A terror on the field, Dawson was the emotional leader of the Red Raiders defense from his rush end position. Compared to Denver's Elvis Dumervil for not only his compact frame, but also for his ability to literally penetrate the opposing backfield and wreak havoc.

At Evangel Christian Academy, Dawson earned Louisiana All-State honors from Blue Chip Recruiting and was rated the 31st-best prospect in Louisiana by Rivals100.com. He helped the team to a 14-1 record and a second-consecutive state championship in 2002. Evangel finished the 2002 season ranked 19th in USA Today, eighth in the South. He logged 78 tackles, 11 for loss, a sack and two forced fumbles that season.

Dawson enrolled art Texas Tech in 2003, turning down scholarship offers from Louisiana State and Colorado. Despite playing as a reserve, he ranked second on the team with 4.5 sacks, adding 5.5 stops for losses, a fumble recovery and 16 tackles (11 solos).

When Adell Duckett was injured in 2004, Dawson stepped in at rush end for three contests, leading the team with 6.5 sacks and nine stops behind the line of scrimmage. He caused a fumble that he recovered for a touchdown and made 26 tackles (16 solos).

As a junior, Dawson started 10 games in 2005. He earned second-team All-Big 12 Conference honors, as he totaled 62 tackles (40 solos), 2.5 sacks and 3.5 stops for losses. He also caused two fumbles.

Dawson received first-team All-Big 12 honors as he started 10 games at right end and three more on the left side in 2006. He registered 63 tackles (33 solos) with six sacks and 9.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage, adding 11 quarterback pressures. He caused two fumbles, recovered three others and ranked fifth on the team with 63 tackles (33 solos).

Dawson started 26 of the 50 games he played in for Texas Tech. He finished his career with 167 tackles (100 solos), 19.5 sacks for minus-122 yards, 27.5 stops for losses of 147 yards and 17 quarterback pressures. He caused five fumbles and recovered five others, returning two for a total of 43 yards and a touchdown. He also deflected three passes.

Positives: Has a shorter-than ideal frame, but shows excellent upper body thickness, especially in the neck and shoulder region … Has a thick waist and calves and a good motor to find his way to the ball … Has just adequate playing strength, but shows the explosive initial burst to penetrate … Has good change of direction agility, using it well when having to drop back and play linebacker in obvious passing situations … Can locate the ball quickly and has a nice spin move that he utilizes frequently to get off blocks … Has the nimble feet to jump around and avoid blocks coming off the edge … Also shows the sustained speed for long pursuit and is effective chasing down the ball from the back side … Stays low in his pads when moving laterally and does a good job of getting through trash … Smooth open-field runner with good quickness off the snap … Turns the corner with impressive speed and always works hard in pursuit … Takes proper angles and flashes into plays … Very strong at initial contact and keeps his feet active on the move … Shows good open-field balance and bounces up quickly when knocked down … Redirects off blocks with a sharp burst.

Negatives: Sometimes gets upright before taking on blocks … Gets turned around a lot and takes false steps dropping back in pass coverage … Inconsistent taking angles to the ball working in space … His size limitations come into play when he struggles to disengage from blocks (needs to keep his hands inside his frame better) … also needs to keep his hands active in attempts to stave off low blocks … Sometimes late to close when trying to locate inside plays … Might not be a good fit for linebacker, as his hips appear too stiff to get good depth in his pass drops.

Compares To: ELVIS DUMERVIL-Denver … Or possibly the ?Lil Train, as Dawson plays with that attitude ? I think I can, I know I can. He is an emotional character who came into his own as a rush end the last two years. Yes, he has size limitations there. But even though he experimented at linebacker in 2005, he was too stiff in his pass coverage skills to be anything but marginal there. In a sub package and obvious pass rush situations, he'd be one of the hounds I'd unleash on the quarterback.

Dawson ranks fourth in school history with 19.5 sacks, topped only by Aaron Hunt (34, 1999-02), Adell Duckett (28, 2001-04) and Montae Reagor (25.5, 1995-98).

All-Big 12 Conference first-team selection by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, earning second-team honors from the league's coaches and the Houston Chronicle … Started ten games at right defensive end and at left end vs. TCU, Colorado and Texas … Ranked fifth on the team with 63 tackles (33 solos) … Placed second on the squad with six sacks for minus 32 yards and led the team with 9.5 stops for minus 38 yards and eleven quarterback pressures … Recovered three fumbles, returning one 26 yards … Also caused two fumbles.

Oklahoma State … Made seven tackles including one for loss and half a sack … alsocredited

with two hurries.

Baylor … Totaled four tackles, half a sack and two quarterback hurries against the Bears offense.

Iowa State … Picked up four tackles and two sacks in his most dominating performance of 2006 … one of four Red Raiders to record a sack in the game … also forced a fumble and caused two hurries.

