
Lance Dawson brings rare frame-and-athleticism upside to Cincinnati’s defensive front
Lance Dawson is a high-upside 2026 Cincinnati signee whose appeal starts with size, burst, and versatility: at 6-foot-4/6-5 and around 260 pounds, he’s been praised for a quick first step, strong athletic testing, and real disruptive potential on the defensive line. In his senior season at Avon, he flashed production with multiple sacks and tackles for loss, while also showing uncommon multisport explosiveness. He’s still relatively new to football, which makes his ceiling especially intriguing — the Bearcats are betting on a still-growing defender with a lot of room to sharpen strength and technique.





