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'94 to become the Lions' 9rst 1,000-yard receiver, while Scott accounted for 973 yards that fall. Of course, Engram and Scott were proven performers who bene9tted from having the nation's best quarterback, an almost impenetrable o:ensive line that gave him all day to throw, and a stable of outstanding running backs that kept defenses dis- tracted. Hamilton and Lewis… well, they've got a guy who can throw the ball, at least. They're also just kids, a redshirt freshman and redshirt sophomore respec- tively. Hamilton, who had team- highs of 43 catches and 560 yards through his 9rst six games, has been the surprise of the Lions' o:ense thus far. "DaeSean worked extremely hard last year and this o:-season, and he really showed a bright future," quar- terback Christian Hackenberg said. "His attention to detail with his routes… that's one thing that stands out as a quar- terback to understand, all right, this guy gets it." As for the "veteran" Lewis, a distant second option last season to Allen Robin- son, Hackenberg said, "I think he's gotten a lot more con9dent. Playing with Allen last year, he had all the ability, but I think his con9dence was hindered. But he's done a great job with both his play and his leadership, in the 9lm room and on the 9eld." Lewis, a close second to Hamilton with 32 receptions and 512 yards, said he's not surprised that he and his partner have been so e:ective this fall. "I realized it during spring ball," Lewis said. "DaeSean had a really good camp, and I saw how athletic he was, and I just saw it in his eyes that he was going to be ready to contribute early." That they've both contributed so much, so soon makes it easy to forget how far both still have to go. Scott, whose experience gives him a more critical eye than most, sees more raw talent than polish in Hamilton and Lewis. "We were focused on the tech- nical side of the game – route running, getting in and out of your breaks – versus relying on your physical tools," he said. "That'll work to a certain degree, but at some point you're going to have to be able to separate from the guy who's going against you, who's just as talented as you are." Indeed, the current Lion receivers' ability to out-run, out-jump or out-muscle opposing defenders with some regularity has masked the fact that Hack- enberg, already coping with an o

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