There are no guarantees in professional football. If you want proof, ask Branden Dozier. The Lions’ new safety is a one-time East Division All-Star and was the team nominee for league Most Outstanding Rookie in 2017 with Montreal. So naturally, it came as quite the shock for the native of Topeka, Kansas to find himself out of work when training camps opened across the league last month. Now that he has landed in the den and had one solid practice day under his belt, Dozier couldn’t be happier.
“It felt good to put the cleats back on and run around with these guys,” he said.
“It (being released) was surprising but at the end of the day, it’s a business. They have to do what’s in the best interest for them and we’re all pieces in this game. It was shocking but I’m glad to be back on the field.”
He has now made the roundabout trek from the Sunflower state to British Columbia. In Dozier, the Lions have a guy who has proven he can make plays. Five interceptions and 183 total tackles in 35 games to be precise. Now he hopes to give this new-look secondary the shot in the arm it needs after a pair of losses to open the season.
“Watching you guys on TV those first two games I could sense it’s still a very talented team,” added Dozier.
“It’s definitely something I want to be a part of. I worked with coach Stubler in Montreal last season and love that I get the chance to be in his system again. So it being a talented team and a coach I’m familiar with really made it a no brainer.”
“He’s been a great study, ” added head coach DeVone Claybrooks.
“He understands the system, he knows the standard and he’s been with Stubes before so he understands how he should be coached and taught. The defensive backfield guys are an extension of the coaching staff because they have to be in tune together. That’s the one thing we’re still trying to get to is having everybody on the same page. We still haven’t decided on where we want to put him into the lineup. If we rush him in, it could backfire. You want to keep the continuity of what you’ve got as well.”
After starring as both a running back and defensive back at Washburn Rural High School, Dozier played two years at Butler County Community College in his home state before transferring to UNC-Charlotte for his final two years.
“It was a brand new program so that was pretty special to be a part of,” he recalled of his time at the Charlotte campus.
“I would say the first Division I game was kind of shocking because it was a lifelong dream of mine. That was the first step to get to where I am now.”
Growing up in a basketball-crazy state, Dozier excelled in track and baseball. He also took up football at the age of eight and had some pretty good guidance along the way from his father Joey Dozier, a former running back in both Arena Football and NFL Europe. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to suggest the younger Dozier owes his father for everything he has accomplished in football so far.
“He played back when arena ball was still on TV,” said Dozier of his Dad’s career.
“Being a little kid and watching your dad play was pretty cool. I have to credit him for where I am today. He never let me be the kid that would go out there and just assume I’d be good at it. I had to work for it. Saturday mornings it was always waking up and doing sprints before playing with my friends. It’s something that he built into me. Now that I’m older I make sure to keep up with those good habits.”
Playing with fellow future pros also proved to be a giant motivator for keeping up with those good habits. His college roommate was current Washington Redskins defensive lineman Brandon Banks while Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Larry Okunjobi was the first NFL player drafted out of UNC-Charlotte. He also still keeps in close contact with Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson, a former teammate in junior college.
After a rookie camp tryout with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dozier split the 2016 season between the classroom and gym while anticipating the chance to land somewhere in the pros. That persistence paid off when the Alouettes called.
Now the goal is to build off that success in La Belle Province. What better test to start off than facing Bo Levi Mitchell and the defending Grey Cup champs?
“At the end of the day we’re all competitors and I’m an extreme competitor. Playing against another great quarterback in this league will be a good test to see where I’m at personally. I like to say I’m in shape, but we’ll see, ” he joked.
Any chance you can add an all-star at this stage of the season is a nice bonus. And perhaps a nice wake-up call.