"Ohio State was the first school to show interest in me, but when it came time for them to talk to me, they made some changes in their assistant coaches," Hamner said.
"[3] After spending his true freshman year as a redshirt,[4] Hamner made his college football debut in September 1996.
He finished his first career game, a 30–3 victory over Northeast Louisiana, with over 150 rushing yards, scoring one touchdown.
In October, against the Penn State Nittany Lions, he recorded over 150 yards rushing, before a late fumble lost the game.
[8] Two weeks after the game-losing fumble, Hamner threatened to leave Minnesota, telling the St. Paul Pioneer Press he would transfer "out of frustration and disappointment.
[10] In week one of the 1998 season, Hamner recorded 137 yards rushing and one touchdown in a 17–14 victory over the Arkansas State Indians.
[12] Minnesota finished the year with a record of 5–6, as Hamner led the team with 838 rushing yards, scoring four touchdowns.
After his senior season at Minnesota, Hamner was selected in the 6th round (171st overall) of the 2000 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.
[16][17] In his first preseason game, against the Cleveland Browns, he played the first three quarters on special teams before getting his first call as running back with 8 minutes remaining.
In May 2001, a warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to appear in court for a hearing on animal cruelty for beating his pit bull.