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Sabin: Why TCU's Paul Dawson intrigued Cowboys, NFL scouts at pro day despite past struggles
Follow @RainerSabinDMN rsabin@***BANNED-URL***
Staff Writer
Published: 27 March 2015 09:34 PM
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FORT WORTH — The stat line Paul Dawson produced last season was a thing of asymmetrical beauty, swollen with crooked numbers in the categories that mattered most. The TCU linebacker made 136 tackles, stuffing the ball carrier 26 times at the line of scrimmage or behind it. He also compiled 21 quarterback pressures and four interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown.
Numbers like these command attention, which is why scouts, position coaches and team officials from all over the NFL flocked to the Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility to see Dawson at TCU’s Pro Day on Friday. About a month ago, many of these men also watched Dawson bomb at the league’s scouting combine in Indianapolis.
That’s where Dawson, who was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and flashed athleticism throughout TCU’s 12-1 season, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.93 seconds and posted a vertical jump of 28 inches — results so bad that even Washington State defensive tackle Xavier Cooper eclipsed them.
Dawson’s wretched performance raised more questions about the Skyline product who failed a drug test as a sophomore and would get under TCU coach Gary Patterson’s skin by arriving late to meetings and not following instructions.
“That was every day,” TCU cornerback Kevin White said. “That was every day. He’s wearing his earrings. Forgot his helmet, something like that.”
It’s a behavioral pattern that Dawson said afflicted him during his first two seasons on campus but was eradicated when he dropped friends — including some teammates — who he felt influenced his poor judgment.
The presence of his 2-year-old daughter pushed him to tackle his problems with the same vigor he flashed while in pursuit of playmakers on the opposite side of the ball.
“I couldn’t provide for her … just making those wrong decisions,” Dawson said.
It was a sobering realization. But poor choices continued to dog Dawson, even after he made strides toward cleaning up his act. Before heading to Indianapolis last month, Dawson decided to add weight to his frame that’s a shade under six feet.
On Twitter:
@RainerSabinDMN
Read the rest: http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/...-scouts-at-pro-day-despite-past-struggles.ece
Follow @RainerSabinDMN rsabin@***BANNED-URL***
Staff Writer
Published: 27 March 2015 09:34 PM
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/incoming/20150327-ns_27tcu2ma_43035645.jpg.ece/BINARY/w940/NS_27TCU2MA_43035645.JPG
FORT WORTH — The stat line Paul Dawson produced last season was a thing of asymmetrical beauty, swollen with crooked numbers in the categories that mattered most. The TCU linebacker made 136 tackles, stuffing the ball carrier 26 times at the line of scrimmage or behind it. He also compiled 21 quarterback pressures and four interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown.
Numbers like these command attention, which is why scouts, position coaches and team officials from all over the NFL flocked to the Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility to see Dawson at TCU’s Pro Day on Friday. About a month ago, many of these men also watched Dawson bomb at the league’s scouting combine in Indianapolis.
That’s where Dawson, who was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and flashed athleticism throughout TCU’s 12-1 season, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.93 seconds and posted a vertical jump of 28 inches — results so bad that even Washington State defensive tackle Xavier Cooper eclipsed them.
Dawson’s wretched performance raised more questions about the Skyline product who failed a drug test as a sophomore and would get under TCU coach Gary Patterson’s skin by arriving late to meetings and not following instructions.
“That was every day,” TCU cornerback Kevin White said. “That was every day. He’s wearing his earrings. Forgot his helmet, something like that.”
It’s a behavioral pattern that Dawson said afflicted him during his first two seasons on campus but was eradicated when he dropped friends — including some teammates — who he felt influenced his poor judgment.
The presence of his 2-year-old daughter pushed him to tackle his problems with the same vigor he flashed while in pursuit of playmakers on the opposite side of the ball.
“I couldn’t provide for her … just making those wrong decisions,” Dawson said.
It was a sobering realization. But poor choices continued to dog Dawson, even after he made strides toward cleaning up his act. Before heading to Indianapolis last month, Dawson decided to add weight to his frame that’s a shade under six feet.
On Twitter:
@RainerSabinDMN
Read the rest: http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sports/...-scouts-at-pro-day-despite-past-struggles.ece
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