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Vaught's Views: Boyle's Dawson chosen for national all-star game

September 03, 2010|By LARRY VAUGHT | larry@amnews.com

Official confirmation won’t come until mid-October, but Boyle County’s Lamar Dawson will be one of the 90 players in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Jan. 8 in San Antonio.

Dawson was one of 400 high school players across the nation nominated for the game, and sources have confirmed he has been selected and will be the first area player to play in the game that has featured such stars at Adrian Peterson, Reggie Bush, Mark Sanchez, Tim Tebow, Terrelle Pryor and Ndamukong Suh.

“If this is true, it really is a big deal for me,” the Boyle senior said Thursday. “I still have not heard anything official or got anything from them telling me I have been selected. All I know is that I was nominated, and I hope I get to play in it.

“I watched the game last year and know it has most of the nation’s top players playing. It would be something to get to be part of that. And making it is not any pressure. It’s just a huge honor.”

Dawson says he’s not sure if his past performance, summer play or impressive list of college scholarship offers influenced the U.S. Army All-American Bowl selection committee.

“Maybe it is just a combination of everything I have done and accomplished,” Dawson said.

During a live chat a few weeks ago at vaughtsviews.com, Dawson indicated he might reveal his college choice in San Antonio if he got picked to play in the game at the Alamodome, which will be shown on NBC-TV.

“I might do it then if I am in the game. I don’t know yet,” he said. “It might be earlier than when I am ready to make a decision.”

Dawson basically has narrowed his list of over 20 scholarship offers to a final seven now. He indicated earlier that Kentucky, Southern California and Florida would be in his final list and he says Tennessee, Louisville, Michigan and Oregon are the other schools he still has the most interest in.

“I guess getting to see them play could make a little impact on my decision, but I don’t really know,” Dawson said.

He also originally planned to take an official visit to one school during Boyle’s off week this month. Now he’s changed his mind.

“I am not going anywhere. I figure I will have plenty of time after the season to take my visits,” he said.

That will also enable him to rest his turf toe injury that has been bothering him for about three weeks. He says he’s only able to go about 80 percent of full speed due to the injury.

“It hurts when I run full speed or make cuts. I ice it in the morning and after practice. I try to stay off it all I can, but it still hurts,” he said. “Having a week off and not having to play should help, but I don’t want to miss any games.”

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