Colorado … Finished third on the defense with seven tackles, also adding a tackle for loss … recovered his third fumble of the season in the third quarter.

Missouri … Registered three tackles, half a sack and was credited with a quarterback hurry in Tech's loss to the Tigers.

Texas A&M … Ranked second on the team with nine tackles (three solo) and tallied one and a half tackles for loss.

Southeastern Louisiana … Made two tackles and notched his second sack of the season … also forced and recovered a fumble helping the defense record its first shutout of 2006.

Texas Christian … Collected seven tackles and had a season-high four solos, while helping

to hold the TCU offense to just 12 points.

Texas-El Paso … Posted seven total tackles (three solo) and half a tackle for loss … also

registered a team-high three hurries with his pressure of UTEP quarterback Jordan Palmer.

Southern Methodist … Recorded four tackles (two solo) including one for a loss … also recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter and returned it 26 yards … tallied a tackle for loss, a play that cost the SMU offense nine yards.

All-Big 12 Conference second-team choice by the league's coaches … Experimented at outside linebacker, but started ten games at rush end … Recorded 62 tackles (40 solos) with 2.5 sacks for minus 14 yards, 3.5 stops for losses of 16 yards and four pressures … Caused two fumbles and deflected one pass

Made five tackles and a quarterback hurry in the win over Oklahoma … had five tackles at Oklahoma State … led the team with a career-high 13 tackles in the win over Texas A&M … also had a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry … had five tackles in the shutout at Baylor … three tackles at Texas … logged four tackles and a quarterback hurry in win over Kansas State … tied season high with seven tackles against Nebraska … also had a sack and a forced fumble … seven tackles in win over Kansas … also had a half sack and quarterback hurry … three tackles in win over Indiana State … made four stops against Sam Houston State … recorded first sack of the season … two tackles in opening win over Florida International.

Started three of twelve contests at rush end, posting 26 tackles (16 solos) as he led the team with 6.5 sacks for minus 51 yards and nine stops for losses of 67 yards … Added two pressures … Caused a fumble that he recovered for a 17-yard touchdown return … Also had one pass deflection.

Had a solid performance against Cal with two sacks and three tackles … consistently beat UC tackles … logged three solo tackles, including a sack for seven lost yards in regular-season finale against Oklahoma State … one assisted tackle at Texas A&M … dominated from his end position with two sacks for 24 lost yards against Baylor … also had four tackles … made three tackles at Kansas State … had two assisted tackles against Texas … had two tackles, both for loss against Nebraska … started in place of Adell Duckett for first collegiate start at Oklahoma … posted a tackle and a quarterback hurry … five tackles, including two for loss and a sack in come-from-behind win at Kansas … also had a pass breakup … picked up a fumble and returned it 17 yards for a score in win over TCU … also had two tackles, including one for loss, a forced fumble and a sack for a 13-yard loss … assisted on a tackle at New Mexico.

Played in all thirteen games as a reserve rush end, collecting 16 tackles (11 solos) with 4.5 sacks for minus 25 yards and 5.5 stops for losses of 26 yards … Recovered a fumble and deflected one pass.

Navy - two tackles and a fumble return for 32 yards … Oklahoma - logged two tackles in the regular-season finale against the nation's top-ranked team … Texas - had a half sack on UT quarterback Vince Young … finished the game with two tackles … Baylor - two sacks against the Bears … Colorado - two tackles against the Buffaloes … Missouri - logged a tackle … Iowa State - had one tackle and batted down a pass at the line … Texas A&M - registered a sack for a 10-yard loss … North Carolina State - notched a stop against the Wolfpack … New Mexico - first sack of career against UNM … also had a tackle … SMU - logged a half tackle in first collegiate game.

2007: Suffered a hamstring strain on Pro Day (3/08).

Campus: 4.72 in the 40-yard dash … 335-pound bench press … 600-pound squat … 309-pound power clean … 33.5-inch vertical jump … 9'6" broad jump … 32 5/8-inch arm length … 10 1/2-inch hands … Right-handed … 14/24 Wonderlic score.

Attended Evangel Christian (Shreveport, La.) Academy, playing football for head coach Dennis Dunn … Earned Louisiana All-State honors from Blue Chip Recruiting and was rated the 31st-best prospect in Louisiana by Rivals100.com … Helped the team to a 14-1 record and a second-consecutive state championship in 2002 … Evangel finished the 2002 season ranked 19th in USA Today, eighth in the South … Logged 78 tackles, 11 for loss, a sack and two forced fumbles that season.

Human Development major … Son of Mattie and Wilbur Dawson … Born 9/13/85 … Resides in Shreveport, Louisiana.