The reaction could have been the same, the word used coming in a completely different context.
Upon seeing Dalyn Dawkins, Colorado State coach Mike Bobo — like most people — was thrown off by the running back’s size, or lack thereof. But his opinion changed, much as it did for offensive lineman Zack Golditch, the first time he saw Dawkins square up a bigger defender and lower his shoulder — not duck and cover.
“You know, thatap a guy I want to block for,” Golditch said.
Dawkins has that kind of effect on his teammates for myriad reasons. Those initial reactions to his size (5-foot-7, 175 pounds) throughout his life have created a sizable chip on his shoulder.
When Bobo, upset with Monday’s effort at practice, questioned whether he had a bunch of players on the roster who didn’t love football, Dawkins was excluded. His teammates weren’t looking at him, either.
“Dalyn is probably my favorite player on the team. I wish I had what he had, just an unbelievable amount of confidence and toughness,” quarterback Faton Bauta said. “The way he gets after it in practice, you’d never know he was that small.
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