CAREER NOTES & RECORDS
Career: Capped his career as Penn State's all-time leader in receptions (214), passing Deon Butler's mark of 179 against Indiana (9/30/17)...Caught at least one pass in 34-straight games to begin his career, a streak that was snapped vs. Iowa (11/5/16)...Had at least one catch in 51-of-53 career games...Ended his career ranked No. 2 on Penn State's all-time receiving yardage list (2,842), trailing only Bobby Engram (3,026; 1991, 93-95) for the top spot...Became the ninth player in Penn State history to eclipse the 2,000-yard receiving mark...Had 21 career games with five-plus receptions (nine in 2014, five in 2015, two in 2016, five in 2017)...Finished his career tied for No. 3 all-time at Penn State with nine 100-yard receiving games (four in 2014, one in 2016, four in 2017)...Completed his time in Happy Valley tied for No. 4 on Penn State's career receiving touchdowns charts with 18 scoring grabs...Was the only Penn Stater with 200 career receptions upon the conclusion of his career...Capped his career as one of just 16 Nittany Lions with 100-plus career receptions, joining teammates Saquon Barkley (102; 2015-17), Mike Gesicki (123; 2014-17) and Chris Godwin (154; 2014-16), along with current assistant coach Terry Smith (108; 1989-91)...Hamilton and Godwin became the second set of teammates with 100-plus career receptions, joining Derrick Williams, Jordan Norwood and Deon Butler (2005-08), while Hamilton and Gesicki mark the third set of teammates to eclipse the 100-reception mark...Joined teammates Barkley and Gesicki as the second RB/WR/TE trio to eclipse 1,000 career receiving yards in Big Ten history (Purdue, 1982-85: WR Steve Griffin, 2,234 yards; RB Rodney Carter, 1,814 yards; TE Marty Scott, 1,247 yards).
Bowl: Capped his career as the career leader in bowl game touchdown receptions (4) and tied for the single game receiving touchdowns record (2), equaling the marks of Bobby Engram (2; 1996 Outback) and Chris Godwin (2; 2017 Rose)...Ranked tied for No. 2 on the bowl receptions (17) list..Finished No. 3 on the all-time bowl receiving yards (232) chart...The 110 receiving yards in the 2017 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl rank tied for No. 8 on the single-game bowl chart, equaling Jordan Norwood's mark from the 2006 Orange Bowl.
Season: 2017: Ended the season tied for No. 14 on the single-season receptions list (53)...Ranked No. 14 at season's end on the single-season receiving yards list (857)...Capped the season tied for No. 6 on the single-season receiving touchdown charts (9). 2014: His 82 catches rank second on Penn State's single-season charts, trailing only Allen Robinson (97; 2013)...Broke the Penn State freshman season records for receptions and receiving yards...In just the sixth game of the season, broke the Penn State freshman record for receptions in a season with his second of seven catches at Michigan, passing Deon Butler's previous mark (37; 2005)...Set the program freshman record for receiving yards in a season against Maryland, passing Butler (691; 2005)...One of just six Penn State freshmen to record a 100-yard receiving game...The four 100-yard efforts are the most by a Penn State freshman, surpassing Butler's two from 2005.
Game: Broke the Penn State freshman records for receptions (14) and receiving yards (165) in a game in 2014...Broke the Penn State game reception record with 14 catches against No. 13 Ohio State in 2014.
2017 • SENIOR SEASON
Awards: Garnered All-Bowl Team honors from the Associated Press...Earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and third-team accolades from the media...Named second-team All-Big Ten by the Associated Press, Phil Steele and Pro Football Focus...Earned a spot on the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week on Oct. 24 after his showing vs. Michigan...Named Co-Big Ten Player of the Week (Davis III, MSU) on Oct. 2 after his 9-catch, 122-yard, 3-touchdown performance vs. Indiana...Earned Pro Football Focus National Team of the Week and Big Ten Team of the Week following his effort vs. Indiana (9/30), earning the highest position grade of any B1G offensive student-athlete that week...Earned the Captain's Award, Iron Lion Award, for strength and conditioning, and the Lions Pride Outstanding Senior Award, along with Jason Cabinda, and as a senior Penn Stater with the greatest contributions to the football program, at the annual team banquet...Named Academic All-Big Ten...Selected for the East-West Shrine Game and Reese's Senior Bowl.
