“Next group.”
Florida Gators wide receiver commit Josh Hammond steps to the makeshift line of scrimmage, ready to go again in another drill against another one of the top defensive backs in the country. It’s what he’s been doing all week and with each rep, he’s picked up a little more knowledge.
Participating in the annual Under Armour All-American week with the nation’s best high school prospects will test a player for sure, but it can also teach them something new with every snap; at least according to Hammond.
“Everyone here has pretty much proven themselves,” explains Hammond, “so I think it’s more just learning curve, just learning a bunch of new things that you didn’t know before and just competing against a lot of great guys.”
Hammond has held his own, impressing in the daily practices especially in one on one’s with defensive backs.
Josh, the younger brother of former Gators wide receiver Frankie Hammond, has gained confidence throughout the week and can look back on his performance during practices and walk away pleased.
“[I’ve] been doing pretty good if you ask me,” he says.
“Just having fun and getting the best work I can.”
***
“Next group.”
Across the line squats Florida Gators defensive back commit Chauncey Gardner.
He spends each rep, learning a bit more from one of the best to ever play the game, Deion Sanders.
The two time Super Bowl champ and eight time Pro-Bowler can be heard on every snap, shouting out instructions to corners and safeties to peddle backwards, sit low or “use the linebacker”.
He doesn’t go easy on anyone, but it’s obvious to anyone watching that he’s taken a liking to Gardner. The feeling is mutual.
“We do the shuffle,” says Chauncey, “the Primetime shuffle and we just have fun, go out and compete, learn new things. When he teaches a new technique you have fun with it, you love doing it and it’s easier to play DB when he teaches you the skills he learned, the skills he does in games to win games and lock players down cause that’s what we do.”
The two have spent the week adding more moves to their arsenal, and attempting to add more talent to their future Florida Gators roster.
“[Chauncey is] my guy,” says Nate Craig-Myers, one of the nation’s top wide receiver recruits.
“He’s definitely been one of the hardest recruiters on me.”
Hammond has a solid recruiting pitch as well. He simply asks the guys around him one question.
“You want to win a National Championship or not?”
But while they continue to increase the Gators talent level, we see a snapshot of all it can be simply with these two; because the next group is up and it’s pitting Hammond against Gardner.
***
As soon as hut is called, Josh and Chauncey break into their route, matched nearly step for step along the way. There’s the requisite pushing and grabbing, two great athletes matched up in a battle of wills more than talent. During this one particular play as they get to around the 15-yard line, Josh pushes off and seems to have the edge. Chauncey hangs back half a step putting himself in perfect position to knock down the under thrown ball. That’s just one time though. It doesn’t take long before Hammond redeems himself and shows off his vertical, climbing the ladder to grab the pass straight out of Gardner’s face.
It’s a constant back and forth that is a snapshot into the future of Florida Gators practices and individual halves of match ups on Florida Field.
With every push, shove, catch and deflected pass hope can rise for Gator fans, especially since the two will only continue to push each other, seeing as how they can’t decide who has the better record right now.
“I beat him every time I step on the field,” Chauncey swears.
“That’s a lie,” Josh quickly argues.
“I’m undefeated against him.” This last statement from Chauncey before they decide to settle things another way…good old fashioned thumb war.
Just another moment of competitiveness between two athletes ready to bring it and more to the Swamp.