Mills Dawson brings size, arm talent, and sneaky athleticism to Western Illinois
In the 2023 season before arriving at Western Illinois, Dawson completed 159 of 245 passes for 2,632 yards and 26 touchdowns, and WIU listed him as a redshirt in 2024 with no game action reported, so his college tape is still a work in progress.[1][6] The selling points are easy to see: a 6-4/6-5, 211-215-pound frame, a strong arm, and coaches describing him as “way more athletic than you think,” which hints at a quarterback who can stress defenses outside the pocket as well as from the pocket.[3][5] He looks like a developmental fit for a program that can be patient and coach up upside, rather than a plug-and-play savior on day one.[5]
