Jahan Dotson Returns for Penn State Football in 2021
A familiar face in the receiving room will be sticking around for Penn State football in 2021.
Thursday, junior wide receiver Jahan Dotson announced via Twitter that he would be returning to Penn State for the 2021 football season. As a junior, Dotson was eligible to declare for the 2021 NFL draft, but the star wideout opted for another year in Happy Valley instead.
Dotson had the best season of his career in 2020, hauling in 52 receptions for 884 yards and eight touchdowns. The yardage and touchdown totals led all Big Ten receivers, and his 52 catches placed third.
Dotson also made his mark on special teams, returning a punt 81 yards for a touchdown against Michigan State on Dec. 12, 2020. The return netted him the award for Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week.
On Dec. 15, 2020, Dotson was named to the All-Big Ten third team by both the conference’s coaches and the media. Many felt that Dotson’s conference-leading yardage and touchdown numbers should have earned him a spot on the first team instead of the third team. This argument was enhanced four days later when Dotson posted a career high 189 receiving yards on six catches with two touchdown receptions against Illinois in Penn State’s Big Ten Champions Week matchup. Following this performance, Dotson himself joked about not making the All-Big Ten first team.
With his return, Dotson brings talent and experience to a relatively young receiver room. He will be joined by breakout sophomore Parker Washington, incoming freshman Liam Clifford (brother of Penn State quarterback Sean) and a number of other young pass catchers.
DJ Bauer is a senior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email djbauer1999@gmail.com.