Central Michigan University Athletics
Senior Profile: Jesse Dailey
10/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 25, 2005
By Scott Rex
Assistant Sports Information Director
MOUNT PLEASANT - The task of a defensive back is one of the hardest on the football field.
While spending much of their time running backwards, defensive backs must stay step-for-step with opposing receivers, often the most athletic players on the field. For the most part, the secondary is noticed more for the plays it doesn't make than the plays it does.
Central Michigan University senior Jesse Dailey is changing that trend.
Dailey leads his teammates with six passes broken up and is one of five Chippewas to intercept a pass this season. He also recovered a fumble and returned it 15 yards to set up a field goal at Penn State. Dailey's seven total passes defended are tied with several players for the fourth-most nationally in Division I-A.
Not bad for a cornerback who finds himself covering receivers six or more inches taller on a regular basis.
"I take it as a challenge," Dailey said. "I think that I can jump pretty high and I feel like I'm pretty fast. Plus, I go against guys like Obed Cétoute and Justin Gardner every day in practice, so I get a lot of practice working against guys that size.
"I like when offenses come at me and give me a chance to make plays," he added.
"The more plays I'm able to make, the more enjoyable and more fun it is out on the field."
Dailey's senior campaign has been his finest statistically. He has filled the stat sheet in each of the Chippewas' six games, registering a career-high three pass break-ups against Indiana and collecting his first career interception on Akron's final drive in CMU's 31-17 win two weeks ago. Of Dailey's 17 tackles this season, 14 are of the solo variety.
Dailey's rise to prominence has coincided with a Chippewa defensive unit that has improved weekly this season. Entering the Homecoming game against Ohio, the CMU defense has allowed just one touchdown in the past six quarters, and no points in the second half of the past two games. The secondary has allowed just 112 yards passing over the past six quarters.
Dailey credits an increased sense of camaraderie among his backfield mates for the secondary's improved play. That same closeness and sense of family is what helped draw him to CMU out of Cincinnati's Colerain High School.
"I liked the guys that I met when I came to visit campus," Dailey said. "They showed me a lot of love and a lot of respect. I was really able to relate to a lot of the younger guys who were here at the time."
Dailey enjoyed a distinguished prep career at Colerain, a perennial state title contender in Ohio's largest-school division. He was a three-year letterman and played in Cincinnati's East-West All-Star game following his senior season. Colerain was ranked as high as No. 16 nationally by USA Today during his career.
Still, surprisingly few college recruiters showed serious interest in Dailey. CMU took advantage and offered him a scholarship early in the recruiting process, and the Chippewas are reaping the benefits today.
As Dailey enters the final weeks of his collegiate career, a few goals remain on his list that he'd like to accomplish.
"Personally, I'd like to be All-MAC," he said. "As a team we want to win the MAC and get to a bowl game. And, we want to go out and have fun doing it."
If the team's recent play is any indication, the Chippewas and their fans will be having plenty of fun during the second half of the season.
