Can Jahan Dotson post fastest 40-time at NFL Combine? Pro comparison for 5-star Penn State commit, more: Newsstand
Penn State and the pros headline the newsstand for March 3.
Former Lions All-American Jahan Dotson tests with other receivers today at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. One analyst thinks he’ll shine in a particular part of the on-field work.
On3 director of scouting Charles Power also released his pro comparisons for each of 14 five-stars in the Class of 2023. That includes a Penn State commit, of course.
Let’s dive into the top tweets and headlines about Penn State and football on Thursday.
Penn State tweets of the day
We start with Dotson.
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network ranked the players who could run the fastest 40-yard dash during the Combine. He put Dotson at No. 5 on a list of seven candidates who could post the best time.
“Dotson is a smooth, explosive wideout who effortlessly eats up ground as a runner, and his combination of speed, route running and reliable hands will likely result in a first-round selection,” Jeremiah writes.
“He has been routinely timed in the mid-to-low 4.3s during training, and I would expect him to post a time in that range Thursday night.”
NFL Network will televise the start of on-field work beginning at 4 p.m. today. It’s unclear exactly when Dotson will run. All told, eight former Nittany Lions are in Indianapolis. The event runs through Sunday.
Finally, for this section, we have another note on new On3 five-star Jven Williams.
According to Power, the Class of 2023 Penn State commit is comparable to N.C. State offensive lineman Ikem Ekwonu. He is seen by media mock drafts as a sure-fire top-five pick this year and perhaps even the No. 1 overall selection.
“Ikem Ekwonu was a similar late-blooming, versatile offensive lineman out of the 2019 cycle,” Power writes. “Ekwonu’s size was exactly the same as Williams’ (down to one pound). He had a sterling multi-sport profile as a state champion wrestler along with a shot put throw close to 50 feet.
“Ekwonu also played on both sides of the ball, doubling as a defensive tackle, like Williams. We’ve since seen Ekwonu develop into the best run-blocking tackle in college football and future first-round pick at NC State.”
Headlines of the day
Veteran Penn State linebackers impressed with growth, progress of young players as unit replaces 2 starters: Gallen, PennLive
Penn State Thursday three: Chuck Losey talks today; a Combine run to watch, and more: Pickel, BWI
Jahan Dotson is Ready for His Moment at the NFL Combine: Wogenrich, SI
Penn State wrestling regular season superlatives: Most dominant, best move, biggest change, and more: Pickel, BWI
One thing Penn State does great will be on display at NFL combine: Giger, DKPittsburghSports
Rounding up Penn State’s February offers: QBs, RBs and WRs: Eckert, BWI
Nittany Lion Workout Schedule as NFL Combine Begins: Jones, Statecollege.com
Five things we learned about Penn State football recruiting in February: Snyder, BWI
2022 NFL combine: Draft prospects to watch, cap space, needs for all 32 teams: Reid, ESPN
At NFL Combine, two Penn State ‘freaks’ set to show off: Bauer, BWI
Quote of the day
“I think it helped me tremendously. I was a young junior, I wasn’t ready for the NFL. This previous year, I would like to thank my coaches, my strength staff, just preparing me to be a pro. They really pushed me every single day in the weight room, in the classroom, in the meeting rooms. So I just wanted to [pay] tribute to them for preparing me for this moment.”
–Jahan Dotson on staying at PSU for an extra season and what those who helped him meant to him.
