Liam Dobson
Offensive Guard / Maine
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Liam Dobson: I am 6’3 and 340 pounds.
Alex Khvatov: How did you prepare for the 2020 season with no offseason training?
Liam Dobson: I have been doing a lot of in home stuff. I have lots of weights, skipping and lower body stuff. I have a stationary bike. I have been doing lots of mobility and yoga to improve for the season.
Alex Khvatov: You grew up in Canada. Tell us about your life across the border.
Liam Dobson: I was a typical, regular kid. I started to get into football my freshman year of high school. Junior year, I went to Canada Prep Academy in Niagara Falls. On the weekends, we would drive to Ohio and other states. We would play some other schools in the US. We have a famous alum in Neville Gallimore. He went there a year before me. We are both from Ottawa. Geoff McArthur was a head coach at Canada Prep. He was an All-American at Cal Berkley. He now coaches at Santa Monica high school.
Alex Khvatov: Besides football, what other sports did you play in high school?
Liam Dobson: Growing up, I played everything I could. I played hockey up until eighth grade. I played high level basketball. I was on a golf team and a volleyball team in high school.
Alex Khvatov: What positions did you play in high school?
Liam Dobson: At a regular high school, I was a DL and FB. When I transitioned to a prep high school, I was a DL the first year and I played OL my senior year. We had an OL who quit the team, and I played there for four or five years.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
Liam Dobson: Lots of Canadian teams showed interest like Carleton University. I wanted to go to the US. First year, I gained lots of interest. I received interest from Syracuse, Fordham, and New Hampshire. Going into my senior year, the offers got pulled.
Alex Khvatov: How did you wind up at Maine?
Liam Dobson: My head coach Geoff McArthur called me and told me some coaches will be visiting the school. Coach Denecke from Maine came and offered me a half scholarship. The following weekend, I went on an official visit to Maine. Everything progressed on that visit, I got a full scholarship.
Alex Khvatov: What can we expect from your team this upcoming season?
Liam Dobson: We will be explosive on offense and will be able to stop the run. We are returning all seven O-linemen and we have five starters back. Chris Mulvey is our starting center. He is a four-year starter. I am a three-year starter. We have a big LG from Denmark. His name is Matthias Staalsoe and he is very athletic. Our LB Deshawn Stevens is back. We are expecting big things from him. Our young QB Joe Fagnano will step up.
Alex Khvatov: How would you describe your overall career?
Liam Dobson: I showed up as a true freshman in 2017. I wasn’t expecting much. I was new to the position of O-line. I played in six or seven games. I started one game as a true freshman. I played on field goals. I learned the position that year. We were expecting a good 2018 season. We blew out UNH the first game of the season. We won the conference championship. We play in a tough conference. I was named second team all-conference as an OG. I was happy. We had great success as a team. Personally, I did well. I was upset that I wasn’t named to the first team. We beat Weber State in the quarterfinals. It was the best team that we had in Maine’s history. It was a great atmosphere. We trained hard all offseason. In 2019, we had our struggles. We had a lot of injuries. QB Joe Fagnano played well, and Andre Miller had a great year. Jon Smith made a lot of plays for us on special teams. I made first team all-conference and FCS stats third team All-American. I played RT this past year.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
Liam Dobson: Definitely the run game, finishing blocks and playing to the whistle. In the passing game, I improved a lot with my footwork this past year. In 2019, I got better with taking proper kick slides.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Liam Dobson: Definitely in the passing game especially at OT. In the run game, taking proper steps. I also need to learn as much as I can about defenses.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
Liam Dobson: I got three. Beating UNH in a 2018 season-opener. It was a great feeling. Winning the conference championship in 2018. Also blowing out Jacksonville State in a home playoff game in 2018. Our head coach was trying to fire us up in the locker room before the game. We had the bye, and their team was talking smack throughout the week. They were favored even though we were a number one seed playing at home. We realized that we need to destroy the guys up there. It was the best feeling when we won.
Alex Khvatov: What is the biggest lesson that you have taken away from your coaching staff?
Liam Dobson: Control the controllable. We have a lot going on which you can’t control. Just focus on what you can fix.
Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite NFL team?
Liam Dobson: My family and I went to the Grand Canyon in 2006. I saw a Larry Fitzgerald jersey, and I asked my dad to buy it. I have been following the Arizona Cardinals since then. They made it to the Super Bowl a few years ago. I have stuck with them.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
Liam Dobson: I am a big Larry Fitzgerald fan. I have gravitated towards the O-line. Quenton Nelson is an animal. I was a big Marshal Yanda fan. He just retired, but he had serious skills.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for this upcoming season?
Liam Dobson: QB Joe Fagnano is a true sophomore. TE Shawn Bowman is a very good TE. He is 6’6 and is very physical. All of our O-linemen are returning. OL Mike Gerace, C Chris Mulvey, LG Matthias Staalsoe and LT Tyler Royal. LB Deshawn Stevens is a really good player. WR Andre Miller and WR Devin Young on offense. DL Jon Smith and LB Ori Jean-Charles. Katley Joseph, Shaquille St-Lot, and Rich Carr in the secondary.
Alex Khvatov: Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?
Liam Dobson: DL Bill Murray from Williams & Mary. I played against him for three straight years. He was very consistent on every play.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for an OL?
Liam Dobson: Physical and mental toughness. You are making physical contact on every play and you have to do it at a high level.
Alex Khvatov: What makes you unique?
Liam Dobson: I like to joke around and cook on the grill.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
Liam Dobson: It is almost therapeutic. If you had a tough time in the classroom, football takes your mind of other stuff.
Alex Khvatov: What is your definition of a leader?
Liam Dobson: A leader is someone who puts the team first. A leader does whatever he can. He puts the success of the team first and lifts teammates who are down.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
Liam Dobson: Cooking, basketball and hanging out with my friends.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
Liam Dobson: I want to own a restaurant. Possibly coaching or running a recruiting service. I want to focus on bringing football players from Canada and countries in Europe.
Alex Khvatov: What five words best describe you?
Liam Dobson: Hardworking, determination, funny, driven, and motivated.
