Analysis
What Ourlads' Scouting Services said about KJ HAMLER before he made the Denver Broncos' Depth Chart: Penn State, 5085 178 4.40. Third year sophomore entry, two-year starter, Pontiac, MI. Exploded onto the scene as a redshirt freshman in 2018, a year that saw him break Saquon Barkley’s all-purpose yard record for freshmen while ending up honorable mention All Big 10 as a receiver and kick returner. Was also a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award, given to the nation’s most versatile player. He didn’t quite produce the same way in 2019, but there is no denying how electric he is with the ball in his hands. The second-team All Big 10 receiver can line up in the slot and outside because of his ability to get vertical on one play and open underneath the next. He is as agile and quick as he is fast. The lack of size will hurt him and there needs to be an improvement as a pass catcher, but Hamler is the kind of player that a defense will need to adjust to. He is a playmaker that can make things happen at any given moment in a variety of ways. Elite burst both in a straight line and out of his breaks. Will make an impact athletically in all directions. More than a vertical threat. Loose and light lower half that can wiggle and adjust with ease. Great balance and control while moving at a high rate. Understands nuances of route running. Eats a gap fast and will time his breaks well. Gets to his point and can change direction on a dime. Separation on all levels of the route tree. Savvy with the ball in his hands. Has the vision to forecast where the cutback lanes will be and is patient enough to allow them to develop. Can make a guy miss in a phone booth. Undersized and it shows up multiple times. Gets overwhelmed in contested situations. Catch radius is small, hands play small, staying power plays small. Won’t always overcome the lack of size when playing outside. Allows the ball into his body. Needs to show more extension toward the pass. Can be slow to get his head around. Doesn’t make the reads underneath that a slow target needs to. More of a reaction and speed player, not so much feel or instincts. 2019 stats: 56-904, 16.1 ypr, 8 TD, 23-126 PR, 5.5 avg, 24-513 KOR, 21.4 avg. No Combine workout-his choice. Second/third round. (A-30 3/4, H-9 3/8, VJ-DNP, SS-DNP).