January 1st, 2020 at 8:58 AM ^
Good for him. He's a good player and balled out this year.
January 1st, 2020 at 8:58 AM ^
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28401866/penn-state-wr-kj-hamler-declares-nfl-draft
Tried the exact same process in OP ro make it clickable. Didn't work. My apologies.
January 1st, 2020 at 9:07 AM ^
Odd. Could’ve sworn he was only a sophomore. Either way, that’s one guy I’m glad Michigan won’t have to deal with again.
January 1st, 2020 at 11:29 AM ^
"that’s one guy I’m glad Michigan won’t have to deal with again"
Hey, that's been my mantra all month! Dobbins, Hamler, etc. etc.
If we can just get another hundred or so guys to go pro, we're in business!
January 1st, 2020 at 12:20 PM ^
Very true. Truth be known. Where's our real stud players? 2020 recruiting class was/is less than spectacular. It was either #10 or #11 ranked and looks like they obtain some more speed on defense.
January 1st, 2020 at 1:58 PM ^
He’s RS(SO)
January 1st, 2020 at 9:08 AM ^
Here's a list of current early entrants.
This draft is loaded. With a flood of more early entrants expected after bowl season (deadline is Jan 20 i think), this could very well be one of the best classes in the last 10 years.
January 1st, 2020 at 10:20 AM ^
Solidifies the Lions not trading down for more picks and drafting a long snapper at #3.
January 1st, 2020 at 11:24 AM ^
Future quote from Mel Kiper: "I like this pick by the Lions. Jimmy Barnes from East Toledo Northern University is a real baller. I think Lions fans are going to be impressed by this kid's technique in getting the ball back to the punter on the first try."
January 1st, 2020 at 11:31 AM ^
Not enough Ohio State guys.
January 1st, 2020 at 12:22 PM ^
We got at least two 10.5 100M recruits so there has been an emphasis on speed. I really hope we see some stud freshman players who can get into the starting lineup early in the season.
January 1st, 2020 at 9:12 AM ^
Is this going to be the best wr class of all time?
Edit: meaning as of what we know coming out of college; obviously they could all be busts in the nfl.
January 1st, 2020 at 9:19 AM ^
By the time jeudy, Smith, and ruggs declare for bama, then add in Ohio state's seniors mack and victor (i know, not the elitist, but still good; see mclaurin) chenault, e.t.c yes. And that's not including Collins or dpj. Thus will be the best class of wr ever.
January 1st, 2020 at 9:26 AM ^
Which draft classes would you put in your all time top 5 for receivers and why? There have been a lot of nfl drafts with multiple incredible receivers, so I am curious what specifically makes this class better than all of those in your opinion.
January 1st, 2020 at 9:32 AM ^
For me it was simply looking at the sheer number of round 1 talent. I didn’t dissect the play of each one so my take is pretty visceral but I just think the amount of talent that is 1st round quality is crazy at wr this year.
it frankly is exactly why I think there is zero chance Nico or DPJ go. Even with very good combines (for them), you’ve got many others bigger, stronger and faster with stats behind them. They could go from being borderline undrafted this year to round 1-2 guys next year and some of that is just because of how deep this wr class is.
January 1st, 2020 at 9:41 AM ^
96 with harrison, owens, johnson, horn, moulds, glenn and a handful of other long term pros will remain tough to beat
January 1st, 2020 at 10:28 AM ^
Man, what a great question. Id say most of my thoughts on this year's class have been feelings, so i went back and looked.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?type=position&position=WR
Here's a link to history of draft class by position. Last year's class was pretty productive this year as rookies. But, 17 has been good: Corey Davis, Mike Williams, John Ross, Godwin, kupp, golliday, David Moore. 15 had cooper davonte parker, funchess, Lockett, crowder, Diggs. 14 was loaded. 11 was kind of top heavy with aj green, Julio, and randall Cobb. I won't keep listing off the years, but it's really cool to see who hit and who missed.
Of recent memory, i think the potential of this year's class will be the best. Also, add tee Higgins to the list of potential early entrants.
January 1st, 2020 at 11:17 AM ^
Paul- I appreciate this thoughtful response. This does seem to be a special year for the wide receiver corps. DPJ and Nico will hopefully help make the 2021 haul special as well!
January 1st, 2020 at 12:14 PM ^
Good info thanks for posting
January 1st, 2020 at 10:35 AM ^
Selfishly, I hope a ton of WRs declare for the draft so Collins and DPJ stick around for another season.
January 1st, 2020 at 9:13 AM ^
Not unlike Andre Seldon - Hamler went ham on a lot of people this year. Good luck to him - pumped we don’t have to face him again.
January 1st, 2020 at 10:34 AM ^
Is going ham a thing now? I must not be up on the kids lingo these days
January 1st, 2020 at 10:45 AM ^
It’s like me going dub or you going free on people. Indy-Pete Go Blue would go Indigo. Although you need to reach a certain status for it to be legitimate or legit as they say.
January 1st, 2020 at 11:19 AM ^
Double D - this is the explanation that we all needed, thank you
January 1st, 2020 at 12:05 PM ^
Hamler going "Ham"?
January 1st, 2020 at 12:45 PM ^
maul is catching on...
Going Full Maul in 2020
January 1st, 2020 at 9:14 AM ^
Hamler is one of our biggest misses ever in recruiting. Glad he's moving on.
