ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper has rated Penn State receiver Jahan Dotson the No. 8 overall draft choice currently on his board following his latest release on Thursday ($$). Dotson is the No. 1 overall rated receiver by Kiper on a list that features three additional Big Ten wideouts.
Dotson has racked up 27 receptions so far this season for 362-yards including four touchdowns and has yet to drop a targeted pass that has hit his hands during the 2021 campaign. The senior would technically be eligible to return for a fifth season in 2022 as the 2020 season did not count towards any player’s eligibility due to an NCAA ruling in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If Dotson were to be drafted in the top 10, he would be just the second Penn State receiver to be selected that high and the first since Kenny Jackson was drafted No. 4 overall in 1984. Dotson would be just the fourth Penn State wideout to go in the first round, joining Jackson, O.J. McDuffie (No. 25, 1993) and Bryant Johnson (No. 17, 2003).
KJ Hamler and Allen Robinson are the most recent high-round draft selections. Both went in the second round, with Hamler going No. 46 overall and Robinson at No. 61. Former Nittany Lions Bobby Engram and Joe Jurevicius are the only other two second-round receiver selections in Penn State history, giving Penn State just seven wideouts to go in the first two rounds in program history.
Linebacker Micah Parsons (No. 12) and running back Saquon Barkley (No. 2) are the most recent top 15 draft choices out of Penn State.
Ohio State receivers Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave are rated the No. 2 and No. 4 receivers on Kiper’s board with Maryland wideout Dontay Demus Jr. coming in at No. 9.
Other Nittany Lions including in Kiper’s positional rankings include safety Jaquan Brisker (No. 2), defensive end Arnold Ebiketie (No. 7), defensive tackle PJ Mustipher (No. 10) and outside linebacker Brandon Smith (No. 2).
Of note, both Dotson and Brisker opted to return following the 2020 season and have significantly improved their draft stock in the process.
