Interview: 3-Star 2022 Arkansas OL Timothy Dawn is a Rising Dominating Force

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

There are a lot of sports terms and slangs thrown around to describe different players in different sports. One used in football from time to time is “young bull.” As it reads, this is a young player who is physically dominating and runs right over the competition; that is Timothy Dawn Jr. After a one-inch and 100-pound growth spurt, Dawn took the field for Camden Fairview in 2019 as a completely different player, and one who controlled the trenches for the Cardinals at left tackle. The 6-5, 280-pound, lineman has impressed enough thus far to earn scholarship offers from Kansas and Louisiana Tech with Power 5 interest coming in from across the country.

Dawn stepped inside the RNG Lab for a detailed conversation covering his breakout sophomore campaign and his emerging college football recruiting options.

Interview

Tim, the Cardinals were a slug-it-out team last season going down to the wire with at least six teams in 2019. There is a lot of fight on that roster. How would you describe your leadership role on the team to help encourage the mental and physical toughness?

“My leadership role, I feel like it was a really big part of the team especially on the offensive line. Being a sophomore not everyone will listen until you prove it. At the beginning of my sophomore season, I was getting used to playing varsity. I was not used to it. We had a new offensive line and the new schemes. Once I learned all that as a starter, then I started becoming a leader. I was at all the workouts, on time, and the first one out there on the field every day. Leadership played a big part of my season last year.”

Lining up at left tackle, you bring that needed nasty streak to the field. What do you do pre-game to get fired up for kickoff?

“What gets me hyped when I play, I like to be aggressive so I pretend whoever is in front of me is taking something away from me; I imagine that they are trying to hurt my nephew. I have to get that person out of my way to save my nephew.”

Did you guys track pancakes and knockdowns last year?

“No, sir. But during our junior season we will.”

If you had to guess, about how many were you averaging per game?

“In each game, I’d say five to seven.”

The game footage shows that. What offensive scheme were the Cardinals running last season?

“A Spread/West Coast style of offense. We ran the ball off play-action.”

How did your game improve as a run blocker in 2019?

“I feel it improved a lot. Once I got into the sophomore season, my first game was not great, but my pass-pro was. As the season went on, I become more aggressive and used my strength and length. It became easier and was natural for me.”

What about your pass-pro? How did that improve?

“It improved a lot. My freshman season, I weighed 180; I gained 100 pounds in one year. I’ve always had that footwork, and I am not that heavy on my feet. I work on agility every day doing the ladder. My pass protection is the No. 1 thing for me, especially my hand-placement. If I get my hands on you it is over.”

That’s crazy – 100 pounds gained in one year. Have you had a chance to max out in the weight room this offseason?

“Yes. My bench is 355, my squat is 425, this was in late January, and my clean was 305.”

Wow. Very impressive.

“Thank you.”

When the 2020 season kicks off will you be taking on any new roles?

“I think our defensive line coach is talking about putting me in on certain plays. They don’t want me to get tired playing the whole game on defense, so I will go in with certain packages.”

Some of this has already been touched on, but once the season wrapped, what have been the things you focused on to improve before the 2020 schedule begins?

“I need to be more explosive and faster. That is my focus.”

If the college camp season happens, are you planning to compete anywhere this summer?

“Yes, sir. OU, Oklahoma, their offensive line coach sent me a camp date. I am planning on going there this summer. That is the main one right now. I may got to a University of Kansas camp too.”

Which schools are showing interest but have not offered yet?

“Penn State, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Arkansas, and Northwestern.”

Which schools have offered?

“Kansas and Louisiana Tech.”

Are there any planned visits you may take coming up?

“I was about to go to Kansas but the virus stuff happened. Oklahoma is another place I want to visit.”

Here’s my virus buster question. What have you been doing for fun during this odd time for all of us to entertain yourself?

“For fun, I wake up, make some eggs, get my gallon of water, exercise, play a game for about an hour, go back to exercising, and eat some more (laughs).”

Have to ask, which game are you playing?

“Madden.”

That’s the favorite among all the guys I have been interviewing. Tim, thanks for your time today and good luck with the rest of your offseason workouts.

“Thank you.”

Contribute Now

Photo credit: Camden Fairview HS/Dawn family; Tim Dawn