Penn State DB Brisker, WR Dotson won't play in Outback Bowl to focus on NFL Draft

Penn State standout receiver Jahan Dotson and safety Jaquan Brisker won’t play for the Nittany Lions against No. 22 Arkansas in the Outback Bowl on Saturday.

Brisker announced Monday that he has opted out of the bowl game to prepare for the 2022 NFL Draft.

“I’ve been waiting for this all my life, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds,” Brisker wrote in the announcement.

Later Monday, Dotson made a similar announcement.

“I have decided to forgo the bowl game and declare for the 2022 NFL Draft,” Dotson wrote in his message. “To the best University and fans in the country, words cannot express how much I appreciate you guys.”

Brisker, who was out of college eligibility, starred for Penn State over the past two seasons. In 2021, Brisker earned All-Big Ten first-team honors and Associated Press second-team All-America honors after he recorded 64 tackles, 5 1/2 tackles for loss, two interceptions, five pass breakups, a quarterback hit and a fumble recovery.

Dotson exits Penn State as one of the most prolific wide receivers in program history. In his four-year career, Dotson had 183 catches for 2,757 yards and 25 touchdowns, marks that rank second, fourth and second, respectively, all-time at Penn State.

Brisker was a key cog in Penn State’s defense, which ranked as one of the nation’s best in a number of categories.

Brisker arrived at Penn State in 2019 as a transfer from Lackawanna College. He broke out in 2020 and earned an assortment of All-Big Ten and All-America honors, and he elected to utilize the extra year of eligibility given to college athletes by the NCAA amid the coronavirus pandemic in 2021.

The move paid off for Brisker, who also earned his degree earlier this month. The Gateway grad is ranked as one of the top safeties in the draft class. Early mock drafts have projected Brisker as a first-round selection.

In Brisker’s absence, junior Keaton Ellis and freshman Jaylen Reed should get plenty of playing time against Arkansas in the Outback Bowl next to starter Ji’Ayir Brown. Earlier this month, Brown announced he is returning for his extra season of eligibility, which gives Penn State a key piece in the secondary.

With Dotson opting out, sophomores Parker Washington and KeAndre Lambert-Smith are in line to up their production after both flashing at times in 2021