Dawson Shakes Off NFL Combine Snub

A couple of months ago, Clifton Dawson’s face was the most-seen on campus. His clutch game performances and record-breaking ability granted him a reputation larger than the stack of Harvard football schedules brandishing his image or his building-sized poster adorning the side of Blodgett pool. However, for the past couple of weeks, Dawson vanished from the public eye, and apparently from Harvard itself.

Foregoing the cold and unpredictable Cambridge weather for somewhere slightly warmer, Dawson went to Sarasota, Florida, preparing, and hoping, to further his football career with an invitation to the NFL combine.

“I spent a good amount of time training with other NFL hopefuls,” Dawson said. “I was definitely hoping for an invitation to the combine.”

Unfortunately for Dawson, after weeks of training, that invitation did not come.

“At first I was a little disappointed, but after talking to my agent and a lot of different NFL people, I found out that I was just a few votes short of getting that invitation,” Dawson said.

“I quickly got over it,” he added.

The NFL combine brings together representatives from all 32 NFL teams to watch as athletes compete against themselves and their future teammates in everything from physical and psychological drills to formal interviews. However, the combine only invited about 330 collegiate football stand-outs to its week-long camp in late February, making the selection process very competitive this year.

“It’s hard,” said senior Ryan Tully, captain of Harvard’s 2006 football team. “There are so many guys out there trying to make the team.”

Only one Ivy League player received an invitation to the combine this year—Brown linebacker Zak DeOssie, whose 11.4 tackles per game average ranked eighth in the nation this season.

“I think DeOssie deserves to be right there,” Tully said. “I think Clifton did too.”

Head coach Tim Murphy had a slightly stronger opinion.

“Football is a team game, but we were 4-0 vs. Brown during Clifton’s and Zak’s tenure,” Murphy said. “I think that statistic is the most important one and Clifton had a big impact in those games.”

Dawson doesn’t bear any grudge against DeOssie, however.

“He’s an outstanding football player and athlete and he definitely represented himself and the Ivy League very well with his performance,” Dawson said. “If there was anyone besides myself that I wanted to represent the Ivy League it was him, so I’m definitely happy for him.”

Dawson had another chance to show off for the NFL scouts, however, as he received an invitation to play in the first-ever Texas vs. the Nation football game in early February. This game, which served as a showcase for star Division I-A collegiate athletes, also gave Dawson the opportunity to rush for 107 yards on four kickoff returns.

“I saw it as an opportunity to play one more collegiate game,” Dawson said. “I love playing football and any chance I get to play I’m going to take it.”

However, based on his versatility and excellent performance, the game served another purpose.

“It was another opportunity to show scouts what I can do on the field, playing against top-notch competition,” Dawson said. “I definitely think I helped my stock by playing that game and doing well.”

For Tully, Dawson’s stock was already high.

“For the past four years, he’s completely dominated pretty much everything. He’s the best running back that I’ve ever played with or against,” Tully said, before he added, “I think if you’re good enough, the teams will find you.”

Murphy shares this mindset as well.

“Clifton will make it in the NFL, period. He has the speed, toughness, attitude and blocking ability,” Murphy said. He also noted that he sees a future for Dawson in special teams, due to his ability to cover and return kicks, as well as his phenomenal closing speed.

Dawson himself isn’t counting on anything, but remains hopeful for a spot in the upcoming NFL draft, as well as getting into a team’s training camp this summer.

“I’m not going into the whole draft with too high expectations,” Dawson said. “I expect to have an opportunity, and that’s all you can really ask for.”