Wildcats Women’s Basketball Alum Oates Set to Be Proud NFL Mother

4/23/2020 3:03:00 PM

By: Chris Myers

FORT VALLEY, Ga. – One of the most prolific players in Wildcats women's hoops history will have one of her proudest moments within the next two evenings. Former Fort Valley State women's basketball player Kim Oates Dugger is anxiously waiting to see where her son, Kyle Dugger of Lenoir-Rhyne University, the top NCAA Division II-rated football player, will be drafted in the 2020 National Football League Draft.

In what will be a new-type of network draft on ESPN/ABC/NFL Network, the 2020 NFL Draft starts on Thursday night, April 23, with Round 1 from 8-11:30 p.m. Dugger and her son will have their attention, most likely, more on Friday evening (April 24) and the second night where Rounds 2 and 3 are announced from 7-11:30 p.m. Kyle is rated by most draft experts to be selected within the top 50 picks and all Wildcats fans should tune in to see an expected special segment of the college playing careers of mother and son during the ESPN coverage.

"We are extremely excited about Kyle's opportunity to be picked up during the draft, as well as, all other experiences. All I can say is, "But God (is in control)," expressed Dugger. "Of course, we recognized when he was a kid that he had gifted athletic abilities and was particular about everything. Kyle is not just a football player, he is a student of the game. He studies the game of football and has for years."

Kim, who excitedly confirmed she did dunk the basketball in a streetball game, but not in a Wildcats game, gave her son, Kyle, a lot of that athleticism and a high standard to live up to with her highly-productive FVSU career.

On The Valley hardwood from 1986-89 seasons, Dugger accomplished what very few can ever claim over a career, as well as, leading the nation as a senior. The former Wildcat averaged a double-double in each of her four seasons, while she led all of NCAA DII in rebounding at 15.1 rebounds per game her final year in 1989. In 110 career games, which the Wildcats won 73 of them, Dugger totaled 2,068 points (18.8 ppg) with a 51.3% field goal percentage (895 of 1,743) and 1,448 rebounds (13.2 rpg). Along with the nation-leading 15.1 rebounds per night as a senior, Dugger posted her second 20-plus point season average at 21.2 points per night. She also had stat lines of 20.0 points and 13.5 rebounds as junior (1988), 18.9 points and 13.0 rebounds during her sophomore campaign (1987) and a broke onto the 1986 FVSU scene at 14.9 points and 10.9 rebounds.

Seven years after her college career came to an end, Kim and her husband, James, brought Kyle into the world. Now 24 years later, the Decatur, Ga., family is ready to see Kyle's career go into the highest professional ranks.

Kim was able to use her FVSU college successes and experience to help guide Kyle through the years.

"We've always communicated to our kids that work ethics makes all the difference," said Dugger. "(Long-time FVSU and newly-inducted to the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame) Coach (Lonnie) Bartley can tell you that I worked year round on my basketball skills. Regardless of the number of accolades, I never saw a need to let my guard down. There was always a reason to get better. Some would argue that I was a perfectionist and it was that as good was never enough. I always wanted to be great and Kyle is the same way. He does not except good as Kyle wants to be great!"

Kyle's desire to be great has him ready to be an NFL selection after a highly-decorated career, much like his mother's Wildcat one. The 6-2, 220-pound Lenoir-Rhyne University safety is predicted to become the highest ever player drafted in his school's history, ninth overall to be drafted by the football program and first since 2000.

His mother knows what it took her son to get him in this position.

"I cannot express the way I felt, as a parent, about the number of times I wondered if practicing many hours, sometimes in the dark, would pay off. Could people really understand the magnitude of this young man's work ethic? So, we are very grateful and can't wait to see what is in store for Kyle's future," said Kim.

Kyle earned the Cliff Harris Award as the best Division II defensive player, as well as, a consensus All-American and three-time All-South Atlantic Conference honoree. He was the only Division II player to be invited to take part in the Reese's Senior Bowl and lone DII athlete to work out at the NFL Combine. In his four years and 42 games, Dugger posted 237 tackles, 152 solo, 6.5 tackles for loss, 10 interceptions, six forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries. He also returned 67 punts for 929 yards (13.9 yards per return) with six for touchdowns.

On Oct. 20, 2018, Kim split her alliances as the FVSU alum watched her son's Lenoir-Rhyne squad play FVSU in the Wildcats Homecoming game. After the Wildcats went ahead 19-13 with 7:09 left in the third quarter, the visiting nationally-ranked Bears scored the next 17 points over the ensuing 14:37 for the eventual 30-22 hard-fought win.

Kim and her husband helped instill Kyle's dedication and determination you see in the young gridiron athlete.

"One thing for sure, Kyle will motivate many young people to stick to the plan, regardless of how often you are told, "It will never happen." Push through the doubt," noted Dugger.

From being a double-double Wildcat basketball machine, Kim will next be a doubly-proud mother to her to-be drafted NFL son.

-Wildcats-

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Wildcats Women’s Basketball Alum Oates Set to Be Proud NFL Mother