Cedric Dozier
Lakewood, WA
Lakes H.S.School
5-11 Height
175 lbs
2010 stats, maxpreps.com
Team Record: 11-2-0 League: 5-0-0 reached Washington 3A Semi-Finals
Passing
Comp Att Yds Comp % TD Int Long QB Rating
91 142 1181 .641 13 7 64 100
Rushing
Att Yds YPC LG TD
183 1223 6.68 73 17
The cloud over Oregon football will have lingering effects in recruiting. Opposing schools will use the uncertainty and the sensationalist media attention to get in recruits’ ears. The kids and their coaches hear Joe Schad and Joe Blow running Oregon down and predicting gloom and doom. “Psst…you know Kelly’s not going to be around. The Ducks are getting a three-year bowl ban. You want to play in a bowl, don’t you?”
True or not, it’ll be out there until this gets resolved. And Oregon will have to work a little harder and recruit a little smarter to compensate.
Part of that is identifying and evaluating talent more carefully, particularly in finding kids that the scouting services are ho-hum about. Oregon may not sign as many student-athletes, or the high profile ones they signed in 2010 and 2011. They’ll have to make the scholarships count.
And part of making them count is landing smart, versatile athletes like Cedric Dozier.
So far, Dozier’s interest in the Ducks is lukewarm. John Neal visited in June and offered him a scholarship, and the athletic quarterback/defensive back told Dirk Knudsen of the Northwest Prep Report, “Coach Neal came to the school and we talked and caught up on everything. That led to a discussion about Oregon and the offer they made me,” he said.
How is he feeling about the runner up to the BCS Championship this year?
“You know I had sort of written off the Ducks but the offer is nice to have. Meeting Coach Neal and getting to know him has helped. He is a real cool guy and he has rekindled my interest in them,” he added.
At 5-11, Dozier capably runs the Lakes High spread offense, passing for 1181 yards and running for over 1200, but his future probably isn’t at quarterback. He’s not a pure passer and doesn’t have a particularly strong arm, with a long windup in his throwing motion. He is, however an elite athlete who plays with heart, aggressiveness and intelligence, and he’ll make a solid slot receiver or safety at the next level. Former quarterbacks can make great safeties. They see the field and read keys, and with the athleticism Dozier possesses, he’ll thrive in that role.
He led Lakes to the semi-finals of the Washington State 3A playoffs, losing to Bellevue after edging Camas 27-24 in overtime in the quarterfinals. In that game Cedric rushed for ran for 152 yards on 21 carries. He’s a high school teammate of four star offensive tackle Zach Banner, and the two of them also played on the school’s state champion basketball team last March.
The scouting services are divided on Dozier, although he already has scholarship offers from Colorado, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Oregon State, and Washington, with interest from Auburn among others. He’s participating in “The Opening” this week on the Nike campus, and shined earlier this spring at Baron Flenory’s Badger Sports 7 on 7 Camp in Las Vegas, impressing observers so much that he was honored with a spot on the U.S. Army All-America team.
Rivals rating: 4*-5.8rr; #8 ATH (#138 overall)
Scout rating: 4*; #20 CB
ESPN rating: 3*-78 grade; #50 ATH
247 rating: 3*-87 grade; unranked ATH
A more careful observer will lean toward Rivals and Scout on Dozier; he has the instincts and athletic ability to rise up in competition. That’s why he does so well in the camp/combine situations. Although he’s reportedly been timed in the 4.4 range, his prep track best in the 100 meters last spring was 11.34, about two steps slower than the fastest backs on the Oregon roster, but watching his video, he’s always making plays and finding the end zone.
Sometimes to find football players, you have to get away from the stats and measurables, and trust what your eyes tell you when they’re wearing a football uniform. His high school coach Dave Miller, who’s been named as a member of the Army All-American Game staff, told Knudsen, “Cedric is special. On and off the field I am not sure I have ever had anyone as focused and dedicated as him.”
Here’s a look at his junior highlights. Never underestimate an athlete who makes plays and understands the game. They make good leaders:
Notes and observations:
Great balance, very efficient stride. Good vision, acceleration. Trusts his speed. Incredible instincts–at 2:03 he jukes a defender that’s BEHIND him. Not a pure passer, just the best athlete on the team making good decisions. Slashing, north-south running style.
Plays with confidence and freedom, very physical for his size. Runs with authority up the middle and reaches top speed quickly. 4:18 delivers a blow to the linebacker on the way to the two. A leader, teammates will love his aggressive, physical style. Plenty of yards after contact, bouncing off people.
Cornerback/safety may be his best position as a collegian, and his time running the offense will make him a smart, dependable defender. 5:18 lowers his shoulder and drives through a tackler at the goal line. He’ll be a hitter, maybe 5-11, 200 by his sophomore year. Good candidate for rover as a possible Duck. Has a long motion; don’t really see him as a D-1 quarterback at 5-11, even in the spread.
In a year where Oregon will have to make the scholarships count, and land the kind of underappreciated players they got when they signed Jeff Maehl and Spencer Paysinger, picking up Dozier would be a real get, especially out of Steve Sarkisian’s back yard.
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