The Steelers stayed on the offensive side of the ball with their second pick in the fourth round, the 135th pick overall, by selecting guard Kevin Dotson from Louisiana.
Dotson was a 2019 Associated Press, USA Today, Sports Illustrated and Pro Football Focus first-team All-American who made 52 starts in his college career.
"Watching him on tape he is a really big man with great lift," said offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett. "He is a very good athlete. What really shows up on his tape is he is a people mover. I really like that. This guy can move. He can do all of the stuff we were looking for. The second level stuff is good. He is the type of guy we look at that old school run game stuff like back in the day when you would run through guys. This really flashes on his tape and jumped out at us.
"We like the off the field stuff too. Nobody every said anything bad about him. He is a self-made guy looking for the next step. We are looking forward to getting him in a Steelers uniform and getting him rolling."
According to Sarrett, Dotson is an interior player who has the flexibility to move to tackle and has the ability to come in and compete for the left guard spot that was vacated by the retirement of Ramon Foster.
"He has all of the intangibles," said Sarrett. "When you watch this guy, he runs through people. He can run through the point of attack. It brings flexibility to the room. It gives us options. At the end of the day the best five will start, but I think realistically that is a guy who can go in and compete for the spot."
Dotson, the first non-Combine player to be selected in the 2020 NFL Draft, grew up a Steelers fan and said coming to the black and gold is a dream.
"The craziest thing about it is they are legit my family's favorite team," said Dotson. "To get this pick is ridiculous. It's crazy.
"They have always been my number one team. I have followed them since I was five. Even in my house, we have a big old man cave and it's all Steelers decked out. I have been following them forever. My favorite player used to be 'The Bus' (Jerome Bettis). All of my passwords had the number 36 at the end of them just because of that. Now that this is happening, it's ridiculous. I couldn't even imagine it happening."
The other thing that has his mind blown is the reality that he will be playing with Ben Roethlisberger and blocking for the quarterback he grew up watching.
"I have always been a fan of Ben," said Dotson. "It's going to be crazy. In my mind I always thought of him as someone I would never meet. One of the legends I would never be able to block for. This is going to be a dream to be able to play with players you have looked up to your entire life."
Kevin Dotson
Offensive Line
6-4, 321
Plaquemine, La.
Plaquemine High School
- 2019 Associated Press First Team All-American
- 2019 USA Today First Team All-American
- 2019 Sports Illustrated First Team All-American
- 2019 Pro Football Focus First Team All-American
- 2019 Sporting News Second Team All-American
- 2019 First Team All-Sun Belt Conference
- 2019 All-Louisiana First Team
- 2018 First Team All-Sun Belt Conference
- 2017 Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference
- 2017 Second Team All-Louisiana
- 2016 Sun Belt Conference All-Newcomer Team
2019 Season (Redshirt Senior): One of the highest-graded offensive linemen in the nation, Dotson started in all 14 of Louisiana's games in 2019…Was named a First Team All-American by the Associated Press, USA Today, Sports Illustrated and Pro Football Focus…Named a Second Team All-American by Sporting News…Became the second player in school history to earn AP All-America honors after Orlando Thomas garnered Third Team honors in 1993 and Second Team honors in 1994…He was the first player in program history to be named a First Team All-American by the other publications…Was also named First Team All-Sun Belt and First Team All-Louisiana…Made his 52nd career start against Miami (Ohio) in the LendingTree Bowl, the second most by any offensive lineman in 2019…Helped pave the way for a Louisiana ground attack which finished the year ranked third nationally in yards per carry (6.28), fourth nationally in rushing touchdowns (42), sixth nationally in rushing yards per game (257.4) and seventh nationally in total rushing yards (3,604)…Part of an offensive line that ranked fifth nationally and first in the Sun Belt in sacks allowed (1.07)…Closed out his Louisiana career by participating in the East-West Shrine Bowl…Held preseason First Team honors from the Sun Belt, Phil Steele and Athlon Sports…Was also a named on the Outland Trophy preseason watch list.
2018 Season (Redshirt Junior): Played and started all of the teams 14 games…All-Sun Belt First Team selection…One of the leaders of the offensive line who blocked for three 700+ yard rushers.
2017 Season (Redshirt Sophomore): Started all 12 games at right guard...Was apart of an offensive line that helped the Ragin' Cajuns rushing attack finish third in the conference...Named Second-Team All-Sun Belt Conference...Earned first letter.
2016 Season (Redshirt Freshman): Earned the starting job at right guard in the second week of the season and entrenched himself the remainder of the season...Played in all 13 games...Named to the Sun Belt Conference All-Newcomer Team.
2015 (Freshman): Redshirt season…Served as a member of the scout team.
High School: Rated as the No. 4 guard in the state of Louisiana by Rivals.com…A three-time all-district selection...Helped lead the Green Devils to a 13-2 record and a berth in the Class 4A state semifinals…Coached by Paul Distefano...Named to the Class 4A All-State team…Named to the NOLA.com/The Times Picayune All-Baton Rouge Area Football Team…Played in the Louisiana High School Coaches Association All-Star Game.
Personal: Born Sept. 18, 1996 in West Point, Miss....The son of Kelcy and Denise Dotson...Father played football at Louisiana from 1995-96...Mother ran track at McNeese...Has one brother, Kenny, and one sister, Payton...Uncles, Alvin and Dennis McKinley, played in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals, respectively...Majoring in mass communication.
