The constant piece of advice Brody Dawyot received throughout his recruiting process was not to rush the decision and find the university that helped him both on and off the field.
It was a mindset that allowed the Glenvar High School star to not feel burdened to make a selection whenever he stepped on campus for an official visit or to take part in a camp.
Something felt different this past weekend when he and his family visited Charlotte.
“It was amazing down there,” Dawyot told The Roanoke Times in a phone interview Thursday.
Dawyot didn’t need to make other official visits. He told the staff of his intention to verbally commit to the 49ers on Saturday and then posted his commitment to play Division I football on social media Sunday evening.
“Stepped on campus and felt like the time was right,” he said.
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Charlotte was one of seven Division I offers that Dawyot received. He had an FBS offer from UConn and held FCS offers from Richmond, Norfolk State, Stony Brook, Maine and Bryant.
He received his offer from Charlotte on April 30.
“I think UNC Charlotte got a gem to be honest. He’s a heck of a player, but he’s just a really good kid,” Glenvar coach Kevin Clifford said. “I think he’s one of the best players in the state. He’s really a two-sport star, works hard, great in the weight room, great teammate. I think they’re getting the total package with him.”
The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Dawyot is the reigning VHSL Class 2 offensive player of the year after leading Glenvar to an appearance in the state semifinals. He passed for 2,964 yards, rushed for 703 yards and accounted for 61 touchdowns during his junior season.
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Glenvar quarterback Brody Dawyot (left) tries to evade Alleghany’s Joseph Rogers during an Oct. 19 game in Covington.
HEATHER ROUSSEAU, The Roanoke Times
Dawyot also was a first-team all-state punter.
His ability to play multiple positions was enticing to the Charlotte staff, according to Dawyot. He said, “They see me playing as an offensive athlete,” which means he could line up at wide receiver, put his hand in the dirt at tight end or line up at quarterback.
“Anywhere to be honest. They want me as an athlete,” Dawyot said when asked if he had a preference for which position he played. “… The main thing I wanted was to get on the field as soon as possible and help the team win.”
Dawyot credited Clifford and his quarterback coaches, Baylin Trujillo and Tony Ponton, for helping him through the recruiting process.
Dawyot finished his recruiting weekend at Charlotte on Sunday and went to Florida to train with Trujillo through Wednesday morning.
“He really helped me with that recruiting process and getting me better with my craft,” Dawyot said of Trujillo.
Dawyot and his Glenvar teammates have unfinished business heading into the 2025 season. He mentioned Glenvar has not won a state title in football since 2014, and he wants to send his fellow seniors out as state champions.
Dawyot enters his senior season with 7,012 career passing yards, 95 career passing touchdowns and 8,654 career total yards.
“We’re all just coming and we’re hitting the weight room really hard,” Dawyot said. “… Hopefully all this work pays off and we can win a state championship.”