Lionel Dotson

Infobox NFLactive
name=Lionel Dotson


caption=
currentteam=Miami Dolphins
currentnumber=71
currentpositionplain=Defensive end
birthdate=birth date and age|1985|2|11
birthplace=Houston, Texas
heightft=6
heightin=4
weight=290
debutyear=
debutteam=
college=Arizona
draftyear=2008
draftround=7
draftpick=245
pastteams=
* Miami Dolphins (2008-present)
status=Active
highlights=
* Honorable mention All-Pac-10 (2006)
* Second-team All-Pac-10 (2007)
nfl=DOT283736

Lionel Eugene Dotson, Jr. (born February 11, 1985 in city-state|Houston|Texas) is an American football defensive end for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona.

Early years

Dotson attended and played high school football at Dobie High School in city-state|Pasadena|Texas.cite web | title = Lionel Dotson - Arizona Wildcats Official Site | work = ArizonaAthletics.com | url = http://www.arizonaathletics.com/football/playerbio.aspx?id=5282 | accessdate = 13 July | accessyear = 2008 ] He was a two-time letterman in both football and basketball.cite web | title = TEAM: Lionel Dotson profile | work = MiamiDolphins.com | url = http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/team/roster/playerBio.asp?docid=33171 | accessdate = 13 July | accessyear = 2008 ] During his senior season, he recorded 50 tackles and 13 sacks on his way to a nomination for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. In basketball, he earned first-team all-district honors as a junior and was selected to the Texas High School Coaches All-Star game as a senior.

College career

After graduating from Dobie High School, Dotson played college football for the University of Arizona. As as true freshman in 2003, he was redshirted and was a member of the defensive scout team.

Dotson saw action in seven games including six starts as a redshirt freshman in 2004. He finished the season with 19 tackles (12 solo), 3.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks. Against rival Arizona State, he recorded five tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss and a sack.

As a sophomore in 2005, Dotson started four of the 10 games in which he played for the Wildcats. On the year he recorded 21 tackles (10 solo), a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He set a season-high and tied a career-high with five tackles in a game against Washington.

Dotson played in 11 games for the Wildcats in 2006, starting 10 of them. He earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors as a junior with 31 tackles (15 solo), two tackles for a loss, a sack and a forced fumble.

He experienced his most productive season as a senior in 2007, recording 50 tackles (36 solo), nine tackles for a loss, a team-high 6.5 sacks a forced fumble and a pass defensed. For his efforts, Dotson earned second-team All-Pac-10 honors.

During his four-year collegiate career at Arizona, Dotson started 32 of the 40 games in which he played and racked up 121 tackles (73 solo), 14.5 tackles for a loss, 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and four passes defensed.

tatistics

Professional career

Miami Dolphins

Quote box
quote = "He really came on this year at Arizona and we really feel good about his upside as well."
source = Jeff Ireland, Dolphins general managercite web | title = Jeff Ireland Day 2 Wrap-Up | work = MiamiDolphins.com | url = http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/news/top_story.asp?contentID=5786&lid=5786 | accessdate = 13 July | accessyear = 2008 ]
width = 200px
align = RightDotson was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round (245th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft.cite web | title = NFL Team: Miami Dolphins 2008 Picks | work = ESPN.com | url = http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/team?team=mia&draftyear=2008 | accessdate = 13 July | accessyear = 2008 ] Dotson reported that the Dolphins had been calling him throughout the second day of the draft, though he had also been contacted by the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants.cite web | title = Lionel Dotson Conference Call | work = MiamiDolphins.com | url = http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/news/top_story.asp?contentID=5780&lid=5780 | accessdate = 13 July | accessyear = 2008 ] He was the third and final defensive lineman taken by the Dolphins in the draft, following Phillip Merling and Kendall Langford. On May 19, the Dolphins signed Dotson to a multi-year contract.cite web | title = Dolphins Sign Steve McKinney; Three Draft Choices And A College Free Agent | work = MiamiDolphins.com | url = http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/news/top_story.asp?contentID=5817 | accessdate = 13 July | accessyear = 2008 ]

Personal

Dotson's uncle, Vance Bedford, is currently defensive backs coach at the University of Florida and played for the NFL's St. Louis Cardinals in 1982.

References

External links

* [http://www.arizonaathletics.com/football/playerbio.aspx?id=5282 Arizona Wildcats bio]
* [http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/team/roster/playerBio.asp?docid=33171 Miami Dolphins bio]