The trenches of the Florida Atlantic football team gained a lot of playmaking and experience following head coach Zach Kittley’s next addition to the group, landing CJ Doggette Jr. from the Ohio Bobcats.
CJ Doggette Jr.
Defensive Line
6-2, 272 lbs
Transfer
Ohio
Doggette Jr. announced his commitment to the Owls on Friday afternoon via Instagram, shortly after entering the portal on Dec. 22. He joins FAU with two years of eligibility remaining.
FAU fended off competition from the West Virginia Mountaineers of the Big 12. Visiting the campus earlier this month, Doggette Jr. had personal connections to the university. He is the son of former Mountaineer defensive lineman Cecil Doggette, who played at WVU from 1990-91. His mother was also a gymnast at WVU.
He looks for a new opportunity after being a member of the Bobcats for one season, being an active defender in the team’s rotation. In 13 games throughout the 2024 campaign, he made 32 tackles (nine solo), seven TFL, three sacks, and a forced fumble.
Notable performances were against Kent State and Eastern Michigan, making four tackles, 3.5 TFL, and a pair of sacks in back-to-back weeks. He played a solid role in an Ohio defense that limited offenses to 91.9 rushing yards per game, the least in the MAC.
A 6-foot-2 athlete, CJ Doggette Jr. can play on the defensive side of the field at a high level. His ability to make stops is worthy to note about the potential he showcased at Pickerington Central High School.
As a senior, he finished with 72 tackles, five sacks and an interception as he was named to the 2021 Ohio Prep Sportswriters Division I All-Ohio First Team. Not only that, but he was also a semifinalist for Scorestream’s Top Defensive Player in Ohio award.
Doggette was viewed as a consensus three-star prospect by recruiting outlets coming out of high school. On 247Sports, he has an 87 score as the 29th-best player in the state of Ohio and the 123rd-best defensive lineman in the Class of 2022.
He had multiple offers from Power Four teams like Michigan State, Kentucky, Rutgers, and Pittsburgh among other schools before choosing Cincinnati in March 2021. He represented the Bearcats for two years before transferring to Ohio.
He has the strength to play against the run and the ability to pressure the quarterback constantly, making him a potential weapon for FAU’s depth at the defensive line.
His highlights at Pickerington Central High School can be viewed below: