Meiko Dotson’s hopes for his Georgia Tech career are as ambitious as they are succinct.
“One thing – graduating with a degree,” the freshman cornerback said. “NFL. And hopefully breaking some records or something.”
At his position, he has a path to follow to the NFL. In the past four years alone, former Tech cornerbacks Rod Sweeting, Jemea Thomas and Louis Young all signed NFL contracts. He joins a defensive back group that will be considerably more open following this season, the last for D.J. White, Chris Milton, Demond Smith and Jamal Golden.
“I feel I’m just going to come in and give it my all, and whatever happens, happens,” Dotson said.
That Dotson, who is from Daytona Beach, Fla., is a Yellow Jacket is something of an upset. Late last summer, Dotson was ready to commit to Wisconsin, but he was told that the commitment couldn’t be accepted because the team had already filled its planned allotment of cornerbacks.
“It didn’t feel bad,” Dotson said. “It’s a business and it comes with the process.”
After that, Dotson said he wanted to wait and make sure of his decision. He committed to Tech about a month later in early October, selecting the Jackets over Indiana. Much of the decision, he said, was based on the comfort he felt with Tech coaches and players. It helped, too, that his sister L’Preshia lives in Atlanta. She is a recent graduate of Clark Atlanta.
Said Dotson of Tech, “It just felt right.”
A-backs coach Lamar Owens, who recruits the Jacksonville, Fla., area for Tech, played a significant role as he built a connection with Dotson. Owens, Dotson said, “wants to know you, the real you.”
Dotson brings considerable speed to the secondary. He ran a wind-aided 22.52 in the 200-meter dash at his district meet as a senior.
He also comes to Tech vowing to give his all, a mindset that he said was part of his upbringing.
“I don’t like losing,” he said. “I’m competitive. I don’t like for somebody else to be better than me.”
About Dotson
1. He has been assigned jersey No. 45, most recently worn by A-back Isiah Willlis. Jeremiah Attaochu wore it before Willis.
2. Dotson was named the player of the year in his district as a senior despite playing only seven games because of a leg injury. (He said just before enrolling that the injury is not a problem.) In just the last three years, the district (6A-9) has sent players to Oregon, Florida State and Ohio State.
3. Dotson is 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds.
4. He plans to study management.
5. In a story on the Daytona Beach News-Journal website, Dotson's defensive coordinator touted his explosive strength and coachable nature.
“He doesn’t just like getting his hands on balls, he wants to turn them into touchdowns,” Travis Roland said. “He is an explosive perfectionist.”
New in ’15
1. Christian Campbell aims to succeed Justin Thomas
2. Nathan Cottrell brings threatening speed to A-back
3. Cooksey ready to make own legacy
7. TaQuon Marshall joins A-back charge
