PITTSBURGH (93.7 the Fan) – Steelers offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett said fourth round pick Kevin Dotson from Louisiana-Lafayette fits a need. Playing for the Steelers also seems to fill a need for the offensive guard.
“I’ve followed them since I’ve been 5,” Dotson said. “In our house we have a big-ole man cave and it’s all Steelers decked out. I’ve been following them forever.”
“The craziest thing about it is they are legit my family’s favorite team. So to get this pick is ridiculous, it’s crazy.”
“My favorite player used to be the Bus. All of my passwords used to have 36 at the end, just because of that. I couldn’t even imagine this happening.”
He thought of Ben Roethlisberger as someone he would never meet, now he will help protect him.
Some described Dotson as playing like a ticked-off bouncer.
“Its kinda accurate, but I’m pretty technical in my hand position,” Dotson said. “People try and put you in a box because you are strong.”
“He’s a really big man with great length and a very good athlete,” Sarrett said. “What really shows up on his tape is that he is a people-mover.”
Dotson started 52 games saying his dad would tell him “you are either hurt or you are injured”, so he would fight through ailments. That helped him become a first team AP All-American.
Even with that honor, Dotson wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine. The Steelers began to notice his strong performance at the East-West Shrine game.
Steelers defensive line coach Karl Dunbar’s son played at Louisiana-Lafayette and worked in the weight room. He had nothing but good things to say about the new Steelers guard.
The Plaquemine, Louisiana native came to the Ragin Cajuns as a left tackle, can play right tackle, but mostly guard over his four years. Saying that is where his agility helps him.
“It’s more of an intimidation-type thing,” Dotson said. “I feel like I can win any play that I do, so I tell them the play. They have to find a way to do it when I know they can’t. If I tell you the play and you still can’t stop it, it hurts your morale way more.”
Sarrett said he’s heard stories about that.
“As long as that play is successful, I’m cool with it.”