Georgia Tech Recruiting: Meet the Recruits - DB Meiko Dotson

As a Recruit

Meiko Dotson became the 20th commitment in Georgia Tech's 2015 class on October 8th when he chose the Flats over offers from Big Ten schools Wisconsin and Indiana, Big XII school Iowa State, and other mid-level FBS offers (Marshall, etc.). He stands at a fairly small 5'10", 185lbs, and hails from Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, FL -- the very same that has produced a variety of highly talented players, most notably USC DE Leonard Williams (who projects as a top-5 pick in this year's NFL Draft). He was the second of only three defensive backs in this class, joining Dante Wigley and preceding David Curry (who may end up playing more of a nickel, hybrid role anyways), although when the dust settles that group could also include athletes Dorian Walker and/or TaQuon Marshall.

Dotson was rated a three-star recruit by Rivals (5.5) and the 247Sports Composite (.8069).

Film

For a guy who may be generously listed at 5'10" and 185 lbs, Dotson plays a very physical brand of football, both in covering receivers and in making tackles. His film shows a high-intensity player with a good understanding of his job on a given play. A noticeably athletic player, Dotson does a really nice job of changing directions and making breaks when a quarterback makes a throw. In general, he plays bigger than his size without sacrificing any speed or agility.

In coverage, his film shows a couple of interceptions, though he's not necessarily a "ball hawk" by nature. Dotson stylistically focuses more on his receiver -- covering him physically and making it tough to catch passes, but in turn reducing his opportunities to create interceptions. It's not so much a knock on him as to say that, if he is to continue the turnover-happy legacy that last year's defense initiated, Dotson may need to change up his style of play a little bit to better account for where passes are being thrown, particularly on deep balls.

What to Expect

With plenty of returning experience and a big recruiting class, Dotson's opportunities to play as a freshman will be limited and he may only play on special teams, if at all. Through his career, it will be interesting to see if he grows any more, potentially to where he could compete with Curry in that nickel-esque role. Dotson's physical play style seems well-suited for a role more concerned with run support, though his cover abilities would make him a good option as a third corner. There's potential here for him to go in a few directions (I could even see him as an A-Back), and it's going to be interesting to see where his career takes him.

Congratulations on your commitment, Meiko! Welcome to the Georgia Tech family!

Thoughts on Dotson's film? What position do you see him fitting in at best? Expect him to play early on?