Lantana, FL- “I know I am a player that can change the program around.”
One of the fastest rising stars in South Florida has narrowed his recruitment process down to 5.
Santaluces (Lantana,FL) OLB/EDGE Jayvon Dawson has become a favorite amongst college coaches recently, garnering 27 Division I FBS Offers. Of those 27 Offers, 18 have been earned during the 2026 calendar year. Jayvon Dawson is rated as a consensus 3-Star prospect, with 24/7 Sports heralding him as a top 30 player in the State (28). As senior year approaches, Dawson has begun the process of narrowing his recruitment process to a final 5.
The last contenders: Miami (FL), Purdue, Georgia, Georgia Tech, and North Carolina.
What the film shows
At 6 foot 4, 215lbs- Jayvon Dawson is a game wrecker. Dawson provides positional versatility to his advantage, fortifying the middle of the field at linebacker or marking a stronghold in the trenches and coming off the edge. Jayvon Dawson has wicked explosiveness off the snap. He’s a blink-or-you’ll-miss-him type player, where if an opposing lineman isn’t on his A-game- Jayvon is already in the backfield and the ball carrier is on the ground. Dawson also provides high upside in coverage, rounding him out as one of the top defenders in South Florida.
During his junior season, Jayvon Dawson recorded 68 total tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, and 1 forced fumble
“I describe my self a definition of an ATH. At linebacker I can drop back into coverage or fill gaps to make a play. No matter what I’m always getting to the ball….When I’m at EDGE- good luck- because you gonna have a bad day… I’m getting to that QB no matter what..” Dawson reflected. “I’m going to keep going at you and play physical, so you don’t want to block me any more…No matter what, I’m going to be elite at what I do.”
Giving Thanks
“I want to thank God, without Him none of this wouldn’t happen… I prayed for moments and opportunities like this and He blessed me… I’m just so grateful…I want to also thank my Dad and Mom, they just blessed me with so many things in my life, I’m so grateful to have amazing parents like them..I want to thank all my Coaches at Santaluces, they helped me develop and grow into a better man and student and football player.”
Jayvon would expand on his relationship with his parents by saying:
My dad used to work me out everyday, even when he was dead tired. He sacrificed himself just to make me faster, stronger and smarter at the game of football…I remember mom giving me all the talks during the good times and hard times… I’m so blessed to have the support of both of my parents.”
Where’s Home?
After a 1-on-1 conversation with Jayvon, it’s clear the talented jack rusher is ready to win on all aspects of life, and he wants to be surrounded by people who feel the same way.
“I’m looking for everything! It starts in the classroom, I’m a student athlete first, and I’m going to do everything I can to succeed all around. I know wherever I go, I’m going to be a champion no matter what. Most importantly, I just want to find a family for real, and know I have people who have my back no matter what.”
As far as the remainder of his recruitment process, Jayvon just wants Coaches to continue keeping it real with him. No sugar coats or sweet talk, just honest recruitment.
“I want to be in a program that has real interest in me. Show me your want, don’t tell me…Actions speak louder than words.. I want to continue to build real relationships, tell me about your program or let’s talk about life in general. Not everything has to be about football.”
What Comes Next?
The clock is ticking as Jayvon continues the process of choosing his future home. Dawson currently has Official Visits to each of the finalists lined up, with the following schedule laid out for the summer:
Georgia (May 29), UNC (June 5), Miami (June 12), Purdue (June 19) Georgia Tech (TBD)
As for a commitment date, Jayvon doesn’t have a specific day set in stone, but is targeting mid-July to make a choice.
Where’s home for the elite 3-Star pass rusher? Only time will tell
