East Carolina University Scores Big On Signing Day

Mount Airy High School in Northwest North Carolina went undefeated in the 2008 season, scoring over 808 points during their regular season and only allowing a total of 54 points all year.

They also went on to win their first North Carolina High School Athletic Association 1-A West Championship, but that's not it; Coach Kelly Holder also helped build a Conference USA player in 6'1" 185-lb. Michael Dobson.

Dobson ran the 40 in 4.5 seconds and has a vertical jump of 36 inches and a max bench of 280. He played running back and free safety in high school and ended his career with over 33 touchdowns (all while never hitting the field in the fourth quarter all season.)

On the defensive side of the ball, Dobson managed 44 solo tackles, 33 assists on tackles, 11 pass breakups, five interceptions, and three punts blocked in 2007.

He won All-Conference both ways and was named Conference Player of the Year.

Dobson will now head to East Carolina University, where he will join head coach Skip Holtz.

Dobson verbally committed to ECU back in August and signed his letter of commitment to play on National Signing Day (Feb. 4) along with 18 other players.

When asked if Dobson would play offense or defense on Saturdays, he said, "What I got from them when they first offered was running back, but once they seen my defensive tape, they were battling between which position I'll play."

Either way, Dobson said he didn't care and that he'll just be glad to be playing at the next level. He had a total of seven offers, including Akron, Marshall, East Carolina, Richmond, Ohio, Duke, and South Carolina.

Dobson chose ECU after he discussed it with his parents and coaches, and a lot of prayers.

His sister is a graduate of ECU, which made the decision towards the Pirates a little easier.

ECU has got a winner in Dobson, and we will be talking about this guy in a few years.

ECU jumped to the national stage in 2008 after knocking off two top-25 teams in Virginia Tech and West Virginia to begin the season. After a climb to No. 15 in the polls, they stumbled and fell out, but recovered and went on to win the school's first Conference USA championship.