Donovan Hamilton

Photo by: Cam Pippin/Ball State Athletics

Photo by: Sam Findley/Ball State Athletics

Position:
Wide Receiver
Ht./Wt.:
6-4 / 217
Class:
Redshirt Sophomore
Hometown:
Fishers, Ind.
Prev School:
Purdue
High School:
Hamilton Southeastern HS

Awards and Honors:
2026 Preseason All-MAC (fourth team WR by Athlon Sports; fourth team WR by Phil Steele Football College Preview)

Preseason all-conference honoree is regarded as the Cardinals' top returning receiver, following a freshman campaign with 20 catches for 244 yards ... emerged as a big-play receiver including seven grabs at Connecticut last year ... possesses good size on inside and outside routes, anchoring Ball State's improved receiving corps in 2026 ... still awaiting his first college touchdown ... wore #88 in his freshman season, wears #1 as a sophomore ... goes by the nickname DJ.

2025 (R-Fr.): Consistently one of the Cardinals' top receivers in his first year with the program ... over 12 games, caught 20 passes for 244 yards, averaging 12.2 yards per catch ... longest reception was 47 yards in the season finale at Miami (11/29), finishing with four catches for a season-high 72 yards ... seven catches for 61 yards at UConn (9/20) was the most grabs by any Cardinals receiver all season.

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 Kameron Anthony as part of the Royals’ offensive lineup, aiding the program to a regional championship his junior year and a sectional championship his senior year … recorded 934 receiving yards on 47 catches for 11 TDs his senior season, earning first team all-state and the Indiana Mr. Wide Receiver Award … totaled over 2,000 all-purpose yards during his high school career … earned first team all-conference honors his junior and senior years … conference player of the year his junior and senior years … team captain as a senior … was also a first team all-conference player in basketball his sophomore and senior years.

PERSONAL: Son of Christine and Brian Hamilton … brother to Amaya and Mari … his father, Brian, played defensive tackle at Notre Dame and signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Falcons … favorite musician is NBA YoungBoy … favorite actor is Michael B. Jordan … majoring in communications.