2022 Chiefs Draft Prospect: Jahan Dotson

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NAME: Jahan Dotson

POSITION: Wide Receiver

SCHOOL: Penn State

HEIGHT: 5’10”

WEIGHT: 178 pounds

CAREER BACKGROUND

A native of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, Jahan Dotson attended Nazareth Area High School for three of his four high school football seasons. He spent his junior season at The Peddie School in New Jersey, before returning back home for his senior season. Dotson recorded 62 receptions, 889 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns in that senior season. Furthermore, he set Nazareth Area High School all-time receiving records in receptions (187), receiving yards (2,755) and receiving touchdowns (40). Dotson received honors like first-team USA Today All-USA Pennsylvania and first-team Pennsylvania Football Writers Class 4A all-state for his senior campaign in 2017.

Off the football field, Dotson was also a track and field star at Nazareth Area High School. He won Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) state championships in the 4×100-meter relay and in the long jump. To boot, Dotson became the high school’s first individual state champion in track and field in over 45 years. The wide receiver originally committed to play college football at UCLA. However, he flipped and opted to stay close to home at Penn State.

Starting Slow

As a true freshman in 2018, Dotson went on to appear in eight games for the Nittany Lions. He made four starts. With notching a start, the pass catcher became the first true freshman wide receiver to start a game since 2014. Dotson finished that season with 13 receptions and 203 receiving yards.

Moving on to 2019, Dotson was able to signify a consistent starting role. He started all 13 games. All in all, his production was still growing slightly. Dotson would finish the year with 27 receptions (third most on the team), 488 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.

Do-It-All Man

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic limiting the 2020 season, Dotson started to see a greater role as a junior. He saw an uptick in all three of his receiving categories throughout nine starts. For example, Dotson would register 52 receptions, 884 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns. He also received a larger opportunity in the return game. Dotson had eight punt returns for 197 yards (24.6 yards per return). Moreover, this helped him lead Penn State in all-purpose yards for the season (1,081). He received third-team All-Big Ten honors for 2020.

2021 again saw Dotson have an increase in his receiving production during his 12 starts. For instance, he finished with 91 receptions, 1,182 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns. Dotson also returned 14 punts for 104 yards (7.4 yards per return). He had plenty of memorable performances during his senior season. However, one game in particular etched his name in the Penn State record books. His 242 receiving yards at Maryland allowed him to set a new single-game receiving yards record. In the end, Dotson was named a semifinalist for both the Biletnikoff Award and the Walter Camp Player of the Year. He was also named first-team All-Big Ten and a third-team All-American by the Associated Press for 2021.

He has firmly set his name at or near the top in many other school records. For his career, Dotson ranks second in receiving touchdowns (25), second in receptions (183) and fourth in receiving yards (2,757) among all-time Penn State receivers.

SCOUTING REPORT

Instead of listing positives and negatives for traits, this year we will be listing the best trait of each prospect and work our way down to the biggest area of improvement/absent trait(s), from top to bottom.

Ball Skills

The game just simply slows down for him at the catch point. This is largely due to the tremendous body control of Dotson. Plainly, he makes his adjustments, tracking of the football and body contortions on catches look so effortless in space. The timing with his adjustments is also well-rounded. When turning to find the football, you see Dotson widen his hips and open up his frame. This allows the throwing window for his quarterback to further expand.

On the other hand, Dotson is incredibly comfortable when having to make catches in traffic. He plays bigger than what his size may suggest in those moments. In addition, Dotson has a knack for making difficult catches that are extended away from his frame or when his catch radius is extended to the outer edges of his frame.

Hands

Dotson provides soft, natural hands at the catch point. There is no erratic or wasted movements when the ball starts to get deeper into his frame. Rather, he keeps his hands patient and disguises his timing in a detailed fashion. Dotson does a good job of plucking the ball in front of his chest. The team that drafts him will love that he does not let the ball travel too far into his pads. Dotson is one of the more dynamic wide receivers that stand out in this area throughout this 2022 draft class. He clearly has sticky hands at the catch point. On top of that, Dotson frustrates opposing defensive backs with his soft hands, especially when they appear to have sound coverage.

Football IQ

He attacks the open windows and spots in zones extremely urgently. Dotson provides subtle, yet swift, adjustments throughout the course of his routes. This is where his ability to sell routes truly shines. Dotson has a great understanding of knowing when to accelerate or decelerate during his route concept. His timing of fakes and double moves also leaves opponents guessing in coverage.

