This just in … Donte Dotson

This post falls under the category of “this just in …” hence, the headline above.
Donte Dotson, a 5-foot-8 wide receiver from Milford Academy (Conn.) via Florida, faxed his letter of intent with the Owls after 4 p.m. on National Signing Day.
Stuff happens when you schedule a press conference so it doesn’t conflict with a night time basketball game, so Donte’s bio never made it with the post below listing all the Temple recruits.

I was kinda hoping for a late pickup to be a big-time running back of Bernard Pierce SIZE and talent, but evidently coach Steve Addazio is really serious about finding some big-time explosiveness in the passing game and willing to roll the schollies on one position.

We can only hope Bernard Pierce stays healthy this year, because I see a Grand Canyon-like dropoff between first- and second-string tailback talent should he not. We found out in the final two games that the expiration date of a 5-5, 150-pound running back is about eight games into a 12-game season.

The press conference started at 4, so Dotson did not make the booklet handed out to the fans that afternoon.
Here’s his bio:
Postgraduate: Played wide receiver for one season for coach Bill Chaplick at Milford Academy … had 41 receptions for 693 yards and five touchdowns during the 2010 season … averaged 16.9 yards per reception … also rushed 12 times for 131 yards … earned coaches’ offensive player of the game accolades twice and specialist of the game once.

High School: Played quarterback for coach Adam Ratkevich at Deerfield Beach HS … 2009 first-team Sun-Sentinel All-County honoree … two-time Miami Herald first-team All-County selection as an athlete … as a senior, rushed for 1,026 yards and passed for 1,068 yards and 11 touchdowns while leading the Bucks to the district title … team finished the regular season at 7-3

13 thoughts on “This just in … Donte Dotson

  1. TFF,appears this signing will have very little impact. who else recruited this kid? maybe DAZ is just trying to establish a strategic foothold in this high school either because of its geophraphic location or projected talent. Maybe this HS coach is influential……, rumor is we are running the spread next year. so much for installing a system that makes best use of the talent on-hand……., maybe we'll go with a three TE set version of the spread……, you know if we win the city, and if we win the state, we'll automatically be a top, if not the very top, team in the MAC. Villanova and PSU could probably beat every team in the MAC…., we need to put Pitt on the schedule. we played Pitt every year I was in school

  2. I LIKE coach Daz and I really like Chuck Heater.You can't spend more than five minutes in a room with Daz and not be energized.That said, I'm wondering if our search committee and BB was overimpressed with the DAZ-zle (if you will) of the interview process and looked beyond the substance.You've got to have a plan for recruiting and my plan would have been:1) RB; 2) SS; 3) DT;I did not see areas of need 1 and 3 being addressed adequately in this class, yet I have high hopes that the kids alredy here (notably Levi Brown and Gadson) are going to be stars at DT to replace Big Mo.

  3. TFF,fortunately this year's on field success is not tied to the 2011 recruiting class. the dust has settled and the recruting class of 2011 is our worst since 2006. Let's hope our new spread offense, and Daz's play calling, can score points.

  4. Well, I'm not as disappointed about the recruiting class as some of you. Our running backs are fine. About Donte Dodson, he played right in my backyard. It's the same (former) high school that also produced Piere Paul, the former first round defensive end and athletic freak for the Giants and Shoelace Robinson, the all everything QB for Michigan. That being said, I don't think Dodson is nearly the catch that Shoelace is. As for Daz, I share some concerns with TFF, but for different reasons. I'm okay with his last minute recruiting class and having emotion and passion are good qualities. But to me, he's over the top. It's like he's got ADHD or something. I don't know whether to be energized by his rants or scared to death. At least Al Golden stayed behind the lectern and could project a toughness while talking to us in a civil way. Don't get me wrong, I like a little Knute Rockne in a coach. But this guy is like Knute Rockne on steroids. More like Nut Rockne. It comes off as phony bravado. There's a fine line between head-smart and meat-head. I watched him give his recruiting speech and I almost had the feeling that he was ready to start a fight with me, and I wasn't even there. His pacing away from the lectern and microphone (so we couldn't even hear him at one point) struck me as kinda green and then just plain scary. I wonder if the athletic department has the balls to tell him to tone it down. I pity the reporter who has to ask him tough questions when / if we lose. I wonder if his "passion" will eventually alienate the media, the athletic department, or even his players. I want my coach to be tough, but also someone who can control his emotions when the going gets tough. Because as we learned from Rockne, when the going gets tough, the tough don't scare the shit out of everyone. They get going.

