As a Vacaville High School football phenomenon, running back Terrance Dailey’s talent opened several doors to continue his career in college football.

With accepting a scholarship from the University of Washington, came a bittersweet reality for Dailey. Though a Division I university, Washington would prove not to be the home in which he pictured for himself.

A big-time recruit coming out of high school, Dailey decided to be a Husky. He led the team in rushes and rushing yards as a freshman in 2008. He adapted to the college game well, but Washington went 0-12.

When head coach Tyrone Willingham was fired, along with most of the coaching staff who recruited him, Dailey’s time as a Husky was short-lived. He transferred to Sacramento State in hopes of playing football at a place closer to home.

“I don’t really want to go into why I left, but I will say that it needed to happen and I felt I made the right decision,” Dailey said. “When coach (Steve) Sarkisian was hired as head coach (at Washington) I realized that I needed a change. The two of us just butted heads, and I knew a move would be the best thing for me.”

Dailey has rushed for 142 yards on 30 carries in three games this season. He said he used his past performances as models or examples.

Sac State’s running back coach Aaron Ingram said that he believes that Dailey’s journey back home will be a great learning process for him.

“First and foremost, not only is it about what Terrance can do for us, but what we can do for him. It’s a completely different world for him here,” Ingram said.

Ingram stressed that he continues to work with Dailey to build his strengths as well as perfect areas he is not as strong in. He believes that Dailey’s hard work has paid off and will continue to do so as he gets better.

Vacaville High School athletic director Fred Jones said he believes Dailey is a young, phenomenal player with obvious potential to keep getting better.

“Terrance was an outstanding running back for (Vacaville High). He carried the team in rushing yardage for 2006-07. He’s our all-time yardage holder. In our 2006 Championship game, Terrance rushed for over 200 yards versus Merced. We won the San Joaquin Section,” Jones said.

Jones recalled that by the end of his senior year, Dailey had many offers to pursue a football career and to further his education on scholarship.

“He was highly recruited by the time our season had ended. Washington, in particular, was very persistent, and came to visit several times. He eventually accepted their scholarship and headed to Washington,” Jones said.

Dailey is eager to take advantage of this new opportunity.

“I’m very excited that I chose Sac State because I’m so comfortable here,” he said. “The environment is what I’m used to, my family is here and it feels good to be back home.”

Britney Rossman can be reached at [email protected]