#88

Donovan Hamilton

WR · Ball State · Fr. · #88

Returning to Ball State for 2026
Fr. · Fishers, Ind. → Hamilton Southeastern HS
via ballstatesports.com ↗
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Donovan Hamilton

WR · Ball State · Fr · #88

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#1166 national
CFB
College
Ball State
2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2025Ball State4-8HC: Mike Uremovich · Run-heavy, slow tempo

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Ball State2024412.20--
Career2024412.20--

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 3 · 2025

W 34–29

vs New Hampshire

1 rec · 21 yds

Edged out New Hampshire at home in a shootout.

How he plays

Play style

Moves the chains on third down.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Ball State

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Wide receiver · Ball State

Returning around him

  • 8% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
  • Transfer portal: +6 net (24 in / 18 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Ball State · Last season: 4-8 · Talent rank #115 · 2026 recruiting class #112

DNA match

Player DNA

Possession Receiver

Reliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive.

WR

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Daejon Reynolds’s 2023 season.

Pittsburgh · 2023

#2

Rodney Harris II

Ohio · 2024

78%
#3

Brayden Cosper

BYU · 2022

75%
#4

Mark Hamper

California · 2025

74%
#5

Makai Cope

Missouri State · 2025

73%

Matches Daejon on

Total EPA (college ability)
Height
Weight

Differs from Daejon on

Recruiting rating (lower)

Through 1 college season, his career arc tracks closest to Jalen McDonald’s path through Merrimack.

Jalen McDonald

95%match

Merrimack · 2025

#2

Hunter Long

Boston College · 2020

All-ACCNFL Rd 3 · Pk 18
95%
#3

Caleb Snead

Liberty · 2022

94%
#4

Ben Skowronek

Notre Dame · 2020

NFL Rd 7
93%
#5

Joshua Harris

Furman · 2024

93%

Matches Jalen on

Yards per reception

As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Eddie Freauff's freshman season at Oregon State (2025).

Oregon State · 2025

#2

Julien Lewis

Louisiana Tech · 2022

75%
#3

Kylen Evans

Texas State · 2025

73%
#4

Waden Charles

UCF · 2025

72%
#5

Austin Ogunmakin

North Texas · 2020

70%

Matches Eddie on

Weight
Total EPA (college ability)
Yards / reception

Differs from Eddie on

TD rate (lower)

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #2630

Final rank
#4011
Avg #3517.7
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #2630 this season.

Background

BEFORE BALL STATE: Transfer wide receiver from Purdue who did not appear in any games during his 2024 freshman season. HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year letterwinner at Hamilton Southeastern High School under head coach Michael Kelly … played a key role alongside Ball State teammates Jalen Alexander and Ka...

via ballstatesports.com ↗