Dunathan returns to UAlbany football to help new coach build winner

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UAlbany linebacker Dillon Dunathan during a summer practice on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at Casey Stadium in Albany, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union) (Jim Franco/Times Union)


ALBANY - Trying to build a winner, new University at Albany football coach Tom Perkovich wasn't sure he could keep a talented player from last year's 2-10 team.

Linebacker Dillon Dunathan performed well on a struggling team with 71 tackles and earned honorable mention all-Coastal Athletic Association recognition in 2025.

"He was a guy that I was, you know, a little worried about when I got here, having been all-league last year," Perkovich said. "You know, worried about him going into the transfer portal when I got here. But he decided to stay and be here with us, and we love having him."

Dunathan, a 6-foot-1, 231-pound junior, was back in his middle linebacker spot for the first practice of training camp on Thursday morning at Casey Stadium. The Great Danes wore helmets, shells and shorts for the first workout.

"I think it went how we all thought it would," Dunathan said. "It went smooth. We've been here all summer, getting ready for this first practice, so it was a good practice."

Dunathan is playing for his third head coach in his four years with the Great Danes, including his redshirt season as a freshman in 2023. He spent his first two years under Greg Gattuso and last year with interim coach Jared Ambrose.

Asked about his first impression of his new coach, Dunathan said Perkovich "brings a lot of fight."

"That's a man who wants to win," Dunathan said. "He's a man who will back us up through thick and thin, so I'm really sticking with him."

Dunathan is one of two defensive players back who started the 31-24 upset of 12th-ranked Monmouth in last year's season finale. The other is junior defensive lineman Isaiah Boyd.

Along with new teammates, they're learning the scheme of new defensive coordinator Matt Scott.

"I really like his defense," Dunathan said. "I really like what he's doing with the fronts and different creepers (when a surprise rusher ‘creeps' to the line of scrimmage). I really see myself good in the middle there with all my teammates."

Dunathan sees himself as a "leader by example."

"I may not be the most rah-rah guy or be talking to everyone, but I'll do what I have to do and people will see that and they'll follow," he said.

Perkovich views Dunathan the same way.

"Dillon's been great coming in here," Perkovich said. "He doesn't say a lot. He's a man of few words, but his action, and how he works and how he focuses, loved having him."

Dunathan was named honorable mention preseason all-CAA last week, the only Great Dane to be recognized.

Dunathan grew up in Damascus, Md., where he led his high school team to a state title in 2022. He played running back and linebacker. He ran for 228 yards in the state championship game. After battling mononucleosis, he rushed for 1,961 yards while making 61 tackles with six sacks as a senior.

He said he knew his college future was as a linebacker. He was recruited heavily by Gattuso and former defensive coordinator Bill Nesselt.

"I had a good time at high school, but I really thought I could be more impactful on the defensive side at linebacker," he said. "Just stopping plays and seeing the offense."

He said his offensive experience helps him at linebacker because he's able to read a running back's eyes and see where he wants to go.

Dunathan redshirted three years ago for his development and didn't play any games for the UAlbany team that reached the Football Championship Subdivision semifinals. However, he learned from his older teammates.

"Some of those guys, they were the best leaders I've ever seen in my lifetime," he said. "It's really impactful to see those guys and try to do what they do out here every day."

After that, Dunathan played on teams that went a combined 6-18 the past two years. He played only four games in 2024 after fracturing his forearm.

"I want to go to the playoffs with this team, you know?" Dunathan said. "Really take it as far as we can. I think we've got a good group of guys that we can really do it."

Notes:At quarterback, Princeton graduate transfer Kai Colon and returnees Aidan Semo and Levi Kulik took most of the snaps on Thursday. Perkovich said he doesn't plan on naming a starter until nine or 10 days before the Aug. 28 opener against New Hampshire. UAlbany will have two intrasquad scrimmages before that. ... Quarterback Van Weber, who missed all last year with a left knee injury, had a setback and underwent another knee operation a few weeks ago, Perkovich said. UAlbany hopes to have Weber back by the middle or end of training camp.

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This article originally published at Dunathan returns to UAlbany football to help new coach build winner.

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