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Senior Spotlight: Linebacker Chase Day

Senior Spotlight: Linebacker Chase Day

Football Sep 28
By Paul Letlow, ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist

Fifth-year senior linebacker Chase Day is off to a fast and furious start to his final season.

Through three games, Day leads ULM in tackles (23), tackles for loss (3) and is tied for the team lead with two interceptions.

"We're all playing extremely well on the defensive side of the ball," Day said. "We're making some mistakes, but we're learning from them. It allows us to play with some confidence. Me especially, I've just been playing a little bit more confident and trusting myself."

Day is stacking stats to a resume that was already solid. He's started 28 of 38 career games and now has 188 career tackles with 20.5 behind the line.

"He has a very high IQ as far as football is concerned," ULM defensive coordinator Mike Collins said. "He understands where everyone is supposed to be and knows what they are supposed to do."

If Day has learned one thing as a college football player, it's that the learning never stops.

"You learn something new every day," Day said. "You learn something going to meetings, you ask questions and try to learn to get better and better."

A product of The Dunham School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Day was selected Louisiana Sports Writers Association Defensive Player of the Week for two weeks in a row to open the year after recording eight tackles, including two for losses of 8 yards, and an interception in ULM's 45-44 overtime loss at Florida State. His interception and 1-yard return midway through the fourth quarter set up ULM's go ahead touchdown, as the Warhawks took their first lead at 35-31 with 7:41 left in regulation.

Day recorded a career-high 12 tackles and an interception in ULM's 31-9 win over Grambling State in the season opener. His interception and 13-yard return came late in the second quarter and helped set up a field goal as the Warhawks built a 17-6 lead. Early in the third quarter, he stopped Grambling quarterback Jeremy Hickbottom a yard shy of a first down on a fourth-and-6 play from the ULM 27. Day also was credited with a 2-yard tackle for loss early in the fourth quarter.

"It was a great way to start the season," Day said when asked to name his top game at ULM. "We started 1-0 against a good Grambling team. That was probably my most memorable game."

Collins said Day has battled through numerous injuries during his career and "still keeps plugging." The 6-foot-1, 235-pound veteran also has honed his physique to handle the rigors of the season.

"He has changed his body tremendously and worked at learning how to take care of his body through offseason and cold tubs," Collins said.

Said Day: "When I'm out there and healthy, I'm productive. It's been a successful career so far, but it won't be successful until we get this bowl win."

Day came to ULM in 2015 after displaying a versatile skill set in high school. He saw action at linebacker, safety, tailback and quarterback as a senior and earned all-state honors as a defensive back while leading the Tigers to their first playoff win in school history and a 2A district quarterfinal berth in 2014. He was named district MVP on both offense as a 1,000-yard rusher and on defense as a senior.

Now flying through his last season at ULM, he'd like to land with a similar legacy to his name.

"That's the goal," Day said. "Conference champion and win us a bowl game. But we've got to take it one week at a time."
 
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