University of Massachusets Athletics

University of Massachusetts Official Athletic Site - Football

#85 Mike Dawson

Team tri-captain
Senior - DE - 6-3 - 236

Pepperell, Mass. (North Middlesex) - All-Atlantic 10 Conference candidate ... Team tri-captain ... Made the transition to defensive end in the spring after spending the last two seasons as the starting middle linebacker ... Has played in 29 career games, making 22 starts ... Old-fashioned, bloody-your-nose style of player ... Redshirted in 1993 ...

1996: Started all 11 games at middle linebacker ... Recorded 113 tackles (71 solo) including three quarterback sacks, nine tackles for loss, three pass breakups, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery ? Had five double-digit tackle efforts on the season ... Ranked third on the team in tackles, behind Justin Riemer and Khari Samuel, and tied for fifth in the Yankee Conference ... Along with Justin Riemer (144) and Khari Samuel (118), became part of the first trio of UMass players to reach the 100-tackle plateau since 1988 (John McKeown, 177; George Karelas, 140; Pat Doran, 114) ... Registered 13 tackles (nine solo) with one forced fumble in the 28-10 win at Holy Cross (Sept. 14) ... Made 13 tackles (six solo) with one pass breakup in the 23-17 overtime win at Richmond (Sept. 21) ... Recorded nine tackles (five solo) and one quarterback sack in the 21-14 win vs. Northeastern (Sept. 28) ... Had 14 tackles (10 solo) with one quarterback sack in the loss at Rhode Island (Oct. 5) ... Tied a career high with 16 tackles (11 solo) including one quarterback sack in the 41-20 win vs. Buffalo (Oct. 19) ... Had 10 tackles (four solo) in the loss at New Hampshire (Oct. 26) ... Registered nine tackles (five solo) including two tackles for loss and one pass breakup in the loss to Maine (Nov. 2) ...

1995: Started all 11 games ... Began the year at outside linebacker, but switched to the middle with injuries to Mike Valentino and Elvis Abellard ... Recorded 89 total tackles (43 solo), including two quarterback sacks, three tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup ... Ranked third on the team in tackles, behind Justin Riemer and Khari Samuel ... Recorded 49 tackles (27 solo) in the final four games of the season, after he was moved inside ... Had nine tackles (five solo) and a forced fumble in the victory over Lehigh (Oct. 28) ... Recorded 11 tackles (nine solo) in the overtime loss at Maine (Nov. 4) ... Registered a career-high 16 tackles (seven solo) in the win at Boston University (Nov. 11) ... Made 13 tackles (six solo) and one quarterback sack at UConn (Nov. 18) ... Had seven tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in the season-opener vs. Richmond (Sept. 9) ... Made eight tackles (five solo) and one quarterback sack in the win at Buffalo (Oct. 14) ...

1994: Saw action in seven games, both at linebacker and on special teams ... Made 10 tackles (two solo) on the year ...

High School: Played for Sandy Ruggles at North Middlesex ... Three-year letterwinner in both football and baseball ... Football team went 11-0 during his senior season when he served as team captain ... Named a Mid-Wachuset and Fitchburg Sentinel All-Star in both 1991 and 1992 ... Also a Lowell Sun and Worcester Telegram & Gazette All-Star as a senior ... Also earned four letters in hockey ... Three-time member of the Mid-Wachuset and Fitchburg Sentinel All-Star hockey team ... Student council president as a senior ...

Personal: Full name is Michael S. Dawson ... Son of John and Denise Dawson ... Born March 7, 1975 in Melrose, Mass. ... Older brother of UMass sophomore linebacker Matt Dawson ... Majoring in Sport Management.