MARCH 11, 2014 – COVINGTON
Dalton Bordelon, the son of Steve and Tammy Bordelon, only knows one way to do things and that’s giving it every ounce of effort he has in his 5-11, 185 pound frame. Whether it’s turning in a school paper or running sprints on the football field, Bordelon gives everything he has on the task at hand.
On the football field Bordelon was a terror for the Covington Buccaneers, flying all over the field making plays on a consistent bases – earning the nickname “Psycho” from his teammates for his crazed abandoned effort.
This mentality is what led to a stellar high school football career at Covington High School that was capped by a senior season in which he earned Cross County Conference, Southwest District and second team All-State honors.
And that mentality is what peaked the interest of Mount St. Joseph, a Division III football program in which Dalton committed to recently.
“When we watched film of Dalton we noticed he has one of the best motors we’ve seen,” said Adam Cokonougher, one of the Mount St. Joseph coaches who was heavily involved in recruiting Bordelon. “The kid just goes hard all of the time.”
Maxing out in effort is something that has been instilled in Bordelon over his four years at Covington High School, playing under coach Dave Miller.
“From the day he walked in here as a freshman to the day he turned in his pads this fall, Dalton Bordelon maxed out,” said Covington coach Dave Miller. “It showed up in the weight room. It showed up in practice. And it showed up on film. I don’t know how many opposing coaches – coaches who get it – that came up to me and said number 78 was relentless. Dalton Bordelon is special.”
The foundation of Dave Miller’s football program is giving maximum effort and Bordelon has become the poster boy for what can happen when one completely buys into the program.
Not blessed with natural size and athletic ability, Bordelon worked his way into an opportunity to not only play at the collegiate level, but earn a much-deserved education along the way.
“When we started recruiting him we saw he was very versatile and willing to play out of position because it was what’s best for the team,” said Cokonougher. “We saw him on the O Line in high school and he was drive blocking guys down the field, guys who were much bigger than him. We saw him play defensive end and just wear guys out. He’s undersized, but his motor never stops running. We love guys like that.”
That motor, it’s what will benefit Bordelon at the collegiate level as he will likely learn a new position.
“We project him as a linebacker,” continued Cokonougher. “We’re not worried about his size because we know he’ll work to put on more mass. That’s one thing about the kid, through our interaction with him, he’s not afraid to work.”
Dave Miller has seen Bordelon’s work ethic first hand and is confident Mount St. Joseph is getting a gem.
“Absolutely,” emphasized Miller. “They hit the jack pot with this kid. From the day he walked in here (in high school) I never doubted he would end up being successful because of how hard he works. And he had a few classmates right there with him too.”
For Bordelon, when it came down to selecting Mount St. Joseph as his next career path, the decision came very easy due to the similarities with the Covington program.
“Coach (Rod) Huber is a lot like Coach Miller and that’s one of the main reasons I chose Mount St. Joseph,” said Bordelon. “Coach Miller always talks about effort, intensity and setting your goals very high and that’s the same message I received from Coach Huber at Mount St. Joseph.”
Dalton’s father, Steve, sees the similarities as well.
“The coaching staff at Mount St. Joseph is great,” Steve said. “Their coach (Coach Huber) is a clone of Dave Miller in the way he teaches life, the moral values and the emphasis on academics. We were so blessed that Dalton got to play four years for Coach Miller and now he gets to go to the next level and play for a guy who has those same core values.”
Academics was another huge factor in Bordelon’s decision.
“They have very strong academics,” Dalton said. “Coach Huber graduates ninety-five-percent of his players and that’s unbelievable. That proves how much Coach Huber cares about his players as people.”
Bordelon can’t wait for the opportunity that awaits him in college, but he’d still give anything to turn back the clock and start his high school career over.
“Man, I’d do it all over again,” said Bordelon of high school. “It goes by way too fast. The hard work you put in with your buddies is all worth it and the pain you feel on the practice field or in the weight room is nothing compared to the pain of playing your last high school game. I’m still not over it.”
It’s the passion Bordelon has for everything he does that sets him apart, passion Coach Miller believes will lead to future success for Dalton.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that Dalton will be successful at Mount St. Joseph and whatever he choses to do the rest of his life,” Miller said. “Dalton gets it.”
Which is giving everything he has on the task at hand.
BELOW IS A GALLERY OF IMAGES OF DALTON BORDELON PLAYING AT MOUNT ST. JOSEPH. CLICK ON THE THUMBNAILS TO ENLARGE FULL SIZE PHOTOS.
