Film Room: Cam Dooley

A recruitment is never over until pen meets paper. Kentucky had to work hard to land Valley (Ala.) High defensive back Cam Dooley. That recruiting persistence paid off on Wednesday when the former Missouri commit finally joined the Kentucky recruiting class.

Dooley took official visits to Kentucky, Missouri, and Vanderbilt in June before seeing his recruitment heat up in October. The Wildcats secured a commitment and are adding a safest with an intriguing player profile.

KSR’s Film Room is taking a closer look at the signee to see what Cam Dooley will bring to Lexington. The long safety is a raw defensive back prospect with an intriguing potential powered by physical traits.

Explosion

The first thing that stands out when you roll the senior tape for Cam Dooley (6-4, 195) is his overall explosiveness as a football player. The sheer size makes the defensive back prospect one of the biggest players on the field, but this ability to accelerate and strike raises his ceiling as a safety prospect.

Playing off coverage, Dooley shows tremendous acceleration and closing to close on the whip route. When he arrives, the safety delivers a physical hit to force an incompletion. The combination of speed, acceleration, and physicality should translate as Dooley grows as a player at the next level. In short yardage, Dooley again flashes some explosion to get the defense off the field.

The three-star recruit will need some refinement development at the next level, but the raw traits are impressive. This is a big, fast defensive back with closing speed and striking ability.

True athlete

Cam Dooley was a star basketball player who posted big numbers for Valley (Ala.) High. The hooper also played quarterback on the football field. The Kentucky signee is a big, fluid athlete with high upside at the next level.

Much projection is needed when evaluating Dooley for the next level but it is clear that this is a true athlete in a very intriguing frame.

On the run in the red zone, Dooley fluidly sidesteps a defender in the backfield before darting upfield and leaping into the endzone. Quite often, the class of 2024 prospect was the best athlete on the field in high school.

Betting on traits

Cam Dooley does not have the look of a player who will be expected to contribute early as a true freshman. However, there is no denying the raw upside.

The three-star prospect is a long safety that flashes both speed and power. With a frame to grow into, the Kentucky signee could end up being one of the biggest safeties in college football by the time his playing career is over. That just won’t be the case right away.

Kentucky is taking a bet on development in this recruitment. Dooley has tantalizing physical traits both in size and movement ability. This prospect has All-SEC potential if he can put everything together. Kentucky is making a play on upside that could have a significant payday down the road. There are not many prospects with the athletic profile of the second safety recruit to join UK’s class.