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Penn State Football: The Case For DaeSean Hamilton For Offensive MVP

By Dylan Burd

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: DaeSean Hamilton #5 of the Penn State Nittany Lions scores a touchdown on a 48 yard reception during the first quarter while dragging Byron Murphy #1 of the Washington Huskies into the endzone during the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. Penn State won 35-28. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 30: DaeSean Hamilton #5 of the Penn State Nittany Lions scores a touchdown on a 48 yard reception during the first quarter while dragging Byron Murphy #1 of the Washington Huskies into the endzone during the Playstation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. Penn State won 35-28. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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Despite the doubts coming into the season, DaeSean Hamilton ended his Penn State career with his best year yet

After Chris Godwin announced that he would be entering the NFL Draft shortly after the 2016 season ended, several Penn State fans were nervous about the production from the wide receiver position going forward.

Everyone was talking about redshirt sophomore Juwan Johnson, or redshirt junior DeAndre Thompkins. Fans and analysts didn’t even remember the most experienced wide receiver on the team — DaeSean Hamilton.

Hamilton was a star in the making in 2014, posting 82 receptions,  899 receiving yards, and two touchdowns in his redshirt freshman season. After his numbers plummeted in his sophomore and junior year, number five was all but forgotten.

The season started for DaeSean Hamilton with a couple of bad dropped passes versus Akron, despite ending the game with three receptions for 74 yards.

This reminded fans of his brutal dropped pass in 2016 versus Pitt that, if caught, could have won the Nittany Lions the game.

Hamilton might have left fans with question marks following the game agasint Akron, but this was a new DaeSean Hamilton, not the DaeSean Hamilton who was going to drop a potential game-winning touchdown, but an improved player who was ready to take over the Big Ten.

Throughout the rest of the season, Hamilton proved to be not only one of the most reliable receivers in the Big Ten, but in the country. Anything thrown his way was caught, and you didn’t even have to worry about the ball being dropped.

In the Nittany Lions’ fifth game of the year, Hamilton caught nine passes for 122 yards and three touchdowns. He followed this up with touchdowns in three straight games against Ohio State, Michigan State, and Rutgers.

Finally, he wrapped up his Penn State career with a Fiesta Bowl win, catching five passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns.

He ended his career as the Nittany Lions’ all-time leading receiver, with 214 receptions, 35 more than the player who is second on the list, Deon Butler.

Hamilton also finished his career with the fourth most receiving touchdowns (18), and second most receiving yards (2842) in Penn State Football history.

After watching this season, there is no doubt in my mind that DaeSean Hamilton was one of the best wide receivers ever to put on a Penn State uniform.

Furthermore, Hamilton may have been the most valuable offensive player for the Nittany Lions this season, as he provided tremendous help to Trace McSorely through the air when teams stacked the box against Saquon Barkley.

Due to the attention that Barkley and McSorely draw, Hamilton continues to be slept on, as he was given an invite to the Shrine Game, and not the Senior Bowl.

However, DaeSean Hamilton has continued to do what he has done this year at Penn State at the Shrine Game, as he is reportedly dominating practices.

From now until the NFL Draft, I fully expect Hamilton to sky up draft boards, and possibly be selected in the late second or third round.

Next: Penn State Recruiting Profile: LB Nick Tarburton

DaeSean Hamilton will make an NFL team very happy, as he did this season for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

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