UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Sophomore wide receiver KJ Hamler (Pontiac, Mich.) found his way to his third preseason watch list with a berth on the Paul Hornung Award list for the most versatile player in major college football. Hamler, who was a finalist for the Hornung Award last season, has been named to the Maxwell Award and Biletnikoff Award preseason watch lists. In addition, James Franklin was named to the Dodd Trophy preseason watch list.
The Paul Hornung Award is presented by the Louisville Sports Commission to the most versatile player in major college football. Saquon Barkley won the honor in 2017 and Hamler was a finalist for the honor in 2018.
Hamler was a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award for the nation's most versatile player and also collected Freshman All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America and The Athletic last season as a kick returner last season. He also earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten accolades as both a wide receiver and return specialist after finishing No. 3 in the conference in kick return average (26.2) and No. 2 in yards per catch (17.95). Hamler ended the season No. 6 in the conference with 109.0 all-purpose yards per game.
The sophomore pulled in a catch in all 13 games, had six games with four or more receptions and 10 multi-reception games in 2018. Hamler had 25 catches of 10 or more yards and pulled in 16 balls for 20 or more yards. He registered a first down on 71 percent (30-42) receptions.
Franklin has guided the Nittany Lions to three-straight Top 15 finishes in the College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings, making Penn State one of six teams in the country to do so. The 2018 squad finished No. 12 in the CFP rankings and No. 15 in the Associated Press (AP) and Amway Coaches polls. Penn State enters the 2019 season having been ranked in the AP Top 25 for the last 40 weeks, which is the longest streak since 1993-2000. The defense guided the way for the Lions last season, ranking in the top 20 in FBS in team sacks (1st), tackles for loss (4th), passing efficiency (8th), red zone defense (11th), passing yards allowed (15th) and third down conversion defense (19th). On the offensive side of the ball, Penn State posted its highest rushing average (204.9) since 2008 (205.8).
Under Franklin's tutelage, the Nittany Lions made back-to-back New Year's Six bowl game appearances for the first time since 1985 and 1986 with bids to the 2017 Rose Bowl and 2017 Fiesta Bowl. Franklin has seen six players selected in the NFL Draft each of the last two seasons, marking the first time since 1992 (9 draft picks) and 1993 (8) the Nittany Lions had back-to-back drafts with six or more selections.
Nine different Nittany Lions have been named to preseason watch lists. They include: senior linebacker Cam Brown – Butkus Award (nation's top linebacker); senior punter Blake Gillikin – Ray Guy Award (nation's top punter); Allstate AFCA Good Works Team; senior defensive tackle Robert Windsor – Nagurski Trophy (National Defensvie Player of the Year), Outland Trophy (best college football interior lineman); junior defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos – Nagurski Trophy (National Defensvie Player of the Year), Bednarik Award (National Defensive Player of the Year), Lott IMPACT Trophy (National Defensive Player of the Year on and off the field); junior wide receiver KJ Hamler – Maxwell Award (National Player of the Year), Biletnikoff Award (outstanding wide receiver), Paul Hornung Award (most versatile player in major college football); junior center Michal Menet – Rimington Trophy (top center); sophomore tight end Pat Freiermuth – Mackey Award (outstanding collegiate tight end); sophomore linebacker Micah Parsons – Nagurski Trophy (National Defensvie Player of the Year), Bednarik Award (National Defensive Player of the Year), Butkus Award (nation's top linebacker); head coach James Franklin – Dodd Trophy (Coach of the Year).
The Nittany Lions' home schedule features three non-conference games and four Big Ten Conference match-ups. The Nittany Lions open the season against Idaho (Aug. 31; 3:30 p.m.), Buffalo (Sept. 7; 7:30 p.m.) and the 100th all-time meeting with Pittsburgh (Sept. 14; noon) in non-conference action. In Big Ten play, Penn State welcomes Purdue (Oct. 5; noon), Michigan (Oct. 19), Indiana (Nov. 15) and Rutgers (Nov. 30) to Happy Valley.
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and reserving new season tickets for the 2019 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Nearly 4,600 new season tickets have already been sold for the 2019 campaign.
