Dowling out to prove point in UA Game

LAKE BUENA VISTA – The senior season that Jonathan Dowling envisioned back in August never really materialized but the postseason has proceeded quite nicely.

The Bradenton Southeast standout hoped to make a run at the state record of 22 interceptions after nabbing 14 passes as a junior from his free safety spot. However, teams adjusted to a great Southeast secondary in 2009, and Dowling never really saw the same opportunities to make a real pursuit of the record. He finished with just three interceptions.

Furthermore, Dowling’s reputation in recruiting circles took a hit after a poor performance against Trey Burton and Venice when he missed several tackles in a 31-14 loss for the Seminoles. All of the sudden, that scarlet letter was attached to Dowling’s profile. He wasn’t “physical” enough to play safety. Of course, that’s the kiss-of-death for any player on defense. Naturally, talk of Dowling moving to offense started up shortly after that.

To add to it, Southeast struggled to a 1-3 start on the season. The Seminoles rallied to win six consecutive games to close out the regular season. But Southeast would drop a tough first-round battle with Lake Wales in the playoffs, bowing out by a score of 30-27.

The postseason has afforded the 6-3, 185-pound star a chance to make amends for a season that veered a little off course. Dowling made a couple of big hits in the FACA All-Star Game in Sebring on Dec. 23. He followed that up with a trip to Orlando where he has been playing extremely well on the defensive side of the ball at practices leading up to the Under Armour All-America Game on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Tropicana Field at St. Petersburg (ESPN). Clearly, Dowling has made it his mission to prove the doubters wrong this holiday season.

“I came out with a little attitude,” Dowling said on Thursday of a morning practice where he made a number of big plays. “I wanted to make sure I proved a point with my play and showed people how physical I am.”

Over the course of the morning, Dowling made a pair of interceptions that really stood out. Matched up against LSU commitment Justin Hunter in 1-on-1 drills, Dowling showed excellent coverage on the big wideout, and made a great play on the ball to snag it away from one of the hottest offensive players this week.

Later, Dowling lined up at free safety in 7-on-7 drills and made a beautiful one-handed interception while playing centerfield. Maybe it wasn’t even the play itself that caught the eyes of spectators in attendance, it was how easy Dowling made it look in snagging the ball out of the air with his big left mitt. While many were impressed with his play in the secondary, Dowling passed along some of the credit to his wingman and possible future teammate in Gainesville, Demar Dorsey.

“We have such good chemistry playing alongside each other back there,” Dowling said of the fellow Under Armour All-American. “I’m going to hate leaving him on defense when I switch to wide receiver.”

Of course, Dowling was alluding to his impending move to wide receiver when he gets to Gainesville. Regardless of whether he plays offense or defense on the next level, Gators fans will likely just be happy to hear that Dowling is still solidly committed to Florida, despite the fact that head coach Urban Meyer is taking a leave of absence following the end of the season.

“He had me nervous there for a little bit,” Dowling said of the 24-hour period in which it appeared that Meyer would resign rather than take a leave of absence. It appears that the head Gator’s change of heart reassured that Dowling made the right decision.

“I’m a Gator,” he said. “I just want him to get better, do what he has to do, then get back to coaching.”

No other official visits are planned on the horizon for Dowling.