As we close in on the 2019 NFL Draft, we continue to examine possible targets for the Detroit Lions. Today, it’s UC-Davis wide receiver Keelan Doss.
Prospect: Keelan Doss
Position/School: University of California-Davis
Height/Weight: 6-2, 211
2018 stats: 13 games played, 118 receptions, 1,345 yards, 9 touchdowns
Draft Projection: 5th – UDFA
As the 2019 NFL draft quickly approaches, many of the prospects covered by SideLion Report have been players that could be targets for the Detroit Lions in the earlier rounds. Today, we focus on a player who could be a late round gem, waiting to be unearthed: UC-Davis wide receiver Keelan Doss.
Doss is unlikely to hear his name called until later on day three of the draft. However, playing for a smaller school with an undistinguished NFL pipeline isn’t necessarily an impediment to NFL success. Just ask burgeoning Lions receiver Kenny Golladay, an alumnus of small Northern Illinois University.
Despite the shroud of relative anonymity that can befall even the very best players from smaller programs, Doss manages to stand out. His six foot two frame helps him be one of the more accomplished receivers in the draft at adjusting to balls in the air and making contested catches. He has the versatility to be a rangy outside target, or function as a “large slot”, adaptability that helped him be highly productive for the Aggies.
Aside from his ball skills, he has dependable hands, passable speed and is generally lauded for his character. Although he possesses no discernible traits that would project him to be a star at the next level, he shows few glaring weaknesses and would provide the Lions with solid depth for their receiving corps.
As with so many talented prospects from lesser known schools, the concern about how Doss will perform against higher level competition is often raised. As such, some of his best performances in 2018 came against teams like Sacramento State, Northern Colorado and Idaho State. How many NFL players can you name from those schools?
Overall, should the Lions neglect to take a receiver in the early rounds, Doss would be an intriguing addition in the latter part of the draft. Considering some of the veterans already on the team at the position, he would have the benefit of learning and improving at a reasonable pace, while possibly getting his feet wet on special teams.
Do you think that Keelan Doss would be a good draft selection for the Detroit Lions? Let us know in the comments section below.