Citizen Staff Writer
JOHN MOREDICH
jmoredich@tucsoncitizen.com
Right guard Vaughn Dotsy has put enough mileage on a StairMaster to climb up the University of Arizona football team’s depth chart.
The redshirt freshman is on the first team heading into Saturday’s Spring Game at Arizona Stadium at 1:30 p.m.
Dotsy put his time in on the machines out of necessity. He tipped the scales at 355 pounds after reporting to UA last season from St. Bonaventure High School in Ventura, Calif.
“I started eating right, paying attention to carbs and going on the StairMaster for about 20 minutes a day, at least,” Dotsy said.
Had he ever done that much before?
“No,” Dotsy said. “Never. I never did it, but I had to in order to get my weight down and get a chance to play. I still do it now, but now that my weight is down I don’t have to do it as much. I just have to watch what I eat.”
Dotsy checks in at around 335 pounds, but he’s nimble enough to do the job.
“Smarts and strengths are his biggest things,” UA offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh said. “If you just look at him, he wouldn’t look very athletic, but he can move around well.”
That mobility has earned him a spot lining up alongside center Colin Baxter and teaming with Mike Diaz at the guard spots, at least for now.
“It was a little overwhelming and there was a lot to take in,” Dotsy said. “You can’t take it in and be perfect at once. It takes time.”
Dotsy paid full attention to previous starters Joe Longacre and Eben Britton on what to do when called upon.
“Technique. It is all about technique,” Dotsy said. “I learned so much from those guys. If you have perfect technique and try to make people go through you, then you are going to win every time.”
Is anybody going to get past him?
“Hopefully not,” Dotsy said.
• Saturday: Spring Game, 1:30 p.m. (Fan Fiesta, noon), Arizona Stadium