Season: Started all 13 games...Selected team captain prior to the season...Of his 53 catches on the season, 40 of them went for a first down (75%)...One of 21 Penn Staters to enter the Fiesta Bowl having already earned a degree..Earned his second bachelor's degree in telecommunications in December 2017...Graduated with a degree in advertising and public relations in December 2016.
Rankings: Ranked tied for No. 25 in the FBS and No. 3 in the Big Ten in receiving touchdowns (9)...Finished No. 68 in the FBS and No. 5 in the Big Ten in yards per reception (16.17)...Ended the year No. 67 nationally and No. 6 in the Big Ten in receiving yards per game (65.9).
Akron (9/2): Made three catches for 74 yards...Made catches of 19, 26 and 29 yards in the game. Pittsburgh (9/9): Made three receptions and tied for the team high with 45 yards. Georgia State (9/16): Made three catches for 44 yards and one touchdown...Made a first-down reception on Penn State first scoring drive...Hauled in a 27-yard touchdown catch from Trace McSorley in the second quarter for his 10th career touchdown grab. at Iowa (9/23): Made two catches for 46 yards, with both catches netting 23 yards...Both catches went for first downs. Indiana (9/30): Made nine receptions for 122 yards and a career-high three touchdowns...Was the first Penn State wide receiver with three-or-more touchdowns since Allen Robinson (Indiana; 2012)...The three touchdowns marked his ` career multi-touchdown game...Broke Penn State's career receptions record with his eighth catch of the game, passing Bobby Engram (179; 2005-08)...His final touchdown catch came on a pass from running back Saquon Barkley in the fourth quarter...Had one rush on a lateral pass for 2 yards...Garnered the coaching staff's Offensive Player of the Week award. at Northwestern (10/7): Caught two passes for 35 yards...Had a 20-yard grab on third-and-11 during Penn State's first scoring drive. Michigan (10/21): Caught six passes for 115 yards...Posted his seventh career 100-yard receiving game...Five of his six catches went for a first down. at Ohio State: Grabbed a 13-yard touchdown pass for his lone catch of the game. at Michigan State (11/4): Caught seven passes for 112 yards and one touchdown...Opened the scoring with a 31-yard touchdown grab late in the first quarter...Teamed with DeAndre Thompkins (102 yards) as the first Penn State duo to log 100 receiving yards in the same game since the 2016 Big Ten Championship Game...Added one tackle. Rutgers (11/11): Hauled in three catches for 40 yards...Caught a second-quarter touchdown pass...Made a reception in the third quarter, flipping the ball to Saquon Barkley, who ran it down to the Rutgers 1-yard line. Nebraska (11/18): Caught four passes for 42 yards...Three of his four catches went for first downs. at Maryland (11/25): Caught five passes for 59 yards. vs. Washington (12/30): Hauled in five passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns...Had a 48-yard catch-and-run to open the scoring in the first quarter...Grabbed the eventual game-winning score on a 24-yard reception in the third quarter...All five catches went for either a first down or touchdown, with four of them covering 10-plus yards.
2016 • JUNIOR SEASON
Awards: Named Academic All-Big Ten for the third time in his career.
Season: Appeared in all 14 games with 13 starts.
