Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1157192
P E N N S T A T E F O O T B A L L >> A number of off-season of changes have ensured that the receiver corps will be very different this fall. Thompkins was in the Philadelphia Eagles' training camp earlier this month, while Johnson and Polk had both transferred, the former to Oregon and the latter to James Madison of the Football Championship Subdivi- sion. Even before Johnson and Polk en- tered the transfer portal, Franklin dismissed receivers coach David Corley, bringing in Gerad Parker as his replace- ment. During the past few months, Penn State has rebuilt its depth at the position by promoting walk-ons Dan Chisena and Isaac Lutz to the scholarship roster and welcoming graduate transfer Weston Carr, formerly of Division II Azusa Pa- cific. The Lions have also brought in true freshmen John Dunmore and T.J. Jones. Still, Hamler's 713 game reps during the 2018 season represent the most returning experience among all of Penn State's wideouts by a wide margin, ahead of Jahan Dotson's 221, Mac Hippenham- mer's 216, Cam Sullivan-Brown's 151, Justin Shorter's 74 and Daniel George's 37. As a result, Hamler has taken his stature within the group to heart. "I want to just be more of a leader toward them," he said. "I'm more of the go-to guy as ya'll say. So I've got to produce and just be there when [Sean Clifford] needs me and when the coaches need me. Anything they want me to do, I have to do it and produce for the offense. "We've got to be the best receiving group in the Big Ten, and most of all, the country. If we do that, if we accomplish that, then I'll be happy." Penn State's receiver corps now features one five-star, three four-star and three three-star prospects as rated by Rivals.com in the past three recruiting classes. With that in mind, Hamler said he believes his high aspirations are well within reach. The key, he said, will be to develop more consistency. "I know it's a hard thing to do, but the greats are the greats because they're consistent," Ham- ler said. "So we try to work extra hard. We just try to produce for the offense as much as we can." Of course, Hamler's role with the Nit- tany Lions this season will not end there. Because of the flexibility that Hippen- hammer and Dotson provide, he won't necessarily have to line up in the slot. What's more, Hamler has already shown that he can be a difference- maker on special teams. He finished with 523 yards on kickoff returns last season, the sixth-best total in Penn State history. His 26.2-yard average ranked No. 18 nationally. He could also potentially see action on punt returns. Said Franklin, "We think he can be a tremendous punt returner and tremen- dous kick returner." Special teams coordinator Joe Lorig thinks so, too. During his three-year tenure at Memphis, he coached Tony Pol- lard, who set an FBS record with seven career touchdowns on kickoff returns. Lorig called Hamler a "phenomenal re- turner," noting his fearlessness when hit- ting the hole. "A lot of guys go through and they'll kind of stop their feet because the hole on kickoff return doesn't open until the last second," Lorig said. "You have to trust it's going to open, and sometimes you think it will and then you get drilled. So it teaches guys to kind of slow down a little bit and be hesitant or tentative. He doesn't do that. He gets vertical. And if he OPEN MIC Hamler talks to reporters during Penn State's football media day in early August. Photo by Steve Manuel