It says a lot about DaeSean Hamilton that he is the No. 1 pass receiver in Penn State history.
It says even more about him that might not be the most enduring mark he leaves on the program.
“DaeSean is going to leave a legacy here, in terms of work,” Nittany Lions coach James Franklin said recently. “He’s a guy who — probably as much as any guy I’ve been around in my career — has maximized his potential through work ethic, through preparation, through attitude.”
Those intangibles helped to make it possible for Hamilton, a senior, to enter Penn State’s game against Washington Dec. 30 in the Fiesta Bowl with 209 career catches, 30 more than Deon Butler’s previous school record.
While talent was a major factor in that achievement, of course, the impact of Hamilton’s dedication to his craft cannot be overstated.
That trait became apparent to Franklin not long after Penn State hired him away from Vanderbilt in 2014.
“When I was living here for nine months by myself, at six o’clock in the morning, he’d be out on the turf, running routes by himself or [working with] the JUGS machine or whatever,” Franklin said. “DaeSean’s just a guy who’s really invested.”
That commitment was recognized and rewarded Sunday at Penn State’s football banquet, when Hamilton was presented with the Iron Lion Award, which goes “to the player who demonstrates the cornerstone of the Penn State Football strength and conditioning program — intensity and consistency.”
He also shared the Outstanding Senior Player Award, for the greatest career contribution to Penn State football, with linebacker Jason Cabinda.
Hamilton has at least one reception in 50 of his 52 career games and has recorded five or more 20 times.
He also teamed with Saquon Barkley and Mike Gesicki to become just the second wide receiver/running back/tight end tandem in Big Ten Conference history to have all three members surpass the 1,000-yard mark in career receiving yardage.
It’s entirely fitting — and hardly a coincidence — that Gesicki was one of his tag-team partners in that feat. Not only are they close friends, but those two developed a post-practice ritual in which they would polish their pass-catching skills long after most teammates had adjourned to the locker room.
“I started staying after practice during spring ball two years ago,” Gesicki said. “Initially, it started with the tight ends, then some guys had study hall and obligations after practice.
“Then in the offseason, DaeSean and I would get on the JUGS machine and catch 200 balls every single day. So he and I have worked together, day-in and day-out.”
This season, redshirt sophomore Juwan Johnson — whose touchdown reception on the final play of the game allowed Penn State to escape with a 21-19 victory Sept. 23 at Iowa — made it a trio.
“He just wanted to come in and join, and we gladly welcomed him,” Hamilton said. “He’s another hard worker.”
Unfortunately for Johnson, Hamilton and Gesicki are about to exhaust their college eligibility, so unless he can recruit a replacement or two, Johnson might be playing catch on his own after this season.
“Juwan always says, ‘Man, we’ve got a few more weeks and then I’m going to be out here throwing the ball to myself,’” Gesicki said.
“So I’m not sure who Juwan is going to let enter this prestigious club of ours, but whoever it is, they’re going to go out there and get in a bunch of extra work and prepare for Saturdays, just like we have been for the past two years.”
And like Hamilton has been doing on his own for a lot longer than that.
Dave Molinari: dmolinari@Post-Gazette.com and Twitter @MolinariPG.
First Published: December 13, 2017, 11:00 a.m.
Updated: December 13, 2017, 2:19 p.m.