ron Roberts, the Lions coaching staff was looking for under-the-radar, talented players. Roberts visited Bourg to talk with him about a couple of players for next year, and he asked if there were any recent graduates who were worth looking at. Bourg mentioned Dakin, and then showed him film on the player. Roberts said he wanted to meet with Dakin and soon after, he offered him a full ride.
Dakin will grey shirt this year, which means he can’t be a full-time student until the spring semester. At that point, he will be a member of the football team and on a full scholarship.
“I called the coach at Nicholl’s and told him what Southeastern was offering me, and I couldn’t pass that up. I asked him what he could offer me because I really was planning on going there,” Dakin said.
But the NSU coach said he wasn’t able to offer him anything now, so Dakin signed with SLU. Nicholl’s and Southeastern are in the same conference.
“My family has really supported me with wherever I wanted to go. But of course they were glad for a scholarship,” Dakin said.
The 17-year-old, who will be 18 on June 4, said he comes from a family of football fans, and his brother has taught him a lot about how to play. He also credited Bourg with helping him get onto a college team.
“It feels good to know I’m still going to be playing football. I’m excited to play again,” Dakin said. “I’m a little nervous about college — just about getting there, though.”
Dakin will major in nursing and live on campus with a teammate.
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