Antonio Dawkins, Bluefield College, NFL Draft Interview with Joe Gaiter

Joe Gaiter: What does football mean to you?

Antonio Dawkins: Football is everything to me. Football has brought me out of my darkest times so I feel like it’s not only a stepping stone for me to have a successful life but it is also something that helped make me who I am today.

Joe Gaiter: What were your stats this year?

Antonio Dawkins: 28 Tackles, 11 pass deflections, 1 interception, 3 fumble recoveries, and 1 forced fumble.

Joe Gaiter: What will you miss most about Bluefield College?

Antonio Dawkins: I will miss some of my former teammates the most. Them boys are forever my brothers.

Joe Gaiter: Do you feel like your talents have been underrated?

Antonio Dawkins: I definitely feel like my talents have been underrated. If I was at a school like Clemson I would be being talked about as one of top corners in the draft but because I am coming from a small school there’s going to be speculation.

What is your untold story?

Antonio Dawkins: My story is for the have nots and those that come out of the struggle. Everything I’ve done in life I’ve had to defeat the odds. Coming from nothing, only playing 1 year of high school football, playing for a small college, and tons more. I’m doing this for the ones that have everything against them.

Joe Gaiter: What makes you a great Defensive Back?

Antonio Dawkins: I am always learning, I’m very coachable, and I’m always focused on the little things.

Joe Gaiter: What are your greatest strengths on the field?

Antonio Dawkins: My greatest strengths are my speed, technique, and my awareness.

Joe Gaiter: When is your combine/proday?

Antonio Dawkins: My pro day will be sometime in March. I will be attending the NFL regional combine as well.

Joe Gaiter: How and where are you training to get ready for proday?

Antonio Dawkins: I am training with one of the best training facilities in the country, U48 Performance. They’re in Georgia.

Joe Gaiter: Why should a team pick you over other DBs?

Antonio Dawkins: I am still raw. I’m still fairly new so I have a lot more to learn and get better at so I have a very high ceiling. I’m nowhere near close to my peak.

Joe Gaiter: Have your reached your athletic peak?

Antonio Dawkins: I have not reached my Athletic peak. I continue to get faster, stronger, and more athletic.

Joe Gaiter: What is a message you want to give NFL/CFL teams and scouts that may read this article?

Antonio Dawkins: I am the guy that will give you my all no matter what it is. Whether it’s special teams or defense I will be the best at it. I will not be denied and will make a statement every time I touch the field.

Joe Gaiter: What is your motivation on the field?

Antonio Dawkins: My motivation is what I come from, my family, and where I’m headed.

Joe Gaiter: What is the greatest lesson you learned on the field?

Antonio Dawkins: The greatest lesson I learned on the field is to never give up. Everything that applies on the field applies in real life.

Joe Gaiter: Why should an NFL team give you a chance?

Antonio Dawkins: I’m not asking nobody to give me anything I want to earn it. To all NFL teams, I am the guy you can depend on. I play with my heart on my sleeve. I play with passion. The things you can’t teach that is in every great player, I have that “thing”.  I will be great.

Joe Gaiter: Final Words/Shoutouts?

Antonio Dawkins: I want to shoutout my family, Frank Denison, Jolyn, u48 performance, Lily (DSA), and all of my boys.

Instagram = @Tonio_TheGreat

Twitter = @11TonioDawkins