Penn State’s Clifford, Dotson connect through trust
Jahan Dotson watched how Sean Clifford and KJ Hamler bonded in 2019 and took mental notes.
He saw how Clifford and Hamler both had productive seasons and wanted a similar relationship with his quarterback.
“I saw how those two worked,” Dotson said, “and how they hung out on and off the field. The bond between me and Sean has just built from there. He has full trust in me, and I have full trust in him that he’s going to make plays. He knows I can make plays.”
Clifford found his favorite target twice for touchdowns in unbeaten Penn State’s 24-0 whitewashing of Indiana Saturday night at Beaver Stadium.
It was the 17th and 18th scoring passes from Clifford to Dotson and broke the school record of 17 held by Todd Blackledge and Kenny Jackson from 198082.
Blackledge, who led the Nittany Lions to their first national championship in ’82, happened to be on hand Saturday night in his role as an ESPN/ABC game analyst. Blackledge told Dotson, the former Nazareth High standout, that he and Clifford could break the record during a pregame interview Friday.
“He told me we were one away,” Dotson said. “He said, ‘Get the job done.’ We got it done.”
Dotson has been getting it done at a high level.
He had one of the most productive seasons by a Big Ten wide receiver last year, catching 52 passes, leading the conference
with 884 yards and tying for the lead with eight touchdown receptions. He tied for the national lead with four catches of at least 60 yards.
Yet he was named to no better than the All-Big Ten third team by the coaches and the media.
Whether he was fueled by that snub or not, Dotson decided to return to Penn State for one more season to become a transcendent player, like Saquon Barkley.
“When you talk about the greatest who played college football, I want my name to be mentioned,” Dotson said memorably in the spring. “That’s my goal, to be legendary and to leave my mark.”
He’s doing that, leading the Big Ten with 35 receptions and six touchdown catches. He made a leaping grab in the back of the end zone for his first score against Indiana. In the third quarter, he was somehow left alone near the sideline, caught a toss from Clifford and eased into the end zone for a 30yard touchdown.
“We’re getting a real good connection out of the pocket as well as in the pocket just finding
each other,” Clifford said. “I have a good feeling of where he’s going to be. He’s doing a really good job of getting open.”
Clifford said his bond with Dotson comes from their time spent together on and off the field. They often throw and catch together by themselves at Holuba Hall, like Clifford and Hamler did.
“KJ was always the guy who was hitting me up late at night in the summer and we’d go into Holuba at ungodly hours just to throw slants,” Clifford said. “Jahan, as he got older, saw that and he did the same thing. COVID last year obviously prevented some of that.”
They resumed their latenight sessions as soon as “they let us back in the building,” Clifford said.
Their friendship has grown the last two seasons, which has contributed to their success. When Clifford struggled in the first half of last season, Dotson steadfastly defended him.
Now Clifford ranks third in the Big Ten in pass efficiency and 22nd in the country. He’s improved his completion percentage to 67.3 and is on pace to pass for 3,000-plus yards and 29 touchdowns.
He wasn’t great against the Hoosiers, but he was productive and found Dotson eight times for 84 yards and the two scores.
“The combination of Jahan’s talent and the time that Sean and Jahan have spent together,” Penn State coach James Franklin said when asked what makes them click. “Sean’s ability to extend plays and make plays with his feet puts the defense in conflict.
“And then Jahan has a really good feel of how to get open in those situations.”
Clifford is on track to finish third at Penn State in career passing yards, trailing only Trace McSorley and Christian Hackenberg. He’s already second in touchdown passes with 51, behind only McSorley’s 70.
Dotson could break school records for catches in a season and touchdown catches, but they’re just numbers. ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. rates him as the No. 1 receiver available in the 2022 NFL draft.
“He creates a lot of space,” Clifford said. “In addition, he catches everything that comes near him. Then he’s fast and all that, too. He’s the whole package. He’s the best wide receiver in the country.”
The Clifford-Dotson connection will be paramount for the Lions’ championship aspirations, beginning this week at Iowa.
“He’s playing on a different level and we need him to,” Clifford said. “I need him to. I’m so proud of him. I know he’s not satisfied and I’m not either. We still have a lot of work to do.”