Special to The Item

POPLARVILLE — Former Pearl River Community College football great Doug Daniels will be inducted into the Mississippi Community and Junior College Sports Hall of Fame during ceremonies tonight in Jackson.

Daniels, 81, who lives in Poplarville with his wife, Phyllis, is one of 15 inductees into the class. Daniels was a standout football player at PRCC from 1950-52 following an outstanding high school career at Poplarville High.

“This award means everything to me,” said Daniels. “Pearl River College has been in my life since I was a toddler. I used to play football on Sunday afternoons on the campus until I was old enough to play varsity ball. The school has always been a part of my life.”

As a 17-year-old PRCC freshman in 1950, Daniels started as a halfback and then played the balance of the year at defensive safety. He led the defense with six interceptions in six games, returned punts and kicked PATs.

When Daniels was a sophomore, late coach Dobie Holden, a Mississippi Community and Junior College Sports Hall of Fame inductee, moved him to quarterback. One of his best passing games was four touchdown passes in a 47-0 win at East Mississippi. He also handled all the punting and kicking duties.

Daniels, a PRCC Sports Hall of Fame inductee, was named to the All-State first team as the quarterback. He also received the PRCC J. J. Holcomb Outstanding Athlete Award.

“This is one of the great honors an athlete could have,” said Daniels. “I’m so humbled by the selection.”

In 1956, Daniels accepted the position of head coach and mathematics teacher at Poplarville High School, coaching football and baseball and teaching five math classes daily. In 1959, he was named “Coach of the Year” with Poplarville’s first undefeated/untied football team. The 1957 and 1959 PHS Baseball teams won the Desoto Conference Championship.

In 1966, he became district director of counseling and retired with 41 ½ years.

Doug and his wife, Phyllis, who is a 36-year PRCC business instructor retiree, have been married for 47 years and have three children, Darla (David), Dana (Kevin), and Bryan (Laura).