By Michael Swain
LAWRENCE, Kan. (247Sports.com) – Kansas football will officially return one of the top cornerbacks in the Big 12 for the 2024 season. On Sunday evening, Mello Dotson announced his intention to return to KU for a senior season. Dotson — who arrived in Lawrence back in 2020 — is eligible for the 2024 NFL Draft and the NCAA Transfer Portal Window is still open.
Dotson had a stellar junior season with KU in 2023. He started all 12 regular season games for KU and played the second-most snaps of any defensive player (682). Dotson’s 79.1 PFF grade was the second-highest of any defensive player for KU football and was the eighth-highest of any player on offense or defense. The cornerback finished the season with 44 tackles, three tackles for loss 13 pass breakups and four interceptions. He had two pick-sixes, which came against Oklahoma and Iowa State. Dotson is the first KU player ever to have a pick-six in back-to-back games.
Since the conclusion of KU’s 2023 season, Dotson has received some recognition. He was an Honorable Mention All-Big 12 selection from the conference’s coaches. He was also named Third Team All-American by the College Football Network.
The KU cornerbacks room is set to lose a pair of quality pieces this offseason and Dotson’s return will alleviate those departures. Both Kwinton Lassiter and Kalon Gervin are graduating and are out of eligibility. The duo contributed to KU’s depth at cornerback and helped the defense while Dotson was banged up in early November. KU cornerback Cobee Bryant will also have a decision to make as it pertains to his professional future, but he too has another season of eligibility.
Behind Dotson and Bryant, KU cornerbacks coach Jordan Peterson has a plethora of young options who are coming through the program. Brian Dilworth will be in his third season next year and Damarius McGhee will hope he can stay healthy in his second season in Lawrence. But at the start of preseason camp next year, Peterson will have five cornerbacks in their first or second year in the program in Jameel Croft, Jacoby Davis, Jalen Todd, Aundre Gibson and Austin Alexander.
