Ken Hamlin

American football player (born 1981)
the baseball player

Ken Hamlin (born January 20, 1981) is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Hamlin was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2003 NFL draft and also played for the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts. He earned a Pro Bowl selection with the Cowboys in 2007. He was also the first freshman and only the second defensive back to lead the school in tackles, recording 104 (57 solo). On October 17, 2005, he was involved in an altercation that allegedly took place between himself and two unidentified men in a Seattle nightclub. As a result of the incident, Hamlin suffered multiple injuries that ended his 2005 season after just five games. The injuries included a fractured skull, a small blood clot, and bruising of the brain tissue.

Hamlin attended Frayser High School in Frayser neighborhood of Memphis where he was the Class 3A Player of the Year as a senior in 1999, when he gained 2,327 all purpose yards and rushed for 1,276 yards and 16 touchdowns and recorded 380 receiving yards. He also recorded 136 tackles (96 solo) and eight interceptions as a safety. He also lettered in track and baseball. He was also a member of the school's National Honor Society and the senior class vice president.

Hamlin then attended the University of Arkansas where he became the first freshman and only the second defensive back to lead the school in tackles, recording 104 (57 solo). As a freshman, he was named an All American by The Sporting News and Football News and also named to the SEC Coaches Freshman All SEC team. As a sophomore, he was named a Second team All American by The NFL Draft Report and also named First team All SEC. As a junior, he forced eight fumbles, recovered five, deflected 28 passes and intercepted nine. For his performance, he was named a First team All American by The NFL Draft Report and The Sporting News and nominated for the Jim Thorpe Award. He also became the first player in school history to record more than 100 tackles in a season three times. He was also nominated in 2002 for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given to the best defensive player in the nation. In his college career, Hamlin played in 36 games finishing with 381 tackles (221 solo), breaking the school record of 367 tackles by Cliff Powell (1967–69). Hamlin is a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He along with former NFL Players George Wilson and Eddie Jackson were concurrent members of the same chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. During his junior season, he helped Arkansas win a share of the 2002 SEC West Division Championship.

Hamlin entered the National Football League after his junior season at Arkansas where he was considered the Razorbacks best defensive back since Steve Atwater (1985–88). Hamlin was selected in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2003 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks.