KJ Hamler, the blazing-fast wideout from Penn State, was selected Friday night in the second round by the Denver Broncos.
The 20-year-old Michigan native declared for the NFL Draft after his redshirt sophomore season in Happy Valley. Hamler started 13 games for the Nittany Lions last year, grabbing 56 catches for 904 yards and eight touchdowns while adding 639 yards as a kickoff and punt returner.
A knee injury forced Hamler to redshirt in his first year at Penn State in 2017, but he returned a year later to add a dynamic element to the Nittany Lion offense. In 13 games, he caught 42 passes for 754 yards and five touchdowns and had 850 yards as a returner.
At 5-foot-9, 178 pounds, Hamler projects to be a slot receiver in the NFL, according to NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein, who envisions him as the next Tavon Austin.
Here's what Zierlein had to say about Hamler:
"Explosive slot target who hits the scales as a lightweight but could have heavyweight impact on games. Hamler's blazing speed is used solo and in route combinations to stress secondaries and create big plays. He had an alarming number of drops in 2019 and the routes are ragged, but his athleticism and separation burst on all three levels helps mitigate those concerns. He's a smallish slot who isn't built for the tough yardage and could have durability concerns if he's run into too many collisions. However, speed kills and his game-breaking potential on all three levels will be enticing as a high-risk, high-reward draft pick."
