DOVE CONVINCED TO SPREAD WINGS

When the Bearcats take the field tonight for a scrimmage against Dardanelle, Brendan Dove will be in his customary number 2 jersey.

There was a time not so long ago that didn’t look to be the case because Dove decided he was done with football before spring drills.

Then his phone started blowing up, but it wasn’t so much his teammates or the coaching staff.

“Honestly, it was players' parents. I had parents calling me every day,” said Dove.

The reason was simple. The secondary was thin and Dove was a possible fit, though he rotated at linebacker and played a lot on special teams last season.

With an injury to Brooks Herrera it is even more depleted with Dove manning the airwaves along with Peyton Tatum, Trace Hall, and Jace Washburn.

By the end of spring drills, Dove had been convinced to give it one more year and he was in tow for summer workouts, 7-on-7s, and team camps.

The coaching staff was more than happy to welcome the senior back after a season in which he made 30 total tackles with 2.5 for a loss.

“We’re glad to have him back for sure,” says Head Coach Doc Crowley. “He brings a little swagger. He’s a great kid with a great personality and the other kids feed off his energy.”

"He had to move to the secondary and he is doing a dang good job," defensive coordinator Arron Kimes adds.

The initial reason Dove thought about hanging it up was he had grown tired of aching knees. He even skipped baseball season.

“I’m just Icy-hotting them and (taking) a bunch of Tylenol,” said Dove. “They really haven’t been too bad. I think the break was definitely good on them.”

“I’ll just have to tough it out,” he added.

Now that he’s here Dove would like to see his team hoist a trophy at War Memorial Stadium in December.

Personally?

“Five picks at least,” he said.

Think Jalen Ramsey. Ramsey had no more than two interceptions in a season at Florida State but he’s had as many as four in the NFL and played for a Super Bowl champion last season.

He figures to have opportunities as he will likely draw plenty of number one receivers over the course of the 2022 season.

While Dove is a Ramsey fan, he picked the number 2 he will be sporting tonight for another player.

“I really like Justin Jefferson. In college (LSU) he wore a 2,” said Dove.

Dove doubles as a receiver.

Had he not returned, Dove’s day could have ended by noon as his class load includes just statistics, veterinary science, and English.

Situated in the middle, Dove has three sisters and two brothers. His also has a classmate/cousin in Camdyn Dove, who is a libero on the volleyball team.

After he graduates Dove says he will likely go to a welding school in Pottsville.