Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson has been a walking highlight reel this season for the Nittany Lions. To cap off his final season, which saw him record 12 touchdowns and 1,182 receiving yards, Jahan Dotson is headed to the Reese’s Senior Bowl. In this 2022 NFL Draft scouting report, we’ll breakdown Jahan Dotson, one of the most exciting prospects, and breakdown how his skills and abilities will translate into the NFL.
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Jahan Dotson 40 Time
It was rumored that Jahan Dotson ran a 4.33 40 time at Penn State. Quite frankly, that’s easy to see on film as he can flat-out fly. Consistently putting fear into defensive backs, Dotson is plenty fast and is always working to get faster. This is something he credits to former teammate K.J. Hamler. At the NFL Combine in March, Jahan Dotson should be oe of the top performers throughout the event.
Jahan Dotson Injury History
Throughout his college career, Jahan Dotson has managed to stay very healthy. During his high school career, he broke his leg but that was all the way back in 2016 and he has had no complications to this point. As a result, he should receive a green light during the medical evaluation process at the NFL Combine.
Jahan Dotson Scouting Report
Pros
- Has Extremely Reliable Hands
- One OF The Fastest Receivers In This Draft Class
- Excellent Ability To Gain Yards After The Catch
Cons
- He’s An Undersized Wide Receiver
- His Catch Radius Is Limited When Compared To Others
- Struggles To Separate Against Press Coverage
Jahan Dotson is a four-year contributor for the Penn State Nittany Lions. As a wide receiver, he’s used across the field in a variety of roles. He has below average height and weight when compared to the league average in the NFL. However, his predicted 40 time is very good and well-above the average for the position.
The number one thing that sticks out about Dotson on film is his reliable hands. He is a natural receiver who was a security blanket for quarterbacks in his time at Penn State. In fact, he has never dropped a pass over 20 yards in his collegiate career. With his hands as reliable as they are, his ability to get open is paramount. Luckily, this is something he does exceptionally well due to his sheer speed and twitchy route-running ability. Able to run past any defender at any time, defenses must always respect his presence on the field in any alignment. He is also a threat to score any time he has the ball in his hands in the open field as he is a tricky player to bring to the ground.
However, he is not without weaknesses. Firstly, he has a very slight build. Listed at 183 pounds, and even that feels generous, he lacks functional play strength. As such, he will likely struggle to win contested catches in the NFL despite his leaping ability. He also does not appear to have a very large catch radius. He, like many other college receivers, will have to adjust to press coverage as he simply has not faced it very often.
Jahan Dotson NFL Draft Projection
Going into the 2022 NFL Draft, Jahan Dotson will be a hot name. Of course, speed always has a place in the NFL so he will be a fit on nearly every team. Further, Jahan Dotson should find that his athleticism will be front-and-center at the Senior Bowl. However, mostly due to his size, it is hard for me to see him becoming a true number one wide receiver. For teams looking to add to their receiver room, however, Dotson should instantly slot in as a top playmaking option in the NFL. Dotson could easily be a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and, for the right team, I believe that he would be a very worthwhile selection.
