Draft Zone Spotlight: Dawud Lane, LB, Bethune-Cookman University

Draft Zone Spotlight: Dawud Lane, LB, Bethune-Cookman University

When you watch the Bethune-Cookman games, big Dawud Lane stuck out and was a fierce competitor.  He was a very highly recruited defensive lineman/linebacker which attended Rutgers University in New Jersey.  He has been given a couple nicknames one is “Wood” which is short for Dawud because he lays wood when he plays.  Another one is “Mr. Energy” because he is always fired up.  I talked to one person at Bethune Cookman who said that Dawud would run a 4.5 all day every day at 6’2, 225 pounds.  That is very impressive.  Enough of me talking, check out the linebacker from B-CU.

How many teams were recruiting you coming out of high school and how did you make your decision?

Out of high school I was not that highly recruited maybe 9 or 10 D1-A offers. I made my decision to attend Rutgers originally where I earned my undergrad degree. The reason I went there because as a young man I wanted to stay home in New Jersey and I truly loved the coaching staff at Rutgers. Upon graduating there I still had eligibility so I decided to come down to Bethune Cookman to receive my masters while helping build this program.

Who was your favorite NFL team growing up, and did you have a player you rooted for?

That’s an easy one thee Dallas Cowboys, second greatest franchise ever next to the one that picks me up. Real Stars wear Stars and the stadium opens up to allow God the best view. The players I rooted for growing up was Deion Sanders & Lawrence Taylor I loved their showmanship, and ability to take over a game. The passion that LT plays with while rushing the passer and Deion ability to take risk in coverage because of his speed are characteristics I adopted into my game.

At your position, how do you break down film, please inform our readers what you look for when breaking down film?

Breaking down film is at this level of college and the pros are an essential aspect to being productive. At Rutgers the coaches would do detailed breakdowns of tendencies and third down plays in which at BCU we did not have the man power to do so. Thus I took it upon myself to study route combinations that coincide with down and distance to gain an advantage defensively. After taking a couple days studying that you move into o line stances to get run/pass reads and then gun mechanics as far as the QB and alignment for the Wide receivers, now there are plenty more but I have to preserve my career.

Do you consider yourself a quiet leader or an outspoken role model?

Ultimately I consider myself a leader. You have to be able to adapt there is a time and a place for everything and as a leader you have to understand that, not only that some people respond better with a stare that says get it together and a head nod vs. the hoorah speech. So when I earn the opportunity to be a leader at the next level I will be able to conduct myself appropriately.

If you could take one day back and erase it from your past what day would you erase?

Oh no, Not at All not even close. You can live life with two different pains either the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. I have been living with the pain of discipline forever. It is easier this way for me obeying the rules and accepting the punishment when they are disobeyed. As a result there is not one day I want to take back and erase because the lesson that may have been learned according to God’s plan I may not have received.

Do you have any hobbies, if so tell the world what it is?

Hobbies are aren’t really my forte, I would say working out yet that’s for football or playing madden but that’s to learn schemes for football. I mean it supposed to be something that is done in down time or leisure time and I rarely have that. I have dedicated my time thus far to football, high school, college and now the NFL.

Who was the toughest player you have ever played against?

If by played against you mean in a game where the score is counted and statistics are recorded I would have to say it would be a combination of Brandon Linder, Jon Feliciano two offensive lineman for the University of Miami as they paved the way for Duke Johnson. Yet ultimately my toughest battles were as a member of Rutgers Scout team during my years when I played d-line I went against Anthony Davis, Jeremy Zuttah, Kevin Haslem three offensive linemen that are all on NFL rosters.

What is the best accolade/award you have ever received from playing football?

The best award I would have to say was not a plaque or a trophy yet the feeling when my teammates came to me, after we got down 14–0 even though I was not the starter at the time and said I believe in you, when you get in there you make sure you stop them. It’s your defense! It means more than me than anything because various teammates said it offensive and defensive and it means something when your game is respected amongst your peers not only that when they inserted me in the game SCSU does not score again.

If it was your last meal, what would you eat?

Last meal…..well it depends on why it’s my last meal where am I going that I won’t be able to eat anymore? I’m not eating anything until somebody tells me what’s going on!!

Before the game, what song might I hear on your iPod?

You are guaranteed to hear Kurt Franklin’s Hello Fear and a Song for Mama by boy’s ii men. Booth songs is just an audio reminder who I play for and that I can be at ease and go play freely with God and my Mother in my corner win/lose/draw, sack/interception/or missed tackle.

Do you have any pre game rituals?

Well I always take a Victory Lap before the game because if I am physically blessed to play this game I have already won and then I get to the 50 yd line pray to god.

If you could pick out your biggest weakness what would it be?

Wow, you just going to throw it out there just like that huh, well my biggest weakness is McDonalds everybody says it’s bad for me but I can’t resist.

Have you talked to any NFL scouts throughout this process, and what feedback are you getting?

I was formally introduced to a couple scouts the Jaguars as well as the Giants, yet this was during the season. My focus was not so much on the NFL then as it was winning a championship but as of now I’m not getting much feedback at all, I stay optimistic maybe they were just waiting to read this interview, then soon after they might get on YouTube search Dawud Lane and check my highlight tape out, you never know.

If you could compare your play to someone in the NFL, who would it be?

If I could compare myself to anybody in the NFL, who would it be well honestly I can’t say that I could compare myself to any one person in the NFL. I take bits and pieces from everyone in the NFL and try to emulate their games because they are now where I am striving to be.

What is the most tragic event in your life that has happened and how did you bounce back?

Most tragic event in my life is when my grandmother took ill. She had strokes, plural and doctor foolishly said that she might not live a couple months. I bounced back by building a foundation with God and understanding that his will trumps man and that through faith miracles happen that we as humans need not understand. Doctor said she had months yet this was almost four years ago and I just saw her last night a little shorter since then but she still punched in my face for not telling her I was coming home to visit.

Everyone asks this question but I’m curious to know what will you buy first with your first NFL pay check?

Your right, everyone does ask this question and I look and read everyone’s response but now when you ask me I draw a blank. I don’t know if I’m buying anything though I saw ESPN special BROKE, I’m going to put 1300 into church for all the times I only put in two dollars and called it a day.

If you could meet one person, dead or alive who would it be and why?

This is an easy one, Roger Goodell it would be him because he knows everyone in and around the NFL I would let him be my agent/liaison have him vouch for me to get me an opportunity to make somebody’s camp. I don’t want him to get me on the team just a chance to get into camp, and then let me earn whatever God has planned

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