Getting to know Greer sophomore starting QB Dawson Fowler

Dawson Fowler is two games into his career as Greer’s varsity starting quarterback. Fowler has been thrown into the fire right away, facing off against some of the state’s best defenses in Boiling Springs and Belton-Honea Path in his first two weeks. 

Fowler has held his own against stout opponents. Though the Jackets are still searching for their first win, the sophomore signal-caller is making plays and showing he’s the guy to get Greer where it needs to be by the end of the season.

GreerNews.com had the chance to speak with Fowler before his first-ever varsity start on August 22. 

GreerNews (GN): Dawson, you’ll be the starting quarterback for the first time this year, but this isn’t the first time you’ve gotten varsity reps. Talk about some of those other games where you’ve come in and shown what you can do.

Dawson Fowler (DF): I feel like I did fairly decent last season when I came in during our win against Travelers Rest, and then in the playoffs, I played some good drives against South Pointe. But it really all starts at practice. You can't just go into the game unprepared. I’m just thankful the coaches have the confidence in me to be able to go into this situation as the starter now, that they have faith I know what to do.

GN: Did you have an idea going into this season that you may be the starter?

DF: Yeah, for sure. But it's always a competition, no matter if you're the only one on the depth chart or if there are five guys on the depth chart. You can never be too confident that you have the starting job, because you never know what could happen.

GN: When did you first fall in love with the game of football? I know you’re a three-sport guy, so when did football enter the fray for you?

DF: I think the first sport I loved was probably baseball, and that just came from going to my older brother's games. I’ve gone to my brother Brody’s games since I was two months old to even last year, when he was still playing at North Greenville. But with football, I fell in love with it when I was a kid playing flag football. That was just something I really enjoyed doing. I love the hard work in it, knowing that you'll have success through hard work. My first tackle football season was over on the D-team at Eastside, and I had a ball with that. 

GN: Has it hit you at any point leading up to the season just how real its getting? How intense being a starting varsity quarterback truly is?

DF: Oh, absolutely. I mean, when we went to Gaffney and played over there in that scrimmage. A team like Gaffney, it’s nerve-racking just being on the field and playing against so many great players. But it’s starting to get real. I feel like during the season, I'll be nervous before the games, but once I get through the first drive, even just the first play, I'm locked in from there.

GN: It’s no small feat to be named starting quarterback as a sophomore, especially at Greer. What do you feel like you did to lead the coaches to make this decision?

DF: I'd say, just last year, playing on the JV team and figuring out the whole offense. It prepared me. When I got to play in any varsity game, I knew exactly what to do. So, I’d say just knowing the playbook and being coachable.

GN: Do you feel like you’ve made good connections with some of your receivers? Anyone in particular?

DF: Definitely. I try to build a connection with everybody out wide, just to know what they're going to do, and when they're going to do it. I don't really have anybody that I favor over the other. It’s all about whoever gets open first. 

GN: How thankful are you to have been named the starter at such an early point in your career?

DF: Oh, I’m beyond grateful. I couldn't have done anything without God giving me the strength and the confidence to just go out there against older guys and play hard. I'm blessed by the coaching staff for having the confidence in me from the start. They’ve believed in me from the jump, so from the time spring practice started, I had the confidence that I could get it done from the get-go.

GN: What are your personal goals for this season? 

DF: I'd say that just becoming a better leader would be a big thing. I know I'm just a sophomore, and there are older guys on the team, but being such a at a main position on the offense, I feel like just being a leader would be a big step up in my game.

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