High-upside, downhill USC linebacker with proven starting experience
Dawson entered USC as a highly rated linebacker prospect, ranked No. 1 in Kentucky and No. 7 among inside linebackers by 247Sports, and he developed into a productive Trojan with 20 career starts, 137 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 4 pass breakups, and 2 interceptions. His best traits are physicality, burst, and a downhill style that fits run defense and special teams, while his value is boosted by game experience and versatility; the main caution is that his career was shaped by injuries, so durability matters as much as talent.
