Will Arizona State WR Jaren Hamilton play more at Mississippi State after just 1 snap vs. NAU?

TEMPE — Wide receiver Jaren Hamilton may have had the most impressive preseason camp of any Arizona State newcomer, so it came as a surprise when he only got one snap in a season-opening win over NAU.

Hamilton was listed as ASU’s fourth starting wide receiver on its extended depth chart for Week 1, but a “curveball” in the form of an injury to another receiver threw a wrench in the plan to get him on the field.

“Going into the game, we had a game plan in terms of how we wanted to attack and do things, and he didn’t play as much as we probably planned on him playing,” Dillingham said on Monday. “(Jalen Moss) went down and we were still seeing what his status was but he was taken out for the game.

“That kind of threw a little bit of a curveball in that plan … so it was just flow of the game, wasn’t by nature. Probably gotta try to use him more if the situation’s necessary and if we feel like he’s ready enough to play.”

Hamilton was listed in the same spot on the depth chart for the upcoming game at Mississippi State on Saturday.

Do the Sun Devils expect Hamilton to be more involved in Week 2?

“We do,” offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo said Wednesday. “Obviously with the personnel groupings and some of the things we were doing, it played into it with some of the things that were changing in game as we kind of manipulated what was happening (with) in-game adjustments, but he’ll grow. He’ll transition into it.

“Again, he’s in Year 1 of our system, and I’m excited to see what he does this week.”

More about Jaren Hamilton’s fit in ASU offense

Once rated as a top-250 overall recruit out of Gainesville, Florida, Hamilton played 54 snaps over two seasons at Alabama, including 36 on offense. After transferring in, his speed popped immediately in camp, leading to a growing rapport down field with quarterback Sam Leavitt.

He put in the necessary work, too, namely bulking up to 210 pounds from his Alabama listing of 200.

“Unbelievable growth, knows the system, 17 pounds heavier than he was when he got here coming from one of the best programs in the country,” coach Kenny Dillingham said on Aug. 1. “He’s comfortable as a person here, and I think when you’re comfortable as a human, when you can be yourself, I think you get the best out of people. … And I think he’s comfortable here.”

If the win over NAU is any indication, however, targets will be hard to come by for ASU wide receivers not named Jordyn Tyson.

Tyson had all but six of the 23 wide receiver targets, with Malik McClain catching two passes on four targets and Moss coming up empty on his two targets before exiting with the injury. Derek Eusebio replaced Moss and was not targeted in his 34 snaps, per PFF.

Mississippi State could decide to double Tyson and force another receiver to beat them, which would severely contrast how straight-up NAU played him. If that’s the case, look for Hamilton, McClain and tight end Chamon Metayer to get more looks than in Week 1.

Catch Saturday’s matchup at 4:30 p.m. MST on the Arizona Sports app, ESPN 620 AM or 98.7 FM HD-2. It will be televised on ESPN2.

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