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Arkansas TE Dawson McFadin picking up recruiting steam on camp circuit

On3 imageby: Billy Embody06/07/25BillyEmbody
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Dawson McFadin. (Billy Embody / On3)

2026 Conway (Ark.) tight end Dawson McFadin camped at SMU last week and is one of the prospects trying to raise his profile this summer. So far, he’s done just that, adding multiple FBS offers.

“Was definitely trying to show that I was being very physical and crisp route running,” McFadin told On3. “I’d say that’s my strong suit there, focusing on them and then blocking techniques of it. I definitely feel like coaches all around in schools are using the tight end flexed a whole lot more and it’s definitely something tight ends really need to have. Personally, I’ve improved a lot on it in the past year. I work on it about five times a week for at least two hours just trying to perfect the route running aspect of the game.”

North Texas, Southern Miss, TCU and Baylor also hosted McFadin for camps, who doesn’t turn 17 until next month. Southern Miss offered him and that’s a big deal for him.

“That one was huge,” McFadin said. “It really meant a lot to me. Southern Miss is a great school. They have a really nice program, really nice facilities, love the coaching staff, love the tight ends coach. I really just like their staff and their facilities are actually really nice. But the staff, I really feel like is a great part of their team. It’s ecstatic. I feel like the energy is really there.”

Southern Miss is a program to watch for an official visit. Since this interview, he’s added Missouri State and New Mexico State offers. He’s in the process is going through his visit planning. 

“I do not yet but I do have a lot of interest in official visits and talking about it,” he said. “I should in the near future. 

As he dives into the recruiting process, he knows what he’s looking for.

“Definitely academics is up there and then being able to play as well is a really huge thing for me. What’s the depth looking like? If they have brand new tight ends. Really just availability to play and then having my major (business and electrical engineering) I want to be.”

Arkansas, Tulsa, North Texas and others continue to show interest in McFadin. McPherson and Southeast Missouri have also offered McFadin. 

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