Recruiting Q&A: Interview With Ole Miss RB Mark Dodson

Oct 1, 2011; Fresno, CA, USA; General view of a Mississippi Rebels helmet on the field during the game against the Fresno State Bulldogs at Bulldog Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Ole Miss Rebels head coach Hugh Freeze landed one of the most impressive recruiting classes in all of college football this past winter. Among the prospects to ink with Ole Miss was the 2012 Gatorade Tennessee Player of the Year, running back Mark Dodson.

Dodson was a four-star prospect coming out of Memphis Whitehaven. In 2012, his 3295 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns led the Tigers to a perfect 15-0 mark and state title. Dodson rolled off a staggering 10.4 yards per carry. Dodson called his shot before helping to snap Tennessee prep power Maryville’s 43-game win streak, taking care of “unfinished business” via a 318-yard, five-touchdown performance in the state title game.

His style should fit nicely into the free-wheeling, exciting style Freeze introduced during his first year in Oxford.

Mark Dodson spoke with Evan Massey for SaturdayBlitz.com, touching on his goals at Ole Miss, LaDainian Tomlinson and much more.

Follow Mark on Twitter @MarkDodson7. Follow Evan @massey_evan.

Q. What made you sign with Ole Miss? What draws convinced you?

A. Coach Freeze was the first to offer my sophomore year while he was at A-State but he knew I was choosing them over the SEC. When he got the job at Ole Miss, our relationship got stronger because he really saw something in me before any other coach. Also, Coach Harris used to be the head coach back at my High School, so it was a bond between us as well. Furthermore, my aunt Toya is a graduate from the University of Mississippi.

Q. Do you have a current NFL running back that you would compare your game to?

A. I always looked at LaDainian Tomlinson and Adrian Peterson, but I do look at others too just to try and get the feel of what they all do differently amongst each other.

Q. What can fans expect from you out on the field?

A. They can expect me to be a dominant player giving my best on every down, but most important thing is living right. If you live right, good things will happen and if you live wrong they won’t. Always will put my schoolwork first.

Q. What will be the most difficult part of making the jump from high school football to Div. I?

A. Just getting the speed of the game and getting the playbook down where it’s natural to me.

Q. Have you become close with any of your Ole Miss teammates in particular?

A. Yes. Jaylen Walton and I had a bond already, but I’m getting close with Trey Elston, L’Tavious Mathers, Mike Hilton, and Carlos Davis.

Q. At what age did you begin playing the game of football? When did you realize that you had this kind of potential?

A. At age 4, and I realized when I was about 10 when I scored 6 TD’s against team in the Playoffs which I lost to in the regular season during little league.

Q. What kinds of things do you like to do in your free time? What is your favorite food?

A. Play the game with my boys, workout, and my favorite food is pasta.

Q. What are your team and individual goals for your career at Ole Miss?

A. Team goal is to help the team compete for the national championship. Individual is to be the Ole Miss leading rusher.

Q. If you had to mention one person that has helped you get to this point the most, who would it be?

A. My PT’s Mark Hamer and Tierre Brown. I’ve been with them since 8th grade.

Q. If you were speaking to a young RB with dreams of playing D1 football, what would you tell him to do?

A. Live right, do the right things, and just grind hard!