Penn State’s Dotson still focused on improvement

STATE COLLEGE, PA. » When he lines up to cover teammate Jahan Dotson, Penn State cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields goes through a mental checklist.

Dotson is faster now. He’s stronger. He’s always been intelligent. And after an offseason fueled by last season’s disappointment, Dotson believes he’s improved in all areas.

“He’s gonna have a big year,” Castro-Fields said. “What makes him special is, yeah, he has speed, but he controls his speed and his routes. He knows how to manipulate and get in blind spots. You mix speed with craftiness, that’s when you make a great receiver.”

Dotson — who as a freshman reminded coach James Franklin of young Jerry Rice — believes he can be greater. It’s part of the reason he opted to return for his senior year.

Although he led the team with 52 catches for 884 yards and eight touchdowns, he was stung by Penn State’s 4-5 season. Dotson, Castro-Fields and safety Jaquan Brisker decided together they wanted their time in the program to end differently.

The 19th-ranked Nittany Lions open the season Saturday at No. 12 Wisconsin.

“We know we have a great challenge in front of us Week 1 from the jump and we’re excited to take it on,” Dotson said. “We’ve got a lot of guys this year who are ready to prove to the world that that team last year at Penn State was not us.”

It’s not a new feeling for Dotson. He’s been motivated to improve before and points to an embarrassing moment in 2019 when then-unbeaten Penn State lost to Minnesota and fell out of the College Football Playoff race.