Bucs' backup thought he'd go pro, but not in football Demar Dotson is an offensive tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but it would have been hard to predict that from the numerous posters of Shaquille O'Neal in his childhood bedroom. Dotson grew up believing he would play professional basketball. Shaq was his idol. His basketball dream was nurtured after earning All-State honors playing for Alexandria High School in Louisiana. After playing two seasons at Southeastern Illinois College, Dotson transferred to Southern Miss. to further his NBA vision. Then Dotson's reality became much clearer. Dotson (6-foot-8, 315 pounds) was not going to have an NBA career. He started in three games as a junior and nine his senior season. NBA scouts were not knocking down his door. Although he loved Shaq, Dotson realized he would never meet his idol on the court. Then a wild idea started his improbable trip to the NFL. "Sometimes you think things will happen one way and God has another plan for you," Dotson said. "You've just got to be ready for the change and ready for the switch." Dotson's decision to switch sports changed his life. The NCAA gives players five years of athletic eligibility, and since Dotson played basketball in four seasons, he had one year remaining. Football coaches at Southern Mississippi encouraged him to play, which he did. Dotson had never played football, even as child, but ended up playing defensive tackle for the Golden Eagles. He appeared in six games on the defensive line, starting in the season finale against SMU. Although Dotson's football career was far from illustrious, he did enough to garner attention from Tampa Bay's college scouting department, which believed he could play tackle in the NFL. "What we look for as scouts is traits. Physical attributes that lead to success on the next level," said Dennis Hickey, Tampa Bay's Director of College Scouting. Obviously, you knew this guy was a long way away because he never played the position, but when you look at him, he has the size. He had the long arms, moved well and had a good temperament." Tampa Bay was one of only three teams to show interest in Dotson, and the only one to pursue. Hickey said Dotson did not have enough playing experience to warrant a draft pick, but the Bucs were interested and invited him to rookie minicamp. Dotson was eager to fill the shoes of becoming a backup tackle, but Tampa Bay initially had trouble sizing him up. "He comes into rookie minicamp and we don't have (size 18) cleats that can fit him, Bucs coach Raheem Morris said. "He goes the whole minicamp with sneakers on, and I don't know until Sunday. I saw him slip a little bit, but it didn't matter. He was still was impressive enough to get invited back (to training camp). It's pretty impressive. It's a credit to him." Dotson initially relied on his natural athletic ability when he joined the Bucs. He did not know the techniques or strategies of an offensive lineman, but tried to compensate with hustle and desire. "I didn't really get too comfortable with defensive tackle because I only did it for one semester," Dotson said. "Even making the change, it wasn't a big thing. With offensive tackle, the basketball background helped me a lot by being quick. But even in basketball, you don't have a guy coming at you full speed off the edge." Dotson would have been grateful to make Tampa Bay's practice squad after training camp, but instead made the team's 53-man roster. Dotson has been active in Tampa Bay's past four games. A backup at right tackle, credits starter Jeremy Trueblood and left tackle Donald Penn for aiding his development. "His techniques are not that refined because he hasn't been playing that long, but it's just a matter of time," Trueblood said. "He knows exactly what to do. He knows exactly where to be, but there are a lot of small things you really don't realize that have to be done. He doesn't really put himself in bad position, and if he ever does, he still wins. He's a good player. Once he learns technique, and if he continues on this pace, the sky is the limit." There was a time with Dotson looked up to Shaq more than the sky. Now he looks at his professional football career with the same adoration. "I've had guys look at me and say 'With that one year of football, why did he get that opportunity where I've been playing all my life and I didn't get that opportunity?' " Dotson said. "I just want to keep a humble head, keep working everyday, and hope God keeps me in the league for a long time." Anwar Richardson, The Tampa Tribune 5 December 2009