Kansas native Branden Dozier has embraced Charlotte, role in 49ers’ secondary
Branden Dozier said he was standing on the practice field in southeast Kansas in autumn 2013 when he thought he heard a visiting college football coach call his name.
Dozier knew Brad Lambert, a Kansas native who had started a football program as coach of the Charlotte 49ers, was visiting his school on a recruiting trip.
“I didn’t think he was calling me,” Dozier recalled. “I couldn’t believe he was interested in me.”
Lambert was calling for Dozier, and the subsequent 21 months have proved the 49ers’ coach had an eye for talent.
“He told me I was a pretty good player,” Dozier remembers Lambert saying.
Dozier, who said he received little attention from colleges after his high school career in Topeka, Kan., has become one of Charlotte’s stellar defensive players. He led the 49ers last season in tackles, solo tackles, pass breakups and recovered fumbles – and he has picked up this season where he left off.
“I am so glad I came here,” Dozier says. “I love everything about it.”
Dozier, a 6-foot, 202-pound senior safety, scored two defensive touchdowns last season and broke up 11 passes to accompany his 86 tackles. He has six tackles and an interception after Charlotte’s first two games this season.
Lambert said Dozier and the others on Charlotte’s defense should expect a tough test Saturday night, when the 49ers play their inaugural Conference USA game at Middle Tennessee State.
“This will be the best offense we’ve faced in the history of this program,” Dozier said of the Blue Raiders, who beat Jackson State 70-14 in their opener before falling 37-10 last Saturday at Alabama.
Dozier recalls thinking, “Really?” when Lambert asked if he would be willing to move from Butler Community College, where he played his first two seasons, and come to Charlotte. He was unfamiliar with the Southeast and the 49ers’ program.
“But I came here and loved it,” he said. “And I’ve grown to love everything about this school and living around here.”
Dozier’s 2014 statistics came on a defensive unit that surrendered yardage and points in big numbers. The first two games this season have been a reversal, and Charlotte’s defense set a school record last Saturday in limiting Presbyterian to fewer than 125 yards total offense. Dozier credits much of the change to new defensive coordinator Matt Wallerstedt – who, like Lambert, has Kansas roots.
“Coach Wally has changed a lot of things,” Dozier says. “We’ve done a complete 360 from last year. It seemed like we weren’t ready at times last year, but it’s different now.”
Calling on his kinesiology major (the study of the way the body works), Dozier said the various parts of the 49ers’ team are working together better now.
“We’re really clicking so far,” he said.
Dozier said he isn’t sure what is ahead after graduation. His college major would prepare him for work as a physical therapist or other careers based on muscular-skeletal work. For now, he said the concentration is on the rest of Charlotte’s season. Dozier said the remainder of the schedule – eight conference and nonconference games against Temple and Kentucky – are enough to be concerned about.
“From here on out,” he said, “every game is the biggest game of the year.”
Meet Branden Dozier
Background: Dozier, 22, attended Washburn Rural High near Topeka, Kan. He attended Butler Community College (El Dorado, Kan.) for two years, playing football with current 49ers teammate Nick Cook.
Family: Parents are Joey Dozier and Shannon Farris. He has three brothers and two sisters and is the oldest of the six.
Football fact: Dozier was a standout on a Butler Community College team that had a 20-3 record in his two seasons there.
Interests: Spending time with friends, video games, school.
This story was originally published September 18, 2015 at 5:59 PM with the headline "Kansas native Branden Dozier has embraced Charlotte, role in 49ers’ secondary."