Lifelong Steelers fan, college All-American guard Kevin Dotson living his dream

Kevin Dotson had already been a Pittsburgh Steelers fan while when he was in kindergarten, the team drafted Ben Roethlisberger. Sixteen years to the day later, Dotson too became a Steelers draft pick.

When Dotson heard his name called in the fourth round last Friday, he knew it meant he could play for his favorite team alongside one of his favorite players.

“It’s going to be crazy because in my mind, I’ve always thought of (Roethlisberger) as like someone I’d never meet, being one of the legends,” said Dotson, who was an All-American guard at Louisiana. “I never thought I’d be blocking for him. So, this is going to be one of those dreams you get to play with people that you’ve always looked up to for your entire life.”

Dotson was born and raised, and went to high school and attended college in Louisiana. He had an uncle (Alvin McKinley) who played six of his nine NFL seasons for the Steelers-rival Cleveland Browns, and another uncle (Dennis McKinley) who played for the Arizona Cardinals.

Despite it all, this Ragin’ Cajun insists his family was more aligned with the Black-and-Gold than the fleur-de-lis.

Dotson has old internet logs and a shrine of a basement to prove it.

“(The Steelers) have always been my No. 1 team,” Dotson said. “I followed them since I was about 5. Even in my house, we have a big man cave — and it’s all Steelers decked out. I’ve been following them forever.

“My favorite player used to be ‘The Bus’ (Jerome Bettis). All of my passwords used to have 36 at the end just because of that. So now that this is happening, this is ridiculous. I couldn’t even imagine this happening.”

"I feel like I can win any play that I do. So, I'll tell (opponents) the play. If I tell you the play, and you still can't stop it – it hurts your morale way more."https://t.co/Zet0yxnBaa

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) April 25, 2020

With the Steelers’ national following, it’s not uncommon for incoming NFL players to cite a preexisting fandom. Mike Adams (2012) and Le’Veon Bell (2013), for example, said as much after they were drafted by the Steelers, as did Marcus Allen two years ago. Allen, at least, had former Pitt and Allderdice star Curtis Martin as a godfather and a father, Shawn, who grew up in Homewood.

Dotson couldn’t explain his family’s devotion to the Steelers. It wasn’t through longtime Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor, who played his college ball at what is now called Louisiana but was Southwestern Louisiana when Kevin’s father, Kelcy, played there in the mid-1990’s and was Louisiana-Lafayette when Taylor played there just after the turn of the century.

Taylor did, however, record a video message to congratulate Dotson for being drafted by the Steelers.

“Welcome to the family, Kevin,” Taylor said in a post to the verified Twitter account of the Louisiana football program. “You’re going to see what it is to be a Pittsburgh Steeler. You’re going to see what it is to be in the city of Pittsburgh, you’re going to see what it is when you go on that second floor on the South Side (practice facility) to see those Lombardi Trophies, six of them. You’re going to see what it is to come to the brotherhood.”

Family ?? https://t.co/MRZnehU4r3

— . (@Ike_SwagginU) April 25, 2020

Coaching assistant Blaine Stewart represented the Steelers at the East-West Shrine Bowl college all-star game that Dotson played in. Stewart returned from Tampa with a report for Steelers offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett on Dotson — one that included the relatively inconsequential detail that he’d always followed the Steelers.

“I’m happy for him,” Sarrett said. “He’s getting to play for his lifelong team that he’s loved and grew up watching.”

While it’s doubtful Dotson’s early-life cheering preferences relate in any way to his on-field playing style or disposition, at first impression Dotson’s personality and approach to football would seem to mesh well with his new Steelers position mates.

“I know what type of player you have to be to be an offensive lineman for the Steelers,” Dotson said. “It’s all what football represents: being a tough guy, being a guy who knows what he’s doing, and being able to come off hard every play. So, I guarantee I’ll be that guy for the Pittsburgh Steelers.”

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