Football
Dawson, Sheldon

Sheldon Dawson
- Title:
- Cornerbacks
- Email:
- shedaws@ut.utm.edu
Dawson enters his first season as an assistant coach at UT Martin as the team’s cornerbacks coach after previously serving as head coach of Frederick Douglass High School in Memphis.
Prior to his tenure at Douglass High School, Dawson served as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Liberty Tech High School for two seasons where he mentored eight all-region selections along with the 2019 Linebacker of the Year and Defensive MVP. Also highlighting his tenure was the program’s first defensive shutout against Chester County since 2016 along with forcing eight turnovers against Dyersburg.
Dawson played two seasons at UT Martin from 2015-16 where played in 20 games. During his Skyhawk career he tallied 42 total tackles, six pass breakups and two interceptions. His best season came in 2016 when he tallied 41 tackles and two interceptions against Hawai’i and Eastern Illinois.
Prior to his time at UT Martin, he spent three seasons at Georgia (2012-14) where he played in 27 games and earned one start. During his tenure he tallied 28 tackles and 1.0 tackle for loss while earning Georgia Newcomer of the Year honors as a freshman.
A native of Memphis, Tenn., Dawson prepped at Ridgeway High School where he was the No. 1 recruit in the state of Tennessee and 11th ranked cornerback nationally for the 2012 class. As a multi-position star he was named to the SuperPrep All-America and All-Dixie teams.
Dawson graduated in the fall of 2018 from UT Martin with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies.
Prior to his tenure at Douglass High School, Dawson served as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Liberty Tech High School for two seasons where he mentored eight all-region selections along with the 2019 Linebacker of the Year and Defensive MVP. Also highlighting his tenure was the program’s first defensive shutout against Chester County since 2016 along with forcing eight turnovers against Dyersburg.
Dawson played two seasons at UT Martin from 2015-16 where played in 20 games. During his Skyhawk career he tallied 42 total tackles, six pass breakups and two interceptions. His best season came in 2016 when he tallied 41 tackles and two interceptions against Hawai’i and Eastern Illinois.
Prior to his time at UT Martin, he spent three seasons at Georgia (2012-14) where he played in 27 games and earned one start. During his tenure he tallied 28 tackles and 1.0 tackle for loss while earning Georgia Newcomer of the Year honors as a freshman.
A native of Memphis, Tenn., Dawson prepped at Ridgeway High School where he was the No. 1 recruit in the state of Tennessee and 11th ranked cornerback nationally for the 2012 class. As a multi-position star he was named to the SuperPrep All-America and All-Dixie teams.
Dawson graduated in the fall of 2018 from UT Martin with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies.