Football

Combining good size with outstanding athletic skills, Dakota has a very high ceiling to his potential as a tight end...smooth route runner...developing his blocking abilities...continues to grow into his tight end position after being a defensive end throughout his prep career and first season on the Golden Eagle roster...moved from defensive end to tight end in January and spent spring drills learning his new position...had a solid spring...making the jump from the scout teams as a redshirt defensive end in 2014 to a player expected to see lots of playing time at tight end in his debut season in 2015.

AT TECH (IN 2014): Dakota spent the year as a redshirt, working on the scout teams as a defensive end...made the move following the season to tight end.

HIGH SCHOOL: Dakota was a stanbdout defensive lineman at Haleyville High School and a versatile, two-sport athlete...on the football field, he started for three years under coach Mike Heaton...he was named to the Times-Daily All-Area team as a junior and senior, and earned honorable mention all-state honors as a senior...named to the All-Northwest Alabama team twice his final two years of high school...helped lead his team to the playoffs his junior and senior year...member of the National Honor Society and owned a 3.3 GPA...also played basketball and was named to three all-tournament teams...his hoops team went to the district semifinals.

PERSONAL:  Full name is Dakota James Rushing...born on Jan. 3, 1996...the son of William and Michelle Rushing...he is from Haleyville, Ala....his major is undecided.