Kent State (9/3): Had two catches for nine yards and one touchdown. at Pitt (9/10): Hauled in a game-high eight receptions for 82 yards...Caught the 2-point conversion pass from Trace McSorley that pulled Penn State within three points with 5:00 to play in the game...Had one tackle. Temple (9/17): Collected two catches for 50 yards...Closed the third quarter with a 45-yard catch-and-run to set up a 30-yard Tyler Davis field goal...Recovered a Temple on-side kick attempt late in the fourth quarter. at Michigan (9/24): Made one catch for 11 yards...Gained 11 yards and a first down on Penn State’s touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. Minnesota (10/1): Pulled down three passes for 17 yards. Maryland (10/8): Made two grabs for 35 yards. Ohio State (10/22): Had one catch for 34 yards on Penn State’s first scoring drive. at Purdue (10/29): Made one catch for 14 yards. at Indiana (11/12): Caught three passes for 85 yards...Hauled in a career-long 54-yard catch to set up the first rushing touchdown of the game for Saquon Barkley. at Rutgers (11/19): Caught two passes for 35 yards. Michigan State (11/26): Got Penn State’s second scoring drive started with a leaping grab for 16 yards on the sideline for his only catch of the game. vs. Wisconsin (12/3): Pulled down a game-high eight catches, which ranks second in Big Ten Championship Game history (9; Keshawn Martin, MSU)...Totaled 118 yards receiving on the night for his fifth career 100-yard game...Caught all eight targets, with five of his catches going for first downs...Had receptions of 38 and 25 yards on Penn State’s go-ahead scoring drive in the fourth quarter.
2015 • SOPHOMORE SEASON
Awards: Named honorable-mention All-Big Ten from the media...Named Academic All-Big Ten.
Season: Appeared in 13 games with 12 starts.
at Temple (9/5): Made one catch for five yards. Buffalo (9/12): Tied for second on the team with three catches for 15 yards...Caught a 5-yard touchdown pass to begin the fourth quarter. Rutgers (9/19): Made a team-high five grabs for 86 yards...Caught a 48-yard pass from Christian Hackenberg in the second quarter, the longest pass play of the season for Penn State. San Diego State (9/26): Tied for game high with five receptions (Godwin)...Totaled 40 yards on his five receptions. Army (10/3): Grabbed one pass for 12 yards...Made his lone catch on third-and-4 to move the chains prior to Nick Scott’s 11-yard touchdown run. Indiana (10/10): Caught two passes for 49 yards...Had a 39-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. at Ohio State (10/17): Caught two passes for 13 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. vs. Maryland (10/24): Caught five passes for 96 yards and one touchdown...Had three catches of 20-plus yards...Made a 20-yard touchdown grab midway through the third quarter...Hauled in a 38-yard reception on Penn State’s first scoring drive of the game...Had a 24-yard reception that helped set up Joe Julius’ 40-yard field goal late in the second quarter. Illinois (10/31): Caught four passes for 54 yards...Had three third down catches to extend two of Penn State’s scoring drive...Grabbed a 19-yard pass to convert on third-and-16 on the opening drive of the third quarter, leading to the Nick Scott completion to Christian Hackenberg for a touchdown. at Northwestern (11/7): Grabbed three passes for 56 yards and one touchdown...Made a 32-yard reception on a reverse pass from fellow wide receiver Geno Lewis, diving into the end zone for the score. Michigan (11/21): Caught one pass for five yards. at Michigan State (11/28): Grabbed eight passes for 78 yards. vs. Georgia (1/2): Grabbed five passes for 71 yards and one touchdown...Caught a 20-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone in the fourth quarter to pull Penn State within seven points with 6:14 to play.
2014 • REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON
Awards: Selected to the College Football News (second team) and Athlon Sports (third team) Freshman All-America teams...Tabbed second-team All-Big Ten by the media and honorable-mention All-Big Ten by the coaches...Named All-Big Ten second team by Phil Steele’s College Football...Selected to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team by BTN.com, ESPN.com and 247Sports...Was an Academic All-Big Ten honoree for the first time in his career.
Season: Started all 13 games in his first season on the field...Led the Big Ten in receptions from start to finish.