There is a great combination of patience and being able to think on his feet in space. At the same time, Dotson was noticeably subdued when securing the ball in the open field after making a grab. Do not take that as him being too passive with the ball, though. Dotson can still find a second gear and shoot out of a cannon whenever he sees open grass.

Dotson’s body positioning is exquisite. His ability to squeeze to the inside of defensive backs in tight spaces is nearly unmatched. There is just a sneakiness to him when being asked to come through in contested catch situations. Finally, Dotson maintains outside leverage when the ball is in his hands and then navigates through defenders nimbly.

Route Running

I do not think one can emphasize just how detailed Dotson is as a route runner. He has a deceptiveness to the way in which he sells fakes and double moves. As a result, this leaves opposing defensive backs on their heels. It also allows Dotson some extra cushion during the course of his route. This can make it easier for him to find soft spots in coverage. Dotson can also display his rare body control in those moments as well. When running vertically, this pass catcher has no issue with stacking opponents. He does a solid job of staying on track and does not get lackadaisical with his breaks when running horizontal routes, however.

Separation

Most receivers will turn heads with how they are able to create separation at the beginning of the route. But with Dotson, his ability to create separation as he finishes the top of his route is where he consistently makes his money. He is very urgent when it comes to picking his spots. Nevertheless, the Penn State product still has the control to stop on a dime and free opposing defensive backs in space, at the same time.

The sink in Dotson’s hips and breaks within his routes can certainly leave defenders off-balance. Elsewhere, there is a stutter step move that he uses more than any other. This allows Dotson to cross defenders up and they will sometimes show false steps or slips against him. He is mainly a natural with the change of direction skills and commanding body control that is in his possession.

Versatility

Dotson can win from both the outside and in the slot. Many will categorize him as a slot only type, because of his size. Do not get caught up in those numbers. In fact, Dotson is not afraid to play some bully ball at the catch point and in space. He also exudes a notable confidence when working in tight spaces. His routes are just as detailed in the deep passing game, as they are in the short to intermediate passing game. Dotson can handle any kind of route and can hang in any area of the field, as a result.

Speed

Dotson is extremely smooth and fluid with the ball in his hands. However, do not be surprised by the explosiveness that he can infuse during his runs. That sets him apart from many other receivers in this class who also have a “lighter” frame. Dotson is more of a long strider, compared to what most may realize. His feet and cuts have some rapid fire to them. Essentially, this means that Dotson uses a lot of extra movements and steps. He continues to remain under control however, and is able to find his acceleration in an instant.

Run After Catch Ability

There are plenty of times where Dotson will show off a good feel for letting his blocks develop in the quick passing game. He is not in a hurry to outrace guys when it comes to those plays, so to speak. Instead, Dotson will wait to see where his angles and change of direction openings are first. In the intermediate to deep passing game, he could stand to add a bit more aggression with the ball in his hands. That is not to say that Dotson lacks effort in those situations. Nonetheless, being able to create more yards for himself will become more crucial at the NFL level.

Release Package

Entering the NFL, there are plenty of questions that surround Dotson in this area. How will he fare against contact at the line of scrimmage? At Penn State, he would attempt to dip and run around those that do try and press him. Dotson seems to get distracted or thrown off-balance if he is unable to outrun those defensive backs towards their outside shoulder. Basically, his technique has not been forced to greatly improve at the college level. That will change in the NFL.

When not being faced with press coverage, Dotson’s stutter step usually works best. The amount of separation that he creates generally comes near the middle to late stages of his route, however. It would benefit him if he added more moves and attacks to his arsenal when coming off the line of scrimmage.

CHIEFS FIT

There are a few different traits and reasons as to why Jahan Dotson is a perfect fit for the Kansas City Chiefs entering their current stage. For one, his ability to dominate in the vertical passing game should make him an explosive play threat within a spread offense. Why not add to your current strength of speed with a player like Dotson? Additionally, this wide receiver is a piece who provides versatility, elusiveness and elite ball skills. You are not going to have to worry about his catch comfort entering the NFL. That could also be meaningful for a Kansas City team, who has had inconsistency while trying to develop certain receivers. The willingness and effort that he shows situationally is also another layer that the Chiefs could desperately use to add to the likes of Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill.

Be on the lookout for more FPC Chiefs draft prospect profiles throughout the rest of the spring. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.