Mocs linebacker Wes Dothard has plenty of high expectations this fall. And that's what you would expect from a player coming off a break-out sophomore campaign that earned him All-American honors. Before Wes Dothard blossomed into an All-American last season, he was riding the bench. Said head coach Russ Huesman,"He was in my doghouse coming into last season. Shane Heatherly was starting, and Shane went down. Adam (Fuller) comes up to me, and I think we had Wes as a third-teamer or something. He said, can I put Wes in there? I said go ahead, put him in. Probably smartest move we ever made was to put him in there."
Now Dothard is on the watch list for the Buck Buchanan award, which goes to the nation's top defensive player. Said Dothard,"It's a great achievement. But right now, I just want to go out here and win. Get a positive record going. Win a SoCon Championship and hopefully a National Championship."
Coach Huesman says Dothard now embodies an All-American. "He's a great model for putting in the work, putting in the time, and making a commitment. Not only on the football field and in the summer, but making a commitment academically and socially." Said defensive coordinator Adam Fuller,"Your team is great when your best players are your best leaders and best workers. He fits in that bill."
Last season, Dothard was third in the nation with five forced fumbles. He also scored two touchdowns. Said Fuller,"We coach everybody on taking the ball away. But some people do have knacks. He showed that knack last year. I hope it continues."
Dothard would love to be even more productive this fall. "I want to get around 150 tackle range. Hopefully, I can just get three scores this year." Added Huesman,"If he has three picks, much less all for touchdowns and 150 tackles, then he had a great year."
