Rookie Preview: Everett Dawkins

Unlike a few other members of Florida State's 2008 recruiting class, Duncan (SC) Byrnes defensive end Everett Dawkins remained firm in his commitment from the day he made his decision and didn't take any other official visits. Instead of getting caught up in the recruiting process, he focused on getting himself ready for college.

"I have basically been focusing on my grades," Dawkins said. "I am fully qualified now."

The four-star defender, who currently measures in at 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, says that his 'free' time away from school has been spent getting his body physically for the next level.

"I have still been in the weight room every morning," Dawkins said. "I have been hitting it real hard trying to get ready to go to Tallahassee."

With his academics in order and graduation scheduled for Wednesday, Dawkins is focused entirely on June 21st. That's the date when he will officially arrive at Florida State to begin his career as a Seminole.

"I am real excited," Dawkins said. "I have been waiting for this for a long time and now it is right around the corner. You think about this day you entire junior and sophomore year and it finally comes around. I am prepared for it."

When he steps foot on FSU's campus in a few weeks, Dawkins not only wants to be a high-performing athlete, but also a model student.

"If I am not doing something with the football team then it is either going to be me in the books or just hanging around the room," he said. "If I don't have anything else to do I will just go back to the weight room. If you have to much free time on your hands, that is when you get into trouble, so I am just going to stick to the books and football."

The South Carolina native expects to share a room with fellow freshmen defensive end Toshmon Stevens. While many believe Stevens may be a candidate to redshirt this year, Dawkins doesn't expect to fall into that category.

"I am not redshirting," he said. "I am motivated. I am not going to redshirt. I want to come in and compete for the position. I am not redshirting. I am definitely looking to get on the field."

As far as a jersey number, Dawkins is thinking about taking 93, which was vacated by Letroy Guion.

And in about a year's time, Dawkins should see a familiar face on defense with him. That's because on Tuesday, one of his Byrnes teammates, safety Justin Bright, committed to the Seminoles.

"It will mean a lot," Dawkins said of his teammate joining him. "He is a great player. We are real cool. I know he will help us down in Tallahassee when he gets there."

During his senior season at Byrnes, Dawkins recorded 115 tackles, 14 sacks and recovered five fumbles.

Talk about it on the Tribal Council