Michigan target KJ Hamler will miss senior season with torn ACL

Michigan target KJ Hamler, a 2017 four-star wide receiver, has told Maize n Brew that he will miss the 2016 season with a torn ACL. Hamler made the transfer from Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (MI) to IMG Academy (FL) for his senior year.

The ACL was torn during a preseason game between IMG Academy and Carol City. Hamler went down on a play and walked off the field with trainers, but it was much worse than it originally seemed.

Hamler is ranked as the 300th overall prospect, according to 247Sports. He is the No. 42 wide receiver and the 43rd-best player in the state of Florida.

During his sophomore season, Hamler and the Eaglets won the Michigan Division 3 Final over Muskegon. Orchard Lake St. Mary’s repeated the action against Chelsea in Hamler’s junior season. The receiver played a huge role in each game and will be missed at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, especially as the team opens the 2016 season against a tough opponent in Macomb Dakota.

“I’m very excited,” said IMG Academy quarterback Kellen Mond, regarding Hamler before the injury. “He has got a lot of talent on offense, but I definetley trust him to win matchups and be a playmaker.

“KJ Hamler is a straight baller.”

Even though he is out for the season, Hamler still has a college decision to make. The 5-foot-9, 155-pound receiver has offers to play for Michigan State, Iowa State, Oregon, Penn State, Arizona, Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Missouri, Nebraska, Northern Illinois, Ohio, Pittsburgh, San Diego State, Syracuse, Temple, Tennessee, Toledo, West Virginia and Wisconsin. He has been recruited to Michigan by Tyrone Wheatley.

The 247Sports Crystal Ball favors Hamler to Oregon.

“It was a routine cut for him,” Mond said on the play that ended Hamler’s season.