WILLIAMS: Why the David Dawson commitment is a big deal

The hope is that Iowa State’s latest football commitment, a 6-foot-4, 325-pound graduate transfer out of Michigan named David Dawson, will walk in and start from day one.

Given that Iowa State’s offensive line will be one of the youngest in the Big 12 next season, the ideal scenario is that Dawson will come in and start, and he just might do that. It’s probably why he chose Iowa State – to play.

From the Detroit Free-Press…

Dawson is a former top-100 commitment from the Brady Hoke era who never fully developed into the guy Michigan had hoped for as he only played sparingly under Jim Harbaugh over the last two years.

Knowing that, let’s tap the breaks for a minute and put into perspective what we do know at this point in time.

At the very least, this is a guy who will provide immediate depth. Regardless of the sport, this is what I love about fifth-year guys, especially in the trenches. Dawson is a grown man. He owns a college degree has been through four fall camps under two very different coaches and has had plenty of time to watch (and learn).

Depth.

On both sides of the ball, that is usually Iowa State’s problem up front. Go through the last 20 years of Cyclone football and more often than not, Iowa State’s starters (on both sides of the line) on opening day are Big 12 caliber players.

The backups?

Not so much.

Hopefully David Dawson isn’t a backup next season. He shouldn’t be. But worst-case scenario, even if he is, this is an important January pickup for Matt Campbell and his staff.