Class of 2015 Georgia Tech commitment Meiko Dotson

An exclusive interview with Meiko Dotson

 

All high school players want to get to the next level. Once at the college level all players want that shot at the next level, the NFL. When the 2014-15 NFL season started 20 former Georgia Tech standouts were on a roster making this ACC powerhouse program in Atlanta as good as any other school in the nation to offer that shot at developing into a pro talent.

With names like Calvin Johnson and Demaryius Thomas dominating the headlines on offense, other former Yellow Jackets like Morgan Burnett, Mario Butler, Dawan Landry, and Rod Sweeting all took their turns in the Tech defensive secondary before turning pro.

Year after year Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson seemingly puts great talent on the field and great talent into the NFL. This track record has not been lost on Daytona Beach, Florida talent Meiko Dotson.

The Mainland High School star is a talented cover corner with the willingness to come up and stuff the run as seen 50 times during his junior season. He also picked off eight passes and broke up 10 pass plays making his side of the field a no-man’s zone for wide receivers and opposing quarterbacks.

In an exclusive interview the Class of 2015 Georgia Tech commitment sat down to discuss recruiting, his commitment to Georgia Tech, and the skills he has developed on the field that make him an elite college recruit.

 

Meiko, you had scholarship offers from programs all over the nation, Iowa State, Wisconsin, Indiana, South Florida, Western Kentucky, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Bowling Green, Charlotte, Ohio, and Tennessee State among others, why did you commit to Georgia Tech?

“I really liked the family atmosphere there. My sister goes to school in the area also. The few times I was there for camps and on visits, it just felt right.”

What other schools were in the mix or among your top choices?

“Iowa State, Indiana, and USF were all up there. I had a couple of others that I was really interested in too but really liked Georgia Tech.”

What makes you an elite cornerback?

“My ability to cover. I can play man-to-man or I can play off.”

What parts of your game will you work on in the off-season to prepare for fall practices?

“I’ll work on the basics, my back pedaling, 45-90, keeping it fresh, that kind of stuff. I’ll do a lot of speed training and I plan on running track.”

When Georgia Tech was recruiting you, what did they tell you they liked about your game?

“When the coaches came to watch me at practice they sent Ted Roof (defensive coordinator) and Andy McCollum (recruiting coordinator/linebackers coach) to watch me. They liked my footwork and the fact that I can cover the slot and the bigger guys too.”

 

Georgia Tech has two verbal commitments slated to play cornerback in their 2015 recruiting class, Dotson and Dante Wigley (Carrollton, Georgia).

The Yellow Jackets are 9-2 this season and headed off to the ACC Championship Game to play No. 1 Florida State after taking on in-state rival Georgia in Week 14. The ACC has a lot of young up and coming gunslingers under center putting an emphasis on skilled cover corners for opposing defenses. That should speak volumes to the amount of faith Paul Johnson and Ted Roof have in Mr. Dotson.

Dotson has helped Mainland to a 12-0 record with a state ranking of No. 7. The Buccaneers play South Fort Myers in the third round of the state playoffs on Friday after pulling out a come from behind 30-28 win over Edgewater last weekend.

For fans attending this week’s game, it will not be hard to find Mainland High School’s jersey No. 1; he will be on the side of the field where teams choose not to venture.

 

Photo credit: orlandosentinel.com; No. 25 Meiko Dotson intercepts a pass for Mainland in 2013.