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Dawkins at center of PSU leadership

Penn State offensive lineman Nick Dawkins (53) celebrates after a victory over SMU during the first round of the College Football Playoff, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – One of the reasons Penn State has advanced this deep into the College Football Playoff is because the Nittany Lions have outstanding team leadership.

And one of their best leaders is senior center Nick Dawkins.

It’s a role he’s been accustomed to from a young age.

He was just 13 years old when his father, former NBA legend Darryl Dawkins, died of a heart attack in 2015.

“My whole life, I’ve been trying to fill somebody else’s shoes,” Dawkins said in preparation for Tuesday night’s Fiesta Bowl vs. Boise State (7:30 Eastern time kickoff, ESPN). “I didn’t feel any pressure.”

Darryl Dawkins’ passing left Nick to help take care of his mother, Janice, and three sisters, one of whom has Down Syndrome.

“My mom is one of the toughest individuals I’ve been blessed to be around,” Dawkins said. “She was tough on me. That’s why school and off the field is important to me.”

Dawkins’ athletic tree runs deep. Beyond his father, his cousin, Brian Dawkins, was an all-pro safety with the Philadelphia Eagles, and his cousin, Karl-Anthony Towns, is an NBA standout.

Nick has his eye on a pro future with the idea of taking care of his family. He has another year of eligibility left at PSU but hasn’t decided yet whether he’ll use it.

“My mom and my sister are the reasons I am who I am,” he said. “The sacrifices my mom has made — losing her best friend and husband and having to step up and be my mom and my dad at a young age. Everything I do is to make sure she doesn’t have to do anything in her life unless she wants to do it.”

Dawkins patiently waited his turn to start behind Juice Scruggs and Hunter Nourzad, two players now in the NFL. He didn’t consider transferring, which many upperclassmen do if they’ve hung around five seasons as a backup.

“Penn State is so personal to me,” he said. “I’m a first generation college student. My dad went straight to the NBA, and my mom couldn’t go to college. This is an important step for my family and an important part of my personal journey. This is why I came to Penn State — to play, to start and to do what you’re supposed to do.”

Dawkins has not only done that on the field but off it.

Earlier this month, he was named recipient of the Wuerffel Trophy, which is presented annually to the FBS player who best exemplifies community service and leadership and is named for former Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel.

In 2023, Dawkins founded the Dawkins Family Foundation, which works with kids to provide educational and enrichment opportunities.

The foundation presents three scholarships (one in honor of Darryl Dawkins), conducts educational workshops and events and sponsors fundraisers and clothing drives in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, where Dawkins attended Parkland High School.

Dawkins, an all-Big Ten academic selection, has also contributed to causes at PSU, which named him its Public Service Award winner.

James Franklin says Dawkins “could be the mayor of State College,” and adds, “If I had a son, I’d want him to be Nick Dawkins.”

The feeling is mutual.

“He’s the man I strive to be,” Dawkins said. “When you hear Coach Franklin talk about you in that manner, it validates that I made the right decisions. This community that I’ve been able to be a part of – the connections I’ve met, the family I grew here – has been so important. I love this school and love this community.”

A center of attention, indeed.

Neil Rudel can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com.

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