Can Parker Washington match Jahan Dotson’s 2021 season?

Penn State will no longer have the services of Jahan Dotson on their offense, but can their new No. 1 receiver – Parker Washington – match the level of production that the first rounder in Dotson put up?

Last week, when we took a look at whether each position group on offense would be better or be worse than they were in 2021 (find that article here), we decided that despite the loss of Jahan Dotson, the wide receiving corps could actually be improved in 2022.

The primary reason for that ruling is the anticipation that the unit will have much better depth this season, but for the group to truly be better than last year’s, Parker Washington will need to have a similar season to Dotson’s 2021 campaign.

Let’s start by comparing their stats from 2021.

• Dotson: 12 games played; 91 receptions; 1,182 receiving yards; 13.0 yards per catch; 12 touchdowns
• Washington: 13 games played; 64 receptions; 820 receiving yards; 12.8 yards per catch; four touchdowns

As you can see, the yards per reception average is nearly identical. So, assuming Parker Washington gets a similar number of targets as what Dotson got last year, his total receiving yards could be about the same. Obviously, a target does not equal a reception, but nothing we’ve seen so far from Washington suggests he’ll have any problems with catching anything that is thrown remotely close to him.

The next statistical category to look at is touchdowns, which is where the biggest gap between the pair was in 2021 with Washington only hauling in four scores. However, he did have six touchdown catches in 2020 as a true freshman in only a nine-game season, so as a junior, he has the potential to match Dotson’s 12 touchdown catches (which is second-most in a single season in program history).

Naturally, with more targets and being the primary option on most passing plays (especially in the redzone), Parker Washington can significantly increase his number of touchdown grabs from last year to this year.

Moving onto the eye-test … both Parker Washington and Jahan Dotson play much taller and longer than they are listed. Dotson (listed at 5-foot-11) and Washington (listed at 5-foot-10) each have much larger catch radiuses than their frames are built for, and both have excellent hands.

Each of them is also great after the catch, albeit in different ways. Dotson made his money after the catch with his speed and elusiveness. Washington – while still having excellent speed – is great at breaking tackles.

In fact, he’s one of the best Penn State wideouts at doing so in nearly a decade.

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Listed at 212 pounds, it’s easy to see why Washington has broken so many attempted tackles by much lighter and weaker defensive backs.

So, both Dotson and Washington can hurt defenses after the catch, too – Dotson with his elite quickness, and Washington also with great speed and quickness, but also by running with the physicality of a running back.

The one area where the junior wideout from Sugar Land, TX, might not be quite as good as his former teammate is his ability to get open and create separation. That isn’t to say that Parker Washington isn’t a great route runner, because he certainly is, but Jahan Dotson was on a different planet when it came to running clean, smooth, and effortless routes.

So all in all, Parker Washington very well could match the level of production that Jahan Dotson had in 2021. Don’t be surprised if he even surpasses his predecessor in one or two single-season receiving categories.

Much of the statistical production will depend on quarterback play, which should be improved as Penn State is expected to have one of the best quarterback rooms in the country. Being in year two of the Mike Yurcich system should also benefit everyone involved, including Washington.

Either way, the Nittany Lions should have virtually no drop-off from last year to this year in terms of their No. 1 wideout, which is great news for Mike Yurcich, Sean Clifford, and the entire offense as they look to get back to once again being one of the best offenses in the Big Ten.