ATLANTA -- After being sidelined for the 2015 season with a knee injury, running back Kendrick Dorn is back on the field again. Experiencing this injury was rough on Dorn, but with the help of those around him, he was able to remain optimistic.
“It was tough,” Dorn admitted. “I was down for a while, but just being around positive guys, like Kaleb Ringer and Kam Myers, and also receiving support from my family as well as the Christian community helped. It was hard overcoming, but I got through it. It’s such a blessing to be back out here.”
Before coming to Georgia State, Dorn attended Kaiser High School, in Fontana, Calif., until his senior year when he transferred over to Los Osos High School. Around this time is when the Inland Empire, Calif., native decided to grow dreadlocks, similar to his favorite music artist Fetty Wap. When asked how long it was since his last haircut, Dorn knew the time frame down to the exact day.
“Five years, five months and three days ago,” Dorn said laughing. “It was a long time ago. I had a little afro, and my friend Greg was a big influence on me. He was my trainer. He came from Idaho, and he was just about to play for the Baltimore Ravens. He ended up going to the Ravens. He told me I should get dreads. He had mini dreads at the time, so I was like ‘I guess.’ Then I just kept seeing dreads everywhere I went, so I was like, ‘I’m going to do it.’”
Wanting to continue his football career, Dorn decided to attend a junior college.
“Coming out of high school, I didn’t have any offers, so I decided to go to junior college,” Dorn said. “I went to San Bernardino Valley Community College. It’s about 35-40 minutes from where I’m from.”
At San Bernardino Valley, Dorn was a 1,000-yard rusher. Having gained 1,088 yards on 218 carries in 2014, Dorn led the American Division Mountain Conference with 15 rushing touchdowns.
“Junior college is a struggle because you have to get it on your own,” Dorn said. “Although we were in California and you do get to live with your parents, if you’re close enough, it’s still hard. I was working, going to school and playing football all at the same time. Nothing was handed to you. We had to do everything by ourselves.”
After two years of junior college, Dorn earned a scholarship to Georgia State, along with his San Bernadino Valley teammate and blocker, Tyler Simonsen. The loyalty of the program and commitment from the GSU coaches are aspects that sealed the deal for Dorn.
“It was such a blessing that they talked to me first,” Dorn said. “I liked the way they [Georgia State] stayed committed to me, and I also prayed about it. I think I was led here to do something special.”
Dorn began to show his potential when he scored his first touchdown as a Panther against Air Force on Sept. 10. He is a key part of Georgia State’s deep and versatile backfield, which also includes juniors Glenn Smith and Kyler Neal, sophomore Demarcus Kirk and freshmen Darius Stubbs and Tra Barnett.
During Dorn’s long road to recovery, the economics major excelled in the classroom, making the President’s List for the spring semester.
Dorn and the Panthers return to action Oct. 1, when the open Sun Belt Conference play at Appalachian State. Georgia State’s next home game is Oct. 8 vs. Texas State.
