Playing college football, specifically in the Southeastern Conference, an individual must possess a level of confidence in their abilities that only the best can channel. For Duke Dawson, that confidence resides deep down inside a quiet young man from Cross City, Florida. Cross City is a little speed trap town just west of Gainesville; a short drive for Dawson’s parents, Monique and Rod to watch their son play under the bright lights of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. On the short 51-mile stroll from Cross City to Gainesville, Mr. and Mrs. Dawson have some time to think and chat about their son, who is part of some of the most defensively dominating years in Florida Gator football history.
“It means a lot to us,” Rod Dawson said, “It runs chills through my body for him to get to be apart of that.”
Duke arrived at Florida with two other highly sought after defensive backs, Jalen Tabor and Quincy Wilson. When it comes to starting corners, Tabor and Wilson are as good of a tandem as it gets in college football, but Dawson is a name that people are beginning to take more seriously. For Dawson, playing time in his freshman season wasn’t an issue. He played minutes in every game, including a very special moment in his first appearance. Dawson became the first freshman in Florida history to record an interception for a touchdown as a rookie freshman. This was a moment that his mother cherishes to this day and will for the rest of her life.
“I cried,” she said while laughing, “It was his first game at Florida and he made history.”
Most parents can only dream of seeing their son or daughter play a sport at the division one level, much less score in their first time ever playing in a game. While Dawson’s career started off about the best way it could’ve, there were some trials and tribulations just around the corner. After Duke’s freshman year, then Florida head coach Will Muschamp was fired after going a disappointing 7-5. Insert Jim McElwain, and a brand new defensive system under Geoff Collins- whose year one vision did not always include Dawson. For much of his sophomore season, Dawson found himself on special teams more than on defense making that memorable moment in The Swamp the year before feel like a thing of the past. During the 2015 campaign the Gators reached the SEC Championship for the first time since 2009, but for Dawson, this goal was reached with him being quiet and patient. Awaiting his turn to contribute in any way he could, but not the way he truly wanted to.
“At one point in time, don’t get me wrong, he was frustrated,” Duke’s father Rod said, “Just keep grinding, keep working hard, don’t give up,” he told his son.
Dawson stayed the course. He worked hard in the offseason to get some of those valuable minutes back that he hadn’t seen since his freshman year. The offseason is where champions are made. During this particular offseason, Dawson was in championship mode. With two interceptions in the spring game, and hard work all camp, Duke Dawson once again found himself starting at the University of Florida; something his father says has always been his dream.
“From day one, he always wanted to play college football at a high level, so why not Florida.”
For Dawson, his dreams don’t stop at Florida, his hope is to one-day play in the National Football League. This dream could definitely become reality with a stout year in the Gator’s secondary.
For now, Dawson’s future is in his own hands. How he plays this year will no doubt determine what comes next. He will remain quiet with loud actions representing a title that has become one of the most coveted in college football, D.B.U.