Recruiting is the lifeblood of prominent college football programs. But, like the NFL Draft, it's an inexact science. Josh Doctson is another perfect example.
The Mansfield, Texas, native is considered one of the top wide receivers in the 2016 draft class. But coming out of high school, he was an overlooked prospect choosing between football and basketball.
Doctson ended up at Wyoming, where he caught five touchdowns as a freshman. One of those touchdown receptions came against Big 12 power Texas Christian – one of the local schools who passed on Doctson in the recruiting process.
"He wasn't overly fast at the time, and there's a lot of people who can run in Texas," Horned Frogs head coach Gary Patterson told USA Today. "Nobody else was recruiting him either."
When Doctson elected to transfer after his freshman season, TCU offered a spot as a walk-on. From there, Doctson earned a scholarship, and his football career took off.
He led the team with 36 catches and 440 receiving yards as a sophomore in 2013, but that was just a small glimpse of what was to come. As a junior, Doctson set single-season school records for receiving yards (1,018) and touchdown catches (11).
He rewrote the record book again as a senior. The consensus first-team All-American posted 79 receptions for 1,337 yards and 14 touchdown catches in just 11 games played. His 29 receiving touchdowns are the most in school history.
"I kind of reminisce every day," Docston said at the Scouting Combine. "I'm not supposed to be standing here on this stage.
"I'm blessed with the opportunity. Not being recruited out of high school – I don't have any grudges, but anybody would love to be in my shoes right now. I am just fortunate I am standing right here."
TCU is fortunate they took a chance on the Wyoming transfer who turned into one of the best players in program history.
The NFL won't need much convincing. Time and time again, Doctson has proven he's a big-time playmaker when the ball is thrown his way.
"My biggest strength as a football player is catching the ball – that's what I am supposed to do," Docston said. "Doesn't matter the situation. If the pass is behind me, doesn't matter where it's at, I am going to catch it. I am guy that is a consistent deep threat that will make the big catch and the big play when we need it."
