Jahan Dotson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jahan Dotson

Dotson with the Washington Commanders in 2022
No. 83 – Philadelphia Eagles
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:	(2000-03-22) March 22, 2000 (age 25) Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	184 lb (83 kg)
Career information
High school:	Nazareth Area (Nazareth, Pennsylvania)
College:	Penn State (2018–2021)
NFL Draft:	2022 / Round: 1 / Pick: 16
Career history
Washington Commanders (2022) Philadelphia Eagles (2024–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-Big Ten (2021) Third-team All-Big Ten (2020)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2024
Receptions: 96 Receiving yards: 1,163 Receiving touchdowns: 11

Jahan Dotson (born March 22, 2000) is an American professional football player. He plays as a wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the Eagles, he played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions and was drafted by the Washington Commanders in 2022.

Early Life and High School Football

Jahan Dotson was born on March 22, 2000, in Newark, New Jersey. He grew up in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, where he went to Nazareth Area High School. For a short time, he attended Peddie School in New Jersey during his junior year. However, he returned to Nazareth High School for his senior year in 2017.

Dotson was an amazing football player in high school. He set new school records at Nazareth. He had 187 catches, gained 2,755 receiving yards, and scored 40 touchdowns. These records show how talented he was even at a young age. He first planned to play college football at UCLA but later chose to play for Penn State.

College Football Career at Penn State

Jahan Dotson played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions from 2018 to 2021. He quickly became an important player for the team.

Freshman and Sophomore Years

In his first year (2018), Dotson played in eight games and started four of them. He caught 13 passes for 203 yards. As a sophomore in 2019, he started all 13 games. He had 27 catches for 488 yards and scored five touchdowns.

Junior and Senior Years

During his junior year in 2020, Dotson was Penn State's top receiver. In one game against Ohio State, he caught eight passes for 144 yards and scored three touchdowns. He also made history against Michigan State. He was one of only three players in the Big Ten Conference since 2000 to have a punt return touchdown and over 100 receiving yards in the same game. He finished the 2020 season with 884 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. He was recognized as a third-team All-Big Ten player.

In his senior year (2021), Dotson continued to shine. He broke a school record for most receiving yards in a single game against Maryland, with 11 catches for 242 yards and three touchdowns. After the 2021 season, he decided to enter the NFL draft. He graduated from Penn State in May 2022 with a degree in telecommunications.

Dotson finished his college career with impressive stats. He ranks second in Penn State history for career catches (183) and single-season catches (91 in 2021). He is also fourth in career receiving yards (2,757) and second in single-season receiving yards (1,182 in 2021). He also ranks second in career touchdowns (25) and single-season touchdowns (12 in 2021).

Professional Football Career

Jahan Dotson began his professional football journey in the National Football League (NFL).

Washington Commanders (2022–2023)

The Washington Commanders picked Dotson in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. He was the 16th player chosen overall. He signed a four-year contract worth $15 million.

In his very first NFL game in 2022, Dotson helped the Commanders win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He caught three passes for 40 yards and scored two touchdowns. Because of his great start, he was named the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week. Later in the season, he had a hamstring injury that kept him out for five games. When he returned, he continued to play well. He was again named Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week after catching four passes for 105 yards and a touchdown against the New York Giants. He finished his first NFL season with 35 catches for 523 yards and seven touchdowns.

In his second year, the 2023 season, Dotson played in all 17 games. He caught 49 passes for 518 yards and scored four touchdowns. In one game against the Philadelphia Eagles, he had eight catches for 108 yards and a touchdown.

Philadelphia Eagles (2024–present)

On August 22, 2024, Jahan Dotson was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Commanders sent Dotson and a fifth-round draft pick to the Eagles. In return, the Commanders received a conditional third-round pick and two seventh-round picks in the 2025 NFL draft.

NFL Career Statistics