  5. Don't fret, DAZ knows what his doing. Spread offense will mean less ware and tear on BP, don't underestimate Reid, also I believe that the Juice will be our starting QB and like the Newt, but not the father, he will carry a running load. I live in SEC country, Atlanta, my Bulldog friends were glad DAZ and Heater were not retained.

  6. I am underestimating Reid, but so are 12 Central League coaches who didn't have him on either the league's first or second all-star team.High school coaches know their stuff when it comes to opponents.When Temple signed Vaughn Charlton to be QB, one of the Southern Chester County League coaches told me:"Mike, I can't believe Temple gave that kid a scholarship. He can't play."Temple turned out to be wrong and that guy turned out to be right.Brumfield was the Philly RB to give the schollie to, not Reid.But that mistake has been made and we must hope for the best.

  7. Reid isn't even going to play this year (ie make any kind of noticable impact), even if he doesn't redshirt, so why even bring him up as if he's going to be a contributor. And Grainger might not even get past the NCAA clearinghouse for this year. And while I think he could start this year if he makes the team, I agree with TFF that Coyer could be the guy.

  8. why bring Reid up?because his schollie is taking the spot of a kid who I GUARANTEE will be a starter at EMU (barring injury, which he never gets) and someone who I am pretty certain could have moved to No. 2 on our thin RB depth chart.Huge mistake by Daz not to follow up Al Golden's recruitment of this kid.

  9. I understand your fondness for Brumfield. I suppose my post was more directed towards Sancol and others who seem to be excited by the Reid signing. The best thing I can say about Spencer Reid is that his dad will take up two seats during Temple home games against MAC teams. But I guess we'll never know why Addazio didn't follow up on Brumfield. It would, indeed, appear to be a no-brainer. Three year first team all-state – that doesn't come around often. The only thing that is suspicious though is that Brumfield could have forced the issue. If he really wanted to come to Temple, he could have picked up the phone to call Addazio and tell him he wants to be here. It's nice when you get an invitation to the dance, but sometimes it's best to go stag.

  10. Brumfield's family, unlike Reid's, has no money so it was a no-brainer to accept the free EMU ride when none was forthcoming from TU. I wish the kid best of luck against everyone but us. I also hope Andy Reid's kid turns out to be John Riggins re-incarnated.

  11. Yeah, and let's hope after he retires he doesn't turn out to be the size of one of the "Hogs". Of course, I'm referencing Andy Reid. I don't know why Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel doesn't do a story about that: Obese and unhealthy coaches. They just did one about former players (who by the way have died recently as the result of weight related issues). Not only are the Andy Reids of the world hazzardous to themselves, but they're horrible physical examples to men and a sport where fitness and discipline are absolutely vital! And can you name me one fatso coach who has won a Super Bowl? Even Addazio, a endo / mesomorph, I can tell, works out and keeps in shape!! Jeez, Andy Reid, get a personal trainer or your own damn Strength and Conditioning Coach who you have access too!! By yourself a Boflex, get a cross trainer, and start eating those Lean Cuisines ya lard ass!

  12. I get the displeasure with the Brumfield-Reid issue, but honestly is all the doom and gloom necessary? Seriously, if this one signing is what destroys the program then it needs to be put down like a lame horse and its funds re-distributed to the rest of the university. BP looked pretty invincible for a while, and when he's healthy he looks unstoppable. I'm really of the impression, though, that the damage is done and the load of carrying a program is too great for any one back at this level. The passing game has been essentially non-existent since AD left, which is a shame cause Streater shows promise. There has to be a better way than just grinding one RB down after another and hoping we pick up another one. Also, I could be wrong, but I don't remember anyone making a huge deal when we picked Pierce up (there were certain discipline concerns, if I remember right, and recruiters weren't exactly beating down his door.) So we really don't know how Brumfield will do, or Reid for that matter. Its not like winning is as much our problem as getting people to care is, as the last bowl season has taught us.

  13. if Daz never signed Brumfield and brought in that superstar kid from Bradenton East, Jared Williams, I would have been OK with that.But bringing in an honorable mention Central League RB when you could have had a first-team all-stater?That's hard to take.There's only one kid in the program with Pierce-like RB talent as I see it and it's Nate Smith (L.J.'s brother) and they have him targeted for LB.Maybe Daz is stashing some JUCO All-American running back and waiting for his grades to clear to sign him.If so, it's Ryan Brumfield who?If not, I'm going to carry around Pepto Bismol with me every time we play Eastern Michigan.

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