Dominique Vinson

Height:
6-0
Weight:
167
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Huntington Beach, Calif.
Prev School:
Saddleback College

2012 (Senior): Made the permanent switch from defensive back to wide receiver after meeting with Head Coach Jim McElwain after spring camp, Vinson made an immediate impact. He finished in only full-year at wide receiver with 10 catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns.

Registered his first start against rival Colorado (Sept. 1) and his first reception was a 20-yard touchdown, which brought CSU within one score of the Buffaloes and swung momentum in favor of the Rams.
Also during the Rocky Mountain Showdown, caught a pass across the middle before being blindsided by a Colorado defender. He held onto the ball giving CSU a first down.
Caught his second career touchdown against Utah State (Sept. 22). Early in the fourth quarter the Rams trailed by three scores. Vinson went across the middle and caught a four-yard TD pass from Garrett Grayson.
Caught two passes in five games this season.

2011 (Junior): A playmaking and versatile athlete, played in nine games...Had 16 tackles (nine solo), one stop for loss, one sack, one interception...Having rebounded from a shoulder injury that cut short his 2011 spring, spent much of fall camp as a wide receiver, but returned to the defensive side of the ball just before the season opener at New Mexico (Sept. 3)...Inserted during the first series of Lobos contest, played most of the game, including his first career sack, dropping Tarean Austin for a 5-yard loss deep in UNM territory, forcing a third-quarter punt...In fourth quarter of home-opening win over Northern Colorado, posted his second Division I interception, picking off Matt Baca...Did not play in the final three games of the year.

2010 (Sophomore): A newcomer that earned playing time as a reserve cornerback out of fall camp, played in 10 games, posting 22 tackles (15 solo), three passes broken up according to coaches film, and an interception...Made his Division I debut, his first CSU game, in season-opener vs. Colorado (Sept. 4) at Invesco Field and registered two tackles...Also played late in loss at Miami-Ohio (Sept. 18)...In loss vs. No. 5 TCU (Oct. 2), played most of the game, entering the secondary in the first quarter; provided blanket coverage on a deep third-down incompletion early in the second quarter, forcing TCU to settle for a field goal, then nearly picked off a third-quarter pass near the Rams[apos] goal line, ending another drive and forcing a pooch punt...Played extensively at No. 25 Air Force (Oct. 9)...Played much of the game in 43-10 win vs. UNLV (Oct. 16); broke up a third-down pass in the second quarter to force a punt...At SDSU (Nov. 6), registered his first Division I interception, making an athletic leap to beat the intended receiver to the ball down the left sideline, giving CSU possession at its own 10; helped limit the MWC[apos]s leading passer, Ryan Lindley, to a season-low 171 yards, as the Rams blanked the league[apos]s leading two receivers, DeMarco Sampson and Vincent Brown, over the game[apos]s first two quarters...At Wyoming (Nov. 20), served as a punt returner for the first time, dropping back for the final three Cowboys punt; on his only return, the first of his Division I career, followed blockers and picked up nearly 30 yards, but CSU[apos]s illegal-block penalty made the return officially only 17 yards.

Junior College: A natural cornerback, played safety in both high school and junior college after injuries sidelined starters at those positions...After initially taking classes as a part-time student at Saddleback College in the fall of 2007, joined the Boise State program in the spring of 2008 and went through spring practice with the Broncos...Feeling like the program wasn[apos]t a good fit, returned to Saddleback later that summer and redshirted during the [apos]08 season...In 2009 at Saddleback, sustained an injury on the eve of the season and was limited to eight games...In his debut with the Gauchos, returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and later in the year also caught two touchdowns, playing on both sides of the ball...Finished with nine catches for 115 yards and 16 tackles (14 solo) with one pass broken up...One of 15 Saddleback players to advance to the next level...Owns 4.4-second speed in the 40-yard dash.

High School: A two-time all-CIF selection at Edison High School in Huntington Beach, Calif., was the favorite target of prep All-American Nick Crissman, who signed with UCLA...As a senior receiver in 2006, caught 78 passes - an EHS record - for 1,126 yards and 12 touchdowns, helping his team to the Sunset League title...Earned Orange County Co-Offensive Player of the Year, all-conference and all-state (Cal-Hi Sports) accolades as the Chargers earned a berth in the Pac-5 CIF championship game opposite Orange Lutheran...A starting safety as a senior, also posted 60 tackles and returned three of his seven interceptions for touchdowns, in addition to recovering a fumble and forcing another...Led the team with 90 total points (15 touchdowns)...As a junior, caught 36 passes for 517 yards (14.4 avg.) and six TDs, while recording 34 tackles, three interceptions and a fumble recovery on defense for Edison, whose colors also are green and gold...A two-way player for as long as he can remember, was all-conference as a junior defensive back...High school football coach was Dave White...Also lettered twice in track, specializing in the 100 and 200 meters, the long jump and triple jump.

Personal: Given name Dominique Deon Vinson...Born Dec. 3, 1988, in Onslow County, N.C. ...Parents are Mary Donaldson and James Vincent...Has two older brothers and one older sister...Mom, who played basketball at a small college in Missouri, named him after Dominique Wilkins, the nine-time NBA all-star and two-time winner of the slam dunk competition...Brother, Terrell Vinson, played football at Purdue...Cousin, Herb Donaldson, split the 2009 season on the practice squads of the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys...Each of his parents are retired members of the U.S. Marine Corps...Before 2011 spring practice, spent an afternoon at the Boys & Girls Club of Larimer County, helping kids with after-school programs...Before the 2011 season, spent time with less-fortunate kids, assisting with summer programs at the Harmony Mobile Home Park...Majoring in liberal arts...Hometown: Huntington Beach, Calif.

Division I career statistics				TACKLES					SACKS		FUMBLE
Year	School	GP	GS	Solo	Ast	Tot	TFL	Yds	No	Yds	FF	FR	Yds	Int	Yds	PBU
2010	CSU (so.)	10	0	15	7	22	0.0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2
2011	CSU (jr.)	9	0	9	7	16	1.0	5	1.0	5	0	0	0	1	25	0
Career totals (two years)		19	0	24	14	38	1.0	5	1.0	5	0	0	0	2	25	2
2012: 10 catches for 78 yards and 2 TDs