STARKVILLE – Vontarrius Dora has always been a tough football player.
Over the last few years, the former West Point High School standout and current Louisiana Tech Bulldog has developed a reputation of being one of the toughest football players in his coaches’ eyes.
He showed that toughness Saturday as he returned to the Golden Triangle Area, as his Bulldogs were beaten 45-20 by the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
“If he’s going to line up across from you, you better be in shape because he’s not going to stop,” West Point coach Chris Chambless said. “His motor runs the whole game. He just plays in that zone.”
Dora had five tackles (1.5 tackles for loss) and one sack as his high school coach and many friends and family watched from the stands of Davis Wade Stadium.
For the season, the 6-foot-4, 253-pound defensive end has 22 total tackles (5.5 for loss), three sacks, and one quarterback hurry.
Dora likes receiving praise from his coaches, but is more motivated by winning and helping his team out.
“Just the love of the game and being out there with my teammates and my brothers,” Dora said of what drives his toughness. “We are all playing for one another.”
Prior to this season, Dora had appeared in 33 games and totaled 99 tackles and 7.5 sacks.
His best season was his redshirt freshman year, when he had 39 tackles in just seven games. He had 31 tackles as a sophomore and 29 a season ago.
Current MSU (5-2) defensive coordinator Manny Diaz coached Dora last season at Louisiana Tech (4-3).
“He had battled some injuries before I got there, but he really became one of the leaders of the defense just because of the tenacity that he played with,” Diaz said. “He was a big part of the success we had last year.”
While at West Point, Dora was a force for Chambless. He helped the Green Wave capture back-to-back Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A State championships during his junior and senior years.
Earning four letters in football and basketball at West Point, he left a lasting impression on Chambless when graduated.
“He’s fun to coach because he’s going to come to practice with a great work ethic every day,” Chambless said. “Off the field, he’s work ethic and his character that he carried himself with, that’s what I’m most proud of from him is the quality of person he was while he was here with us.”
Chambless said he never had to worry about Dora getting in trouble because he knew where the line was and he knew never to cross it.
That fed into his drive to compete at the next level. He chose Louisiana Tech over Ole Miss, Arkansas State, and the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
He could have played in the Southeastern Conference, but he liked what was happening in Ruston, Louisiana.
“One of his No. 1 goals was to get himself to the point where he was ready for the next level and that’s what he did,” Chambless said. “He was very interested in Louisiana Tech when they started showing interest in him. He’s one of those very loyal guys, if you’re going to bet on him, then he’s going to stick with you and get the job done. That’s exactly what he’s been doing.”
Chambless said it was going to be bittersweet seeing his former player in Starkville. He had not talked to him leading up to the game, but planned on catching up with him after the contest.
Dora was happy to see his family and be near home.
“It was somewhat weird, but it’s a great town and a great place,” he said.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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