On Thursday, Feb. 19, Thomas Dowling announced his commitment to The College of New Jersey football. The senior defensive end recollected when his athletic journey began.
“I started playing football around four years old, starting with flag football,” Dowling told The Fanscotian. “In third grade I started tackle football which I’ve been doing for about 10 years.”
The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) is a public university located in Ewing, NJ. Founded in 1855, the institution consistently ranks as the No. 1 public regional university in the North per the U.S. News & World Report. The Lions compete in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) in the NCAA at the Division III level.
“The main factor to me committing to TCNJ was the high academic standards while also having a reputable football program,” Dowling said. “There were also many other relevant factors such as location since I won’t have to go that far.”
The inception of the TCNJ football program dates back to 1957 with the establishment of the conference. Legendary head coach Eric Hamilton led the team from 1977 to 2012 with a record of 212-144-6, earning eight league titles and six NJAC Coach of the Year awards. In the fall, TCNJ finished fifth in the division with an overall record of 6-4. Dowling is eager to connect with his new teammates and make an impact both on and off the field.
“I’m looking forward to building the relationships with my teammates and coaches while also playing a game I love,” Dowling said. “I am also able to have a structured academic career which is something I look forward to.”
Primarily a run-stopper, Dowling led the Raiders with four sacks and two forced fumbles in the fall. The lineman also had 30 total tackles with eight of them being for a loss and 22 solo. With SPF being rush-heavy, the running backs relied on him to create open paths on the offensive end of play.
Student-athletes like Dowling dedicate many hours to compile clips of gameplay and reach out to schools for offers. He described the recruitment process as highly demanding.
“It was long and grueling as [I sent] many emails and videos,” Dowling said. “There was also a lot of time spent formulating the right highlights to eventually send to coaches.”
Dowling ruminated over his experience playing football in the town, leveraging off of the messages he’s taken away from the sport and skills he’s developed. He recognized the importance of the individuals in the program on landing at a place that felt like home.
“Our program had its ups and downs, but in the past four years I have learned a lot to get to where I am,” Dowling said. “If it wasn’t for SPF football and the coaches, then this commitment would’ve never happened.”
