Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1538407
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 5 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 76ers teams of the late 1970s and early '80s. But once he broke into the start- ing lineup, the younger Dawkins showed that he was a valuable contributor, on and off the field. He started all 16 games, allowing only 2 sacks all year, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors from the media, winning praise for his leadership qualities, and also claiming the Wuerffel Trophy for the commu- nity service work he has done through his nonprofit charitable endeavor, the Dawkins Family Foundation. Despite all of that, you rarely hear his name mentioned when it comes time to talk about Penn State's top return- ers this fall. Phil Steele put Dawkins on his fourth-team All-Big Ten squad this summer, but no other national outlet has recognized him. Maybe that's due to the fact that Dawkins simply does his job, play-in and play-out, and does most of his talking in the locker room and on the sideline. Those behind-the-scenes contributions might be where he shines the brightest. He was a team captain last year and will likely reprise that role this fall. Dawkins is the man in the middle of the Penn State offense and also the man at the top of the team's leadership chart. It's a role he thrives in, even if he isn't entirely sure how he grew into it. "I had no idea, to be quite honest with you," Dawkins said. "I think for a long time I've been doing the right thing and what's been modeled for us. When I see something that doesn't align with our culture and our standard, I point it out, and I'm not afraid to say something. And guys know that I'm doing what I'm sup- posed to be doing. I think it's easy for them to look to me for certain things, because I've been doing things the right way for a long time." 'I'm Just A Little More Vocal' That Penn State has plenty of lead- ers is not surprising given how many players the team returns this year. Most of those players are lead-by-example guys, but Dawkins can do both. He can set a positive example for younger play- ers with his performance in practice and on game day, but he isn't afraid to be vo- cal when the circumstances demand it. "Everybody leads in different ways," he said. "I think I'm just a little more vocal. It's just like a key- stone: I'm going to hold it together and be a glue guy for them. I'll be the guy to take care of it verbally." It's something Dawkins has done throughout his career. His words just carry more weight now that he's in his sixth year and far removed from his time as a role- player on the team. Whether you talk to players on offense or defense, there is simply no question that this team hangs on every word that No. 53 shares with them. "Just sit down, listen to him talk," sophomore interior lineman Cooper Cousins said. "Why wouldn't you want to gravitate toward him? He's the feel- good guy, and he's the hardest worker on the team. I can ask him anything. You could sit there and talk to him for an In 2024, his first season as the team's starting center, Dawkins was a motiva- tional force for the Nittany Lions. Fellow lineman Anthony Donkoh described him as "the best leader on the team." PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/ PENN STATE ATHLETICS