Hamler’s time to be monitored to stay fresh
How important is KJ Hamler to the success of Penn State’s offense and special teams this season?
His playing time will be closely monitored to keep him fresh.
“KJ is a really dynamic returner,” said Joe Lorig, the Nittany Lions’ new special teams coordinator. “Obviously he’ll be a major weapon on offense, too, so I liken it to a pitcher in baseball. They have a pitch count. I will keep track of how many times a guy is on the field, making sure we’re not over-utilizing or underutilizing a guy.”
How many snaps and touches he gets means very little to the 5-9, 176-pound Hamler.
“I’m just here to play football,” he said. “I’m not going to complain about how many touches I get. As long as we win, that’s all that really matters. It’s a team sport. I’m just one person.”
Kahlee Jacoby Hamler isn’t just another person on the roster; he’s one of the most electrifying players in the Big Ten.
He gained 1,417 all-purpose yards last year, setting a school record for a freshman, and made a catch in every game. He ranked second in the conference in yards per catch (17.95), third in kickoff returns (26.2 yards an attempt) and in the top 10 in combined return yards, all-purpose yards and receiving yards.
“Having him makes the game a lot easier for the quarterback,” said Sean Clifford, who’s expected to succeed Trace McSorley as the starter and who was in the same recruiting class as Hamler. “KJ is one of those guys who’s going to come in and work every single day. He’s done a great job of getting better each day.
“He’s one of the best players in the country now.”
After a redshirt year in 2017, Hamler made an immediate impact last year. He caught a 15-yard touchdown pass with 42 seconds left in regulation in the season opener against Appalachian State, forcing overtime before the Lions won.
He scored twice against Pittsburgh, becoming the first Penn State receiver with rushing and receiving touchdowns in a game since Derrick Williams did it in 2008 against Indiana.
Hamler later made a memorable 93-yard touchdown catch and run against Ohio State, outracing what seemed like the entire defense.
“He’s just one of those guys who’s a natural football player,” Lions coach James Franklin said. “The game makes sense to him.”
Hamler played two seasons at St. Mary’s in Orchard Lake, Mich., the same high school that produced former Penn State receiving great Allen Robinson, before he transferred to the IMG Academy in Florida for his senior year.
Rated a four-star prospect by ESPN and Rivals, he chose Penn State over Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Oregon, among others.
After his performance last season, he was named to the Football Writers Association of America AllAmerica team as a kick returner, received All-Big Ten honorable mention as a receiver and returner and was a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award as the nation’s most versatile player.
Hamler played in the slot on offense last season, but the Lions might move him outside sometimes this season.
“It could be for a specific matchup,” Franklin said. “It could be for things that we’re trying to get done or we’re trying to get the ball in his hands, so he becomes the first option in the quarterback’s progression.”
Hamler has been compared to former Oklahoma receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, a 2019 firstround draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens who’s also 5-9 and less than 180 pounds with exceptional speed. Hamler was timed at 4.27 seconds in the 40-yard dash during winter workouts, second on the team behind safety Drew Hartlaub.
“I feel like KJ is always open,” Clifford said. “It’s all about making the play. If he’s the guy open on the time it should be thrown, then he’s there. A lot of time it is. He gets open quite a lot.”
Hamler caught a teamhigh 42 passes for 754 yards and five touchdowns last season, but he’s still looking for his first return score.
“Coach Lorig has been on me a while,” he said. “I like how he coaches. His coaching style is very different. He’s more aggressive. Whenever he wants the ball in my hands, he’s going to try to get it to me. He told me to focus on my instincts.
“If I feel like I can take the ball out of the end zone, he wants me to take it out. He doesn’t want me taking a knee.”
Hamler is expected to join Jahan Dotson and Justin Shorter as the starting wide receivers. They have tremendous talent and potential. Sharing touches equally might be a problem.
“I’m here for the team,” Hamler said. “If I get a lot of touches this year, I’ll appreciate it. Winning is the only thing that matters. When I get a ring on my finger, that’ll be fine.”