When KJ Hamler was named a Penn State football starter for the season opener, it was a sure sign that he could make plays. He had to beat out some proven talents on the roster to earn his spot. In only five games, he went from a redshirt freshman with zero catches to his name to the biggest playmaker in the receiving corp. Along with that, he quickly made his name on special teams as well.
For me, I’d give Hamler the Newcomer of the Year Award so far. Sure, Miles Sanders has been a more than capable replacement for Saquon Barkley, but no one has provided more explosive, momentum-changing plays than Hamler.