Final Rankings: Led the Big Ten with 82 receptions, ranked fourth with 69.2 receiving yards per game and fifth with 889 receiving yards...Paced the conference and finished 28th nationally with 6.3 receptions per game...Only freshman averaging more than 5.8 catches per game in the NCAA and was one of six freshmen that averaged 70.0 or more receiving yards per game.
UCF (8/30): Started his first career game in the Croke Park Classic in Dublin, Ireland...Broke the Penn State freshman record for receiving yards (165) and catches (11)...Selected Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week...Became the first Nittany Lion freshman since 2005 to eclipse 100 receiving yards in a game (Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood)...His 165-yard performance ranks tied for 13th in Penn State history...Hamilton and Geno Lewis became the eighth pair of teammates to record 100-plus receiving yards in the same game and the first tandem to log 150-plus yards in the same game in school history...Of his 165 receiving yards, 107 came in the first half, including a 44-yard catch to set up first-and-goal from the UCF 3-yard line. Akron (9/6): Led the team with seven catches (69 yards) in the win. at Rutgers (9/13): Hauled in a team-high eight passes for 103 yards...Caught a 47-yard pass in the third quarter that led to a field goal...Combined with Geno Lewis to give Penn State multiple games with two receivers over 100 yards for the first time since 1994 (Bobby Engram and Freddie Scott; three times). UMass (9/20): Ranked second on the team with four catches for 65 yards, including a 35-yard reception that set up a Penn State touchdown in the second quarter. Northwestern (9/27): Led the team with 100 yards receiving and six catches, including a 51-yard reception in the second quarter. at Michigan (10/11): Caught his first career touchdown pass on a 10-yard scoring strike in the second quarter, highlighting a seven-catch, 58-yard effort...With his second of seven receptions at Michigan, moved past Deon Butler’s school freshman record for catches in a season. Ohio State (10/25): Broke the Penn State game receptions record and in the process his own freshmen receptions record with 14 catches for 126 yards to earn his second Big Ten Freshman of the Week award...Made three catches on the Nittany Lions’ 77-yard game-tying drive late in regulation to force overtime. Maryland (11/1): Rewrote the program record for yards in a season by a freshman in a five-catch, 42-yard performance, finishing the game with 728 yards, passing Deon Butler’s mark of 691 in 2005. at Indiana (11/8): Caught two passes (33 yards) in the win. Temple (11/15): Tallied a team-high four grabs (26 yards). Michigan State (11/29): Hauled in six passes for 55 yards. Vs. Boston College (12/27): One of three receivers with seven catches, which tied him for second in the Penn State bowl game record books...Accounted for 51 yards and made his second touchdown catch of the season, a 16-yard grab in traffic midway through the fourth quarter, to tie the game at 21-21.
2013 • TRUE FRESHMAN SEASON
Redshirt season due to a wrist injury.
HIGH SCHOOL
One of the top playmakers in Virginia, a four-year letterman at wide receiver for head coach Lou Sorrentino at Mountain View High School...As a senior, named honorable-mention all-state and earned first-team all-district, all-area and all-region honors...Made 64 catches for 1,073 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior to earn Commonwealth District Offensive Player of the Year...A two-time team captain...Garnered honorable-mention all-state, as well as first-team all-district, all-area and all-region as a junior...Invited to play in the Chesapeake Bowl and the U.S. Army All-American Game...Ranked a four-star recruit by ESPN and a three-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports...Ranked among the top 20 recruits in the state of Virginia and was a Top 60 wide receiver, according to all four recruiting services...Graduated with honors and earned an advanced diploma from Mountain View, while attaining Academic All-Conference during his career...Lettered three times in basketball.
PERSONAL
Full name is DaeSean Kameron Hamilton...Son of Johnie and Madgeline Hamilton...Has two brothers, Ahmad and Darius, and two sisters, Danielle and Jasmine...Both parents were members of the United States Marine Corps...Enjoys strength conditioning, video games and reading...Graduated in December with his degree in advertising and public relations...Is working on his second degree in telecommunications...Born March 10, 1995 in Okinawa, Japan.