Dover's Stevenson getting ready for senior season - and what comes after it

DOVER — Mikey Stevenson has seen his share of college campuses this summer.

The Dover High football standout has been to places like Connecticut, Temple and New Hampshire.

Stevenson said this part of the recruiting process has been fun so far.

“It’s everything I’ve wanted since I was a little kid,” he said. “I want it even more now.”

A senior this fall, Stevenson has nine Division I scholarship offers so far. He doesn’t have a timetable for making his college decision, yet.

But trying to help the Senators win some football games is of more immediate concern for Stevenson.

As the state’s Class 3A Lineman of the Year last fall, Stevenson’s presence as a two-way lineman is one big reason Dover is optimistic about the upcoming season.

With the earliest pre-season camps opening on Aug. 5, the Senators will be playing under a new head coach in Maurice Paulk.

A former assistant coach at Bowie State University, Paulk was only hired in late April. Stevenson said he likes the experience the new coach brings as a former offensive line coach.

While he’s mostly being recruited as a defensive lineman, Stevenson has also proven to be very good on the offensive front as well.

“He’s very experienced, he knows what he’s talking about,” Stevenson said about Paulk. “We definitely take a lot of time just to go through plays and make sure everybody’s doing the right thing.

“I just like his attitude. I can come in any day and he gives me the energy I need to push me. Sometimes you need somebody like, ‘Come on, let’s go.’ I feel like he’s that person.”.

Likewise, Paulk said he can appreciate Stevenson’s athletic ability

He said what makes the youngster stand out on defense is his ability to beat a blocker at the line of scrimmage.

“If you can get off the ball and you can get a headstart on an offensive lineman, that’s probably one of the worst feelings for us,” said Paulk. “He actually has a set of moves. He’s not just a one-trick pony.

“I’ve watched him at camps and I’ve watched him on film. I’ve seen him put some things together. Does he need to improve on some things? Yes. Those things I’ve said to him, college coaches have said as well.

“No one’s perfect. We want to add to the toolbox.”

Bringing that same athleticism to the offensive line is a good thing, too. Stevenson has shown the ability to pull and get downfield to set up big plays.

“Just being able to move in space like that, it opens up the offense a lot,” said Paulk.

More than just his athletic abilities, Paulk said he likes the attitude that Stevenson brings to the program. He’s one of 23 juniors that Dover had on its roster last fall in a 9-2 season.

“He’s a good kid,” said Paulk. “It feels like he’s going through the process (of being recruited) the right way. He’s listening to what the college coaches are talking to him about so he understands where they’re coming from.

“Me being on the opposite end as a college coach, I know what that’s like. When I talk to him about it, it’s like now he gets a feeling of what the expectations are when he talks to college coaches.

“He’s been working hard out in the field and working hard in the classroom, as well. He’s enjoying the camps and being able to showcase his talents for those college coaches.”

On Monday, Stevenson was working out with the rest of his Dover teammates as they prepare for the start of preseason camp.

Even with a little bit or rain falling, the players were still getting their work in. Stevenson said they’re adjusting to the new coaching staff.

“It’s always going to be a slow process,” he said. “But you can see, people are coming out here in the rain. I feel like they’re buying in.

“People are not going through this if they don’t want to do this, to be honest with you.”

Stevenson should be a player who rarely leaves this field for the Senators this fall.

And that idea sounds good to him.

“I love football, period,” said Stevenson. “Offense, defense, I love playing football. I’ll play anything they need me to play.”

Extra points

• At the moment, Dover has just nine games listed on its regular-season schedule. But Paulk said the school is optimistic it will land a 10th game, perhaps to start the season in late August.
  Right now, the Senators’ opener is on Sept. 6 at home against Canarsie, N.Y.
• * Dover’s star receiver/running back, John Parker, has reportedly transferred to Middletown for his senior season. He made the decision before Paulk was hired at Dover.