TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

The Future Can Wait For LSU Star Dorsey

ADVERTISEMENT

By JOEY JOHNSTON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 4, 2008

Updated: 01/04/2008 12:33 am

It's time for football again. LSU senior defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey pronounced himself pleased on Thursday, during a break in preparations for the BCS Championship Game. He's done, finally, with the awards banquets.

"I'm right where I want to be right now," Dorsey said.

He is leading LSU (11-2) into Monday night's game against the Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1). He is healthy after an injury plagued season.

But right now, wasn't Dorsey supposed to be finishing his NFL rookie season?

Last January, most observers expected him to follow LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell, his fellow underclassman, into the NFL draft. After all, Dorsey, a 6-foot-2, 303-pounder, has the size, speed and strength that makes him a virtual clone of Warren Sapp. That's the projection of Auburn's Tommy Tuberville, who coached Sapp at Miami.

Dorsey says he is where he wants to be.

Some are still asking: Why did he stay in college? Why didn't he chase the money?

Simple.

"I wanted a championship ring," Dorsey said.

And despite a senior season that saw LSU twice lose its No. 1 national ranking with a pair of triple-overtime defeats - not to mention back and knee injuries that had people claiming he foolishly jeopardized his future - Dorsey now has that opportunity.

Along with a roomful of awards.

There was the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (best defensive player).

The Lombardi Award (best lineman).

The Outland Trophy (best interior lineman).

The Ronnie Lott Trophy (best impact defensive player, on and off the field).

And, of course, there were the expected honors of first-team All-American and SEC Defensive Player of the Year.

No LSU player - other than Billy Cannon, the program's lone Heisman Trophy winner - has been showered with more hardware.

"He might be one of the most decorated defensive players in history," Ohio State offensive tackle Kirk Barton said.

"I've never seen anybody who swept every award like he did this year. Obviously, he's pretty good."

That's an understatement.

Dorsey not only put himself in position for a ring, he probably has enhanced his draft status (the Miami Dolphins will consider him for the No. 1 overall selection).

"You can count on one hand the amount of players in the country who would have tried to play with what he had in injuries," said LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini, Nebraska's head-coach-in-waiting. "He was in a lot of pain. But he kept fighting. That's why he's Glenn Dorsey. He's selfless.

"Glenn is at a point now where you don't have to make comparisons to another player. He's unique. He's one in a million."

There are millions (as in dollars) of reasons for Dorsey to anticipate April's NFL draft. That's for the future. Right now, he's in the moment.

"Got to get that ring," Dorsey said.

He's not in the NFL - yet.

He's at the BCS Championship Game - where he wants to be.

Reporter Joey Johnston can be reached at (813) 259-7353 or jjohnston@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT