Dunn's Journey From Walk-on to Consistent Starter
6/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
By: Ryan Satsky – Media Relations Student Assistant
Four years ago, Michael Dunn could only dream of becoming the starting left tackle for a Big Ten football program. But hard work and dedication to his craft has led to just that.
In the spring of 2012, Dunn graduated from Walt Whitman High School (Bethesda, Md.) as an undersized offensive lineman boasting zero Division-I football scholarship offers. A few months later, he joined the University of Maryland scout team as a redshirt walk-on looking to make a name for himself.
Since then, Dunn has started 37 games along Maryland's offensive line, and his epic journey of self-made success reached a high-point last year when he was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten.
“When I came in as a walk-on, the coaches didn't really give me any expectations,” said Dunn. “They told me 'if you work hard, then you'll be able to play here' so I did just that.”
Hard work has been a constant theme throughout Dunn's ascent from walk-on to starter.
From his very first season, Dunn exhibited admirable determination and work ethic as he immediately fought an uphill battle in practice.
“When I got here, I was really undersized, weighing around 260 pounds,” Dunn explained. “As an offensive lineman in a Power 5 conference, you have to be at least 290. On the scout team I was going up against A.J. Francis, Joe Vellano and Darin Drakeford on a daily basis. Those guys are all competing on Sunday's now.”
Heading into the following season, Dunn transformed his body and evolved into a seemingly unrecognizable football player.
By the end of the summer, Dunn finally checked in at over 300 pounds while simultaneously improving his technique and footwork. It didn't take long before his rapid development secured the attention of the coaching staff.
“Two weeks before our first game against FIU, Coach held a team meeting in which he called out a bunch of kids' names and he called my name,” recalled Dunn. “We were all waiting outside his office, starting to realize he was announcing the starters. I'm thinking, 'Why'd he call me? No way I'm starting. My goal was to just travel. When he brought me in, he told me right away that I'd be starting. Not only that, he gave me a scholarship.”
With a scholarship under his belt, Dunn's confidence skyrocketed.
He commenced his redshirt freshman season with a pancake block against an FIU defensive tackle, and concluded his redshirt freshman season receiving an Honorable Mention on the All-ACC Freshmen team.
Three years and 37 starts later, the super-durable Dunn is incredibly eager to begin his fifth and final season wearing a Maryland uniform.
Much of this excitement stems from the new coaching regime led by head coach DJ Durkin. His vaunted coaching staff includes offensive coordinator Walt Bell, who brings a high-tempo offensive scheme with him from Arkansas State.
“It's really fast and I love it,” Dunn explained. “If we can get to the speed Coach Bell wants, it'll help us out so much. As on offensive lineman, I love it because if I go that fast, the defensive linemen get so tired that they don't want to rush. The defensive lineman won't be firing off the ball and rushing as hard. We just need to keep doing a lot of conditioning to get to that point.”
When a freshman walks on to a college football team, the expectation is that he will never start one game. By the end of this season, former walk-on Michael Dunn aims to hit his goal of starting 50 games for the Maryland Terrapins.
“I'm sitting at 37 starts as we speak, and I want to get to 50,” Dunn mentioned. “I believe we're going to have a very good team this year. We need to make a bowl game for me to get to 50.”
Also an All-Academic Big Ten honoree, Dunn has a bright future in front of him both on and off the football field.
“I'll be graduating this May with a degree in economics,” Dunn said. “I'm looking forward to applying to graduate schools and making the most out of this great education from the University of Maryland.”
On September 3rd, Maryland will kick its season off against Howard and Dunn is expected to step onto the field for his fourth consecutive season opener as a starting offensive lineman for the Terps.
Not too shabby for a kid with zero Division-I scholarship offers coming out of high school.
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