UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State wideout Jahan Dotson and safety Jaquan Brisker showed off their skills in front of notable names from several NFL teams on Thursday during Penn State’s annual pro day at Holuba Hall ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft.
San Francisco 49ers GM John Lynch, Baltimore Ravens GM Eric DeCosta, Green Bay Packers GM Brian Gutekunst, and Tennessee Titans GM Jon Robinson were the notable decision-makers in attendance.
Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn also made the trip, as did Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon.
Jahan Dotson shows impressive tracking ability at Penn State Pro Day
Dotson put on a show during position drills at Penn State. The standout wideout ran crisp routes, caught the ball cleanly, and showed impressive tracking ability on deep throws.
Dotson, listed just under 5-foot-11 and 184 pounds, ran three separate “go” routes, and showed excellent body control, field awareness, and hand discipline on each rep. Dotson is a dynamic player with technical savvy that should do him well at the next level.
#PennState WR Jahan Dotson has tracked the ball well downfield and run crisp routes during position work. He’s catching the ball cleanly. pic.twitter.com/oYNHovawgV
— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) March 24, 2022
Dotson chose not to re-test his 40-yard dash time or his jumps at the pro day. Dotson ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash and posted a 36-inch vertical jump in Indianapolis earlier this month. He landed a 10’1″ broad jump during the Combine and did 15 bench press reps at Penn State’s Pro Day.
Dotson spent a great deal of time with the New England Patriots following his drills. The meeting lasted for quite a while as other prospects worked out in front of the scouts.
As a senior, Dotson caught 91 passes for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns. Following that breakout season, he finished with 183 catches for 2,757 yards and 25 touchdowns for his career.
Dotson is the top-rated Penn State player on Pro Football Network Chief Draft Analyst Tony Pauline’s Big Board. Pauline has Dotson graded as a second-round pick and his 32nd overall player.
Jaquan Brisker shows off freakish versatility
Safety Jaquan Brisker, listed at 6-foot-1 and 206 pounds, looked fast and fluid in front of two NFC East coordinators on Thursday.
As Quinn and Gannon watched drills, Brisker showed off his unique blend of size, speed, and ball skills. He caught everything thrown his way and showed smooth change-of-direction ability in position drills.
Penn State S Jaquan Brisker doing drills in front of #Eagles CB Zech McPhearson (green jacket 👀). Brisker looks like a linebacker size-wise but moves like a corner. pic.twitter.com/l20FkCvy5z
— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) March 24, 2022
Brisker said teams have asked him about playing all six defensive back positions, and his fluidity at the pro day should give those teams reason to believe he can.
Brisker suffered back tightness while taking part in the bench press drill at the NFL Combine. He said that tightness impacted his performance with the testing at Lucas Oil Stadium.
At the Penn State Pro Day, Brisker said he ran a 4.40-second 40-yard dash. He also posted a 38.5-inch vertical jump. Those were improved numbers for Brisker, as he ran a 4.49-second 40 time and posted a vertical jump of 34 inches in Indianapolis.
Brisker spent three years at Penn State and racked up 151 tackles (10 for loss), 5 interceptions, and 14 pass breakups. In addition to his 40 time and vertical jump at the Combine, Brisker posted a 10’4″ broad jump. He also bench-pressed 22 reps of 225 pounds.
Brisker is Pauline’s 56th-ranked player overall. NFL’s top draft analyst has him graded as a second-round pick.
Brandon Smith makes most of notable attendance
While linebacker Brandon Smith rested on his 40 time and jumps from the Combine earlier this month, he did take part in field drills with Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebackers coach Jerry Olsavsky. Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, now the Steelers’ outside linebackers coach, watched Smith and his teammates run through the field work.
Smith, like Brisker, is a fast and fluid athlete. At 6-foot-3 and 244 pounds, Smith looks the part of an NFL inside linebacker. He ran a 6.96-second 3-cone drill at the pro day, according to the program.
Prior to the field drills, he bench-pressed 20 reps of 225 pounds. In Indianapolis, Smith ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash. He also posted a vertical jump of 37.5 inches and a broad jump of 10’8″.
During his three-year college career, Smith posted 132 tackles (19 for loss), 4 sacks, 6 pass breakups, and a forced fumble. Pauline grades Smith as a potential second-round pick, and the linebacker is the 48th overall prospect on his board.
Tariq Castro-Fields willing to play anywhere
Penn State cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields had a nice early start to testing. He bench-pressed 14 reps and posted a 37-inch vertical and a 10’11” broad jump, according to Penn State. He also ran a 7.05-second 3-cone drill.
Following the workout, Castro-Fields said he was willing to play anywhere in the secondary. Listed just under 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, the defensive back has the ability to play on the outside or at nickel corner.
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Zech McPhearson — a former high school and Penn State teammate — was there to support Castro-Fields during Penn State’s Pro Day. Castro-Fields produced 139 tackles (10 for loss), 25 pass breakups, and 3 interceptions during his five years at Penn State. He ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the Combine.
The cornerback received a third-round pick grade from Pauline and is 101st on his overall board.
Quick hits from Penn State Pro Day
- Offensive tackle Rasheed Walker, Pauline’s 45th overall prospect, didn’t work out at the pro day. Pauline has him graded as a second-round talent, but Walker hasn’t performed at all during the draft process.
- Defensive end Arnold Ebiketie ran a 4.65-second 40-yard dash and a 6.95-second three-cone at the pro day, per Penn State. In Indianapolis, the 6-foot-2, 247-pound pass rusher posted a 38-inch broad jump and a 10’8″ vertical jump. Dan Quinn showed particular interest in Ebiketie during pass-rush drills.
- In rare speed news: Special teams gunner/defensive back Drew Hartlaub ran a blazing 4.22-second 40-yard dash, according to the program. At 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, Hartlaub has an unassuming build, but he is clearly one heck of an athlete. He could get some Matthew Slater/Steve Tasker looks as an undrafted free agent based on his speed alone.
- Punter Jordan Stout kicked field goals in front of Eagles special teams quality control coach Tyler Brown. Stout is considered one of the best punters in the draft, and Brown is known for his work with specialists. Eagles punter Arryn Siposs had a rough conclusion to this past season, his first as an NFL specialist. Brown and Stout met for several minutes after the workout.
- New York Jets wide receivers coach Miles Austin and Baltimore Ravens pass-game specialist Keith Williams were also in attendance.
- Offensive lineman Eric Wilson stood out in the bench press drill with 29 reps. He also had a 29-inch vertical and an 8’6″ broad jump. At 6-foot-3 and 306 pounds, Wilson ran an impressive 4.70-second 40-yard dash, per Penn State.
- Pass rusher Jesse Luketa, listed at 6-foot-3 and 257 pounds, posted a 36.5-inch vertical and a 10-foot broad jump. He also did 18 reps on the bench press. According to the program, Luketa ran a 7.29-second three-cone drill. He ran a 4.89-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.