January 1st, 2020 at 9:45 AM ^
no doubt hes up there with desmond king as local kids michigan likely could have signed
January 1st, 2020 at 11:07 AM ^
It seemed Harbaugh wasn’t too high on him because he’s short. Back in 2016 Harbaugh was going after the tall receivers. Nothing wrong with that. But now with the #speed in space offense, Hamler would have been ideal. He the best route running technician to come out of a Michigan high school possibly ever.
January 1st, 2020 at 12:30 PM ^
A miss? If so, a bunch more schools missed.
Look at his 2017 profile:
https://247sports.com/Recruitment/KJ-Hamler-45827/RecruitInterests/
Michigan got four guys (DPJ, Black, Collins, and Martin) who were thought to be better recruits. Where does Hamler fit in there?
In hindsight? Sure. I'm not counting this one against Harbaugh, though.
January 1st, 2020 at 9:17 AM ^
Hope the Patriots get him.
January 1st, 2020 at 9:19 AM ^
Wish we had recruited Hamler. Glad he won't be playing against us anymore.
January 1st, 2020 at 9:54 AM ^
January 1st, 2020 at 9:55 AM ^
That’s old news. What I really want to hear is if any of Michigan’s coaches are being considered by other programs.
January 1st, 2020 at 10:41 AM ^
He is a good college player, but I just don't see him thriving at the next level. I don't think he is better than DPJ, Nico or Tarik tbh. The only reason why we hear about him is because of the scheme psu plays.
January 1st, 2020 at 11:29 AM ^
Our defensive scheme / safety assignment might be another reason we hear about him.
January 1st, 2020 at 10:43 AM ^
If Jonathan Taylor goes pro, that will mean that our four most difficult opponents will lose their best player to the draft (UWash - Eason, UW - Taylor, PSU - Hamler, OSU - Dobbins). We play three of those schools in the first five games of the season. Hopefully they will still be figuring out how to move the ball with those weapons gone.
If Uche is our only early entrant on defense, this really helps our chances to start 5-0 and go into Columbus at no worse than 10-1.
January 1st, 2020 at 10:49 AM ^
Who would make a better NFL player between DPJ, Nico, and Hamler?
The NFL DBs all have elite speed and play very physical.
January 1st, 2020 at 11:00 AM ^
"The NFL DBs all have elite speed and play very physical."
True for the best NFL DBs. There are plenty that are either physical or fast. Some are questionable at both.
January 1st, 2020 at 11:47 AM ^
So I should have said mostly. It’s still a different game. I am genuinely interested in the question though.
January 1st, 2020 at 12:46 PM ^
tl;dr probably Hamler early but maybe DPJ
Development and scheme matter greatly for your answer. DPJ has the tools to be good at the same things that Collins excels at (jump ball/body positioning, great hands) as well as Hamler (open field speed and cutting ability) so how he develops matters. We don’t know if he’s gonna put it all together but it’s possible he goes to a team with a plan for him, for a specific role, or one which could use his various different abilities.
Collins would be best served to be put in a position like Mike Evans in Tampa. Arians loves to throw downfield and Winston has the arm. Nico would do very well in a downfield offense on the outside.
Hamler would be better served going to an offense that’s good at putting skill players in space, like the chiefs, but has the kind of tape that teams fall in love with so anyone could take him.
NFL drafting is weird in the sense that some GM could use Hamler to run fly routes on the outside to stretch a defense or get enamored with Nico as a tall slot/flex TE with great hands. All things being equal, I would expect Hamler to be better early but if DPJ puts it together then he’s the one who could make a ton of pro bowls. Collins I just don’t know if he has enough to go along with his hands and size to distinguish himself
January 1st, 2020 at 11:14 AM ^
Speaking of early draft entrants, how did Rashan Gary do this year? Asking sincerely because I don't follow pro football.
January 1st, 2020 at 11:24 AM ^
About as well as the naysayers predicted.
Im glad he got his money, but he’s not looking like a future pro bowler.
January 1st, 2020 at 11:50 AM ^
If you look back at all of our guys that left early recently, most of them could have used an extra year in college.
You only get one shot, and a lot of them have plateaued already. You don't usually make that up in the pros, as new shiny-object guys keep coming in.
You can view the pros as paid on the job training, but as you are learning, you run the risk of getting passed. You are better off taking a long term view and coming in as polished as possible the moment you enter the door.
January 1st, 2020 at 12:00 PM ^
Maybe, but the risk of unpaid training is that of getting injured and then making less or no money. Or you can go to OSU and get trained AND paid.
January 1st, 2020 at 12:05 PM ^
I agree in some sense, but rashan was a different case - he was injury prone and didn’t show what everyone expected in college. Another season of injury and low production wasn’t going to do him any favors.
January 1st, 2020 at 11:20 AM ^
I really like our chances at home against PSU in 2020, even more so without their biggest playmaker.
January 1st, 2020 at 11:56 AM ^
Can Hamler make it in the NFL? Is there a role for small, fast receivers there? Everyone in the NFL is fast. He's not going to blow by guys there like he has in college. And NFL LBs and DBs are going to "ask" him to hold up for a moment on the way by.
January 1st, 2020 at 12:04 PM ^
I don't know Hamler's 40 time, but there are plenty of opportunities for guys that can run good routes,a elude tacklers in space, and make tough catches. And with the way offenses are trending, it seems there's almost as much demand for slot ninja types as big outside studs.