Aaron Dobson: 5 Things You Need to Know About Marshall WR

The 2013 draft class isn't considered loaded with top-end talent at the wide receiver position, but it's deep, with any number of mid-round options poised to make an impact in the NFL.

Marshall wide receiver Aaron Dobson is just such a prospect, after a career with the Thundering Herd that saw him rack up over 2,300 receiving yards and 24 touchdown catches.

Here's a look at five things you should know about the best wide receiver prospect to come out of Huntington since Randy Moss. 

Background

Full Name: Aaron Dobson

Hometown: Dunbar, West Virginia

High School: South Charleston High School

Year: Senior

A two-sport star who played both football and basketball, Dobson led South Charleston to a state championship in a senior season in which he tallied almost 1,300 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns.

Dobson was also a member of the 2009 USA Football Junior National Team that won the Under-19 World Championship.

A 2-star recruit according to Rivals.com, Dobson was ranked the fourth-best football player in West Virginia coming out of high school. He ultimately turned down offers from Hofstra, Delaware, West Virginia and Wake Forest to play for Marshall.

Statistics

Dobson played sparingly as a freshman, making only 15 grabs. That number nearly tripled during a sophomore season in which Dobson led the team in receiving.

He would go on to repeat that feat in each of his final two seasons with the Thundering Herd, hauling in a career-best 12 touchdowns as a junior before that number plummeted to only three scores in his final year.

Year	Games	Rec.	Yards	Avg.	TD
2009	12	15	362	24.1	4
2010	12	44	689	15.7	5
2011	13	49	668	13.6	12
2012	10	57	679	11.9	3

Statistics courtesy of sports-reference.com.

Draft Process

Measurements

Height: 6'3"

Weight: 210 lbs.

Arm Length: 33"

Hand Size: 9" 

Combine Results

Did not participate

Pro Day Results

40-Yard Dash: 4.42 seconds

Bench Press: 16 reps at 225 lbs.

20-Yard Shuttle: 4.29 seconds

Three-Cone Drill 7.2 seconds

A pulled hamstring prevented Dobson from working out at February's NFL Scouting Combine, but he more than made up for it at Marshall's pro day, running a 4.42 40-yard dash that was very nice for a receiver of his size.

Measurements courtesy of NFL.com.

Pro day results courtesy of nfldraftscout.com.

Interesting Facts

As NFL.com points out, Dobson was teammates with New York Giants running back David Wilson on the United States' Under-19 National Team.

Dobson's first career 100-yard game came in 2010 in a matchup against West Virginia during which he reeled in a 96-yard touchdown pass.

The best game of Dobson's collegiate career likely came in 2011 against East Carolina in a contest that propelled the Thundering Herd to a bowl game. Dobson made four catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns, scoring on the game's first play and making a phenomenal catch just before halftime that's shown here.

Observations

Per NFL.com:

"

Hasn’t faced many top-level defenders during his career. Owns strider’s speed, and NFL corners will make it more difficult for him to get into his routes. Not a burner, will have trouble creating consistent separation. The inconsistency of his blocking technique requires some work; he has the size to be effective but regularly hesitates to make contact, overextends, and fails to sustain against much smaller targets on the outside.

"

Per Bleacher Report's Ryan McCrystal:

"

With Dobson, what you see is what you get. His upside may be somewhat limited, but he is capable of contributing immediately and for years to come. He doesn't fit the mold of a traditional No. 1 receiver, but he could be a poor man's Anquan Boldin if he continues to develop his route-running skills. Every team can use a possession receiver with reliable hands, which makes Dobson a nice fit for any scheme.

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Per NEPatriosDraft.com's Tony Jefferson:

"

He has improved every year in college and I expect his best football to be played in the NFL. If he is able to refine his technique a bit, he will quickly become a fixture on highlight shows. A tall receiver that can get over the top of cornerbacks is never over-looked on draft day. In conversations with Dobson, he seems ready to contribute at the “X” receiver position as a rookie, and is willing to work on his craft to get there.

"