Jameel Dumas - Syracuse University

Syracuse University

Dumas played college football at Syracuse from 2000 to 2003. In his first start as a weak-side linebacker, Dumas helped lead Syracuse to a victory over Temple when he intercepted a pass in the second quarter and returned it to the Temple 16-yard line to set up the go-ahead touchdown. Dumas recalled looking down as he bobbled the ball and prayed, "Lord, don't let me drop this ball." He also tallied seven tackles, including two tackles for loss, broke up a pass, and was awarded the game ball. In its reporting on the game, the Syracuse Herald American noted: "Encouraged by the interception, Dumas began to fly around the field making hits." His performance against Temple won Dumas a role as a starter.

As a sophomore in 2001, Dumas played in all 13 games, made 67 tackles and helped Syracuse to a 10-3 record.

As a junior in 2002, Dumas suffered a badly sprained ankle early in the season and injured his groin when he continued to play with the injury. Despite the injuries, Dumas recorded 92 tackles in 2002, as he developed into one of the better linebackers in the Big East Conference.

In January 2003, Dumas announced that he was leaving school for undisclosed reasons to return home to Roselle, New Jersey. Before he left, Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni told Dumas the door was open should he decide to return. In the summer of 2003, Dumas opted to return as fifth-year senior. At the time, he told the press, "Mentally, I was totally discombobulated. It was a big, total period of confusion. I knew I wasn't feeling good because I wasn't here with my brothers." In a feature story about Dumas, The Post-Standard covered his comeback.

As a senior in 2003, Dumas suffered a knee injury in the season opener against the University of North Carolina. The injury kept him out of the line-up for his entire senior year. In November 2003, sports writer Donnie Webb wrote a feature story on Dumas' hard-luck story. Webb wrote, "He is frustrated. He is exasperated. He is resigned to waiting out the storm. This is a four-year starter with aspirations and abilities to play in the NFL. His final audition is being played on the sidelines." Asked about being kept out of the line-up, Dumas said, "It's killing me." However, he insisted that he would not give up on his football career: "It's all about the love of the game. If you've got a strong love for something, it's always going to prevail. I went through too much stuff. The game keeps calling me."

In December 2003, Dumas petitioned the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility after missing most of the 2003 season. Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni noted at the time, "He played only a very short period of time in the North Carolina game. So you'd say the NCAA would be sympathetic towards a sixth year. There is no precedents set for someone in Jameel's circumstances being granted. We're going to explore it. We're going to do everything we can do. The likelihood is, we'd be blazing new territory if we got it, and the likelihood of that happening is probably very slim." Dumas' request for an extra year of eligibility was denied.

Dumas finished his college football career at Syracuse with 179 tackles and earned All-America honors.