Aaron Jameer Dobson (born July 23, 1991) is an American football coach and former American football wide receiver. He was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft and played college football at Marshall. He has served as the wide receivers coach at Marshall.

Aaron Dobson
refer to caption
Dobson with the Cardinals in 2017
Marshall Thundering Herd
Position:Wide receivers coach
Personal information
Born: (1991-07-23) July 23, 1991 (age 33)
Dunbar, West Virginia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:South Charleston
(South Charleston, West Virginia)
College:Marshall (2009–2012)
NFL draft:2013 / round: 2 / pick: 59
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
  • Marshall (2023)
    Offensive analyst
  • Marshall (2024–present)
    Wide receivers coach
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:53
Receiving yards:698
Receiving touchdowns:4
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

edit

Dobson was born in Dunbar, West Virginia. He attended South Charleston High School in South Charleston, West Virginia, and played high school football and high school basketball for the South Charleston Black Eagles. He recorded 45 receptions for 1,298 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior and added seven interceptions on defense, and finished his high school career with 108 receptions, 2,365 yards and 32 touchdowns. He had 10 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, and was a member of the 2008 MSAC Championship team and 2008 West Virginia AAA State Championship, which finished with a 14–0 record.

In 2009, he played for USA Football's U.S. Under-19 National Team that won the 2009 IFAF Under-19 World Championship in Canton, Ohio, where he was teammates with future New York Giants running back, David Wilson.[1]

College career

edit

Dobson attended Marshall University, where he played for the Marshall Thundering Herd football team from 2009 to 2012. During his college career, Dobson had 165 receptions for 2,398 yards and 24 touchdowns. As a junior in 2011, he was the MVP of the 2011 Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl.[2][3] He ended his Marshall senior season being named 2nd team All-Conference USA and being invited to play in the Senior Bowl.[4]

Dobson gained recognition in 2011 during a game against East Carolina, when he had a one-handed backhand catch for a touchdown in the second quarter.[5] The play went viral and was ranked second on ESPN's Top 10 Plays of the Year.[6]

Professional career

edit
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 2+34 in
(1.90 m)
210 lb
(95 kg)
33 in
(0.84 m)
9 in
(0.23 m)
4.42 s 1.51 s 2.60 s 4.33 s 7.19 s 35 in
(0.89 m)
10 ft 2 in
(3.10 m)
16 reps
All values from NFL Combine.[7][8]

New England Patriots

edit

The New England Patriots selected Dobson in the second round, with the 59th overall pick, of the 2013 NFL draft.[9] He signed a four-year, $3.4 million contract. His first career catch was for a touchdown against the New York Jets in Week 2. In a Week 9 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he had the first 100-yard game of his career. He caught five passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns. He suffered a foot injury in week 12 against the Broncos and missed weeks 13–15. He appeared in 12 games (nine starts) with 519 receiving yards and four touchdowns during his rookie campaign in 2013.

Dobson was inactive for eight of the first twelve weeks of the 2014 season before injuring his hamstring against the Green Bay Packers in Week 13. On December 4, 2014, he was placed on injured reserve. With Dobson on IR, the Patriots won Super Bowl XLIX after they defeated the defending champion Seattle Seahawks, 28–24.

Dobson was active for Week 1 against the Steelers on September 10, 2015. He played sparingly recording one reception for nine yards. In the second week, against the Buffalo Bills, he tied a career-high with seven catches, for 87 yards.[10] He recorded a 17-yard pass from quarterback Tom Brady in a 20–13 win over the Bills in Week 11; on the play, he injured his ankle and had to leave the game.[11] He was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain, and on November 26, 2015, the Patriots placed him on injured reserve, ending his season.

On September 3, 2016, Dobson was released by the Patriots as part of final roster cuts.[12]

Detroit Lions

edit

On September 21, 2016, Dobson was signed by the Detroit Lions.[13] He was released on September 24, 2016.[14] On September 27, 2016, he was re-signed by the Lions.[15] He was released again on October 8, 2016.[16]

Arizona Cardinals

edit

On January 5, 2017, Dobson signed a reserve/future contract with the Arizona Cardinals.[17] He was placed on injured reserve on September 2, 2017.[18] He was released on September 6, 2017.[19]

NFL career statistics

edit

Regular season

edit
Year Team Games Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2013 NE 12 9 37 519 14.0 81 4 1 0
2014 NE 4 1 3 38 12.7 16 0 0 0
2015 NE 8 3 13 141 10.8 24 0 0 0
Total[20] 24 13 53 698 13.2 81 4 1 0

Postseason

edit
Year Team Games Receiving Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2013 NE 1 0 2 33 16.5 27 0 0 0
Total 1 0 2 33 16.5 27 0 0 0

Coaching career

edit

In 2023, Dobson was hired as an offensive quality control analyst at Marshall by head coach Charles Huff.[21] After the season, he was promoted to wide receivers coach.[22]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Dobson, Team USA roll". The Herald-Dispatch. July 7, 2009.
  2. ^ "Time to be a leader". Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  3. ^ "Marshall Wins 2011 Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl". Archived from the original on September 28, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  4. ^ "Herd Football Has Nine Named to All-Conference, All-Freshman Teams". Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  5. ^ Aaron Dobson "The Catch" on YouTube
  6. ^ Ramspacher, Andrew (December 31, 2011). "Aaron Dobson's 'Catch' is one of ESPN's top plays of the year". The Herald-Dispatch.
  7. ^ "Aaron Dobson-Marshall WR-2013 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile". Nfldraftscout.com. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  8. ^ "Aaron Dobson Player Page". RotoWorld. Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  9. ^ "2013 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  10. ^ "Aaron Dobson". ESPN.com.
  11. ^ "Patriots Notebook: Danny Amendola forced out with injured knee - The Boston Globe". The Boston Globe.
  12. ^ "Patriots reach the 53-man roster limit". Patriots.com. September 3, 2016. Archived from the original on November 6, 2017.
  13. ^ Lions sign free agent WR Aaron Dobson, place Ameer Abdullah on reserve/injured Archived October 27, 2016, at the Wayback Machine NFL.com, September 21, 2016
  14. ^ "Lions sign LB Zaviar Gooden from practice squad, waive WR Aaron Dobson". DetroitLions.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  15. ^ "Lions re-sign WR Aaron Dobson". DetroitLions.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  16. ^ "Lions sign LB Steve Longa to active roster and activate DE Armonty Bryant". DetroitLions.com. October 8, 2016. Archived from the original on November 27, 2016. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  17. ^ Urban, Darren (January 5, 2017). "Punter Richie Leone, Receiver Aaron Dobson Added". AZCardinals.com.
  18. ^ Urban, Darren (September 2, 2017). "Cardinals Make Moves To Reach 53-Man Roster". AZCardinals.com. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  19. ^ Bouda, Nate (September 6, 2017). "Cardinals Release WR Aaron Dobson From Injured Reserve With Settlement".
  20. ^ "Aaron Dobson stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  21. ^ "Marshall Football Announces Staff Additions". HerdZone.com. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  22. ^ "Marshall Football Announces 2024 Coaching Staff Additions". HerdZone.com. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
edit