Jovan Haye is back in Tampa this week, but not for the reasons he once was. These days, he’s Vanderbilt’s defensive ends coach, preparing for a bowl game. But two decades ago, he was a defensive lineman for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, grinding through NFL seasons just minutes from the place that still holds one of his most personal rituals: a visit to the grave of his close friend and former Vanderbilt teammate, Kwane Doster.
That tradition hasn’t changed.
Back then, it was a weekly Friday visit after practice. Haye wasn’t just paying respects-he was keeping a promise, sharing stories, and keeping Doster’s dream alive in spirit.
The two had been tight since their college days, and Doster, a Tampa native, had always dreamed of playing in the NFL. Haye made him a promise: “I told him we were gonna win a Super Bowl,” he said.
“And I promised to give his mom my ring.”
That ring never came, but the bond between Haye and Doster’s family never faded. Kelly Doster, Kwane’s mother, remains close with Haye and the Vanderbilt program.
She and other family members have been invited to attend Wednesday’s ReliaQuest Bowl, where No. 14 Vanderbilt (10-2) faces No.
23 Iowa (8-4). It’s a moment to celebrate what this Commodores team has accomplished-and to remember a loss that still echoes through the program.
“We talk about family a lot,” said Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea, who, like Haye, was a teammate and close friend of Doster’s. “This is a time to remind [the Dosters] that they are part of our family. Time creates distance, distance removes a sense of belonging, but his people are important to us, and this is a chance to re-engage.”
It’s also one final chance for Lea to coach Diego Pavia, the Heisman Trophy runner-up who has redefined what’s possible at Vanderbilt. Pavia brought swagger, leadership, and a belief that the Commodores could go toe-to-toe with anyone. For a program not known for its football pedigree, Pavia’s arrival in 2024 was a culture shock-in the best way possible.
“I’m just excited to be on the field with him one more time,” Lea said. “I’m going to savor every moment of that.”
Pavia’s impact has been undeniable. He’s been a lightning rod-loved by his teammates, loathed by opponents, and respected by everyone who’s watched him play.
In that way, he shares a spiritual connection with Doster, who came to Vanderbilt as a prized recruit out of Tampa’s Robinson High and was named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2002. Nicknamed “Dot,” Doster was a sparkplug with charisma and grit-someone teammates gravitated toward.
“Just a great human being with an infectious energy,” Lea said. He transferred to Vanderbilt from Belmont in 2002 and spent three years blocking for Doster as a fullback.
“Talent is one thing,” Haye added, “but ‘Dot’ had a pure heart. A family guy first. He was just one of those people who was so easy to talk to.”
Back in 2004, Haye was a senior leader on the team, and a sixth-round NFL Draft pick the following year. He was still driving a 1995 Nissan Maxima-this was well before NIL changed the college landscape-and Doster was the only teammate he trusted enough to lend it to.
Then came the call that changed everything.
It was early morning on Dec. 26, 2004, when Haye’s phone rang. Doster’s brother was on the line.
Kwane had been shot and killed while sitting in the back seat of a car in Ybor City, a nightlife district in Tampa. Police later said the shooting stemmed from trash talk between two groups about their cars.
A suspect was arrested, but no one was ever charged.
Haye made the next round of calls-to Lea and other teammates. The news rocked the program.
Doster was just 21. He had piled up 1,621 rushing yards and 3,636 all-purpose yards through three seasons, and was gearing up for a senior campaign that could have launched him into the NFL. But more than the football dreams, what stung most for Haye was what Doster represented off the field.
“He was the first member of his family to attend college, and he was going to get that degree,” Haye said. “I wanted that for him and his family more than anything.”
The Vanderbilt community rallied. Coach Bobby Johnson and then-athletic director David Williams organized a 140-person charter flight so teammates-including quarterback Jay Cutler-could attend the funeral. It was a gesture that meant the world to the players and Doster’s family.
“It was a hard thing to do,” Lea said. “And it was the right thing to do. I’m grateful for Coach Johnson and David Williams for making that happen.”
For Haye, the memory of that day is still vivid. Especially the moment “Amazing Grace” was sung. “I completely broke down,” he said.
Just last week, while arranging for the Doster family to attend the bowl game, Haye passed a billboard in Nashville. On it were the words: “Amazing Grace.” That song, that memory, still hits hard.
When the Commodores arrived in Tampa on Friday-the 21st anniversary of Doster’s death-the team gathered for a meeting. Curfews were discussed. A local officer warned players about the dangers of Ybor City late at night.
Lea has told Doster’s story before. But this week, it’s being revisited with purpose.
Doster’s legacy isn’t just a cautionary tale-it’s a reminder of what this program stands for. A player who was beloved, driven, and full of potential.
A teammate who left too soon, but who still inspires.
Lea also plans to visit the Kwane Doster Community Center in Tampa, a place Haye frequented during his Buccaneers days. It’s another way to keep Doster’s memory alive.
This bowl week is about more than football. It’s about honoring the past while celebrating the present.
It’s about one last ride for Diego Pavia. And it’s about remembering Kwane Doster-not just as a player, but as a brother, a son, a teammate, and a dreamer whose impact still echoes in every corner of the Vanderbilt program.