As a senior at Capital High School, Dominique Green caught theattention of University of Charleston football coaches with hisenergy on the field.
"In high school, it's always hard to play every play of the gamewide open, but that's what impressed us," said Carey Baker, UC'sdefensive coordinator.
UC liked Green enough to sign him in February and then sat backand watched with delight as the 6-foot-2, 215-pound defensive endwreaked havoc in June's North-South All-Star Classic at UC Stadium.
Green played for the winning South team.
"In the high school all-star game, he was the most dominantplayer on the field," Baker said. "There may have been guys in thegame who were being recruited by bigger schools.
"But I don't know how anybody who watched that game couldn't havethought that he was the best player on the field. He was unblockablein passing situations."
Green hasn't slowed down this season. He's getting qualityplaying time at defensive end as a true freshman for UC, somethingGreen never dreamed would happen.
"I expected to be red-shirted," he said. "I would have had noproblem with that if it would have been better for me in the longrun."
The bottom line is Green turned out to be good enough to playright now.
In the Golden Eagles 1-1 start, he has already two tackles forloss, including a sack. UC opens West Virginia Conference play atWest Virginia Wesleyan (0-2) at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Baker expects Green's motor to be running full throttle as usual.
"He has great physical attributes but in particular, as a passrusher, he's relentless," Baker said. "It's uncommon to see a highschool kid make the transition to playing hard every down.
"Dominique has really made a smooth transition to the intensityof the college game and he's been very coachable as well.
"He has a bright future for us."
Green, who was a part-time tight end and wide receiver forCapital in addition to his duties on defense, tries to never takeplays off.
"In college, you can't take plays off or you'll get hurt," Greensaid. "If you take a play off, they'll come at you harder.
"I might not make all the plays. But by me going hard every play,I can help my teammates make the plays."
Green also is much more athletic than the offensive tacklestrying to block him and it could get even more futile for foes ifGreen adds weight as he hopes.
"He has a chance to be a big man," Baker said. "He could carry245 pounds easy and look the same as he does now."
"I'll eat healthy and gain weight the right way," Green said. "Iwant to gain weight. I think it will help me."
Green is one of two true freshmen playing on the Golden Eagles'defensive front, along with Bassett, Va., product Justin Woods.
Josh Bruce, another true freshman from St. Albans High, waspenciled in for playing time on the defensive line this season butwill likely redshirt after sustaining an injury, Baker said.
Green is happy he ended up on defense.
"I kind of miss having a chance to make someone miss and havingthe ball in my hands," he said. "But defense is great becausethere's nothing like sacking the quarterback. That's better thananything else."
Contact sportswriter Tom Aluise at toma@dailymail.com or (304)348-4871.
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