Senior emerges as key football player

If you hear a player who plays multiple sports, you would think that he is just mediocre in everyone of them. But senior wide receiver Kyle Dozier uses his skills developed from baseball and basketball to make himself a standout football player.     

Dozier has been playing football since freshman year and had an early passion for it in middle school. His interest for the sport sprouted after scrimmaging with his friends in middle school and watching his older brothers play for the high school team. 

 

Throughout his high school football seasons, he has always held the same goals going into every game.

 

“Each game I want to go out and be productive—not dropping any balls, making my blocks and helping the team win,” Dozier said.

 

Dozier’s teammates are awed by his athletic abilities and believe that his skills developed from his other sports help make him a skilled football player.

 

“He uses skills developed in baseball and basketball like coordination, for catching and throwing the football, and agility, for starting, stopping, changing direction, and jumping, to help him in football,” wide receiver Stephen Ruff said.

 

According to football coach Tim Lugo, Dozier’s best quality is his concentration and his calm state of mind under pressure. 

 

“On game day, he is all business and he is even keel so he does not get too high or too low,” Lugo said. “When he is having a lot of success or not having a great day, you won’t know it by the way he acts.”

 

Lugo believes that Dozier’s combination of general athleticism and demeanor have made Dozier a great wide receiver. 

 

Dozier attributes his success in football to his focus and hard work that he puts in at every practice.

 

“I go with the team to lift weights every Wednesday and Saturday morning,” Dozier said. “I work hard in practice and take all my reps seriously.”

 

Dozier believes that socializing with his teammates inside and outside school helps with their camaraderie on the field and further develops their chemistry. 

 

“[Dozier] was named the captain this year and I think our guys really respect him,” Lugo said. “He communicates well with his teammates and he demands certain things from his teammates, but more importantly he cares about his teammates.” 

Even though Lugo believes that Dozier can compete at the college level in football, Dozier remains unsure. 

 

“I might continue football into college, but I probably will not,” Dozier said. “ Right now, I just want to be the best player I can.”