Receiver Josh Hammond (6-0, 180, Hallandale, FL High) is one of 10 prospects that enrolled at Florida on Sunday as early enrollees for the spring semester. They will now be able to take part in Florida Gators spring practice.
Hammond, who spent last week at the Under Armour All-American game, talked about what it meant to be able to enroll early at Florida while in Orlando.
“It’s an exciting feeling to get on campus early, a lot of kids don’t get the opportunity to leave early,” Hammond said about the feeling of early enrollee. “I’m just looking forward to getting on campus and getting things going next week.”
The big play receiver dominated last week’s practice. Hammond didn’t create a lot of drama during his recruitment but he did enjoy the process.
“The recruiting process was a fun ride but that’s why I decided to commit early and get it over with because it can get hectic at times and annoying,” he said. “I’m glad that’s over with and I’m excited to get on campus at Florida.”
Even though Hammond committed to Florida in June last summer, one other SEC East team still stayed on him, but it was never much of a decision where he wanted to go.
“Not really,” Hammond said on if he thought about going anywhere but Florida. “A lot of schools didn’t come at me because of my brother [Frankie Hammond] and my relationship with Florida. The only schools that talked to me afterwards were Ohio State and Georgia but that’s it. I was really considering Georgia but Florida was home for me.”
Now that Hammond is enrolled at Florida and starts class on Monday, the Gators receiver hopes to be on the field next fall in the Swamp.
“I’m going to bring another weapon to the field for them next year,” Hammond said. “They throw the ball a lot or at least try to throw the ball a lot so it should be a good deal next year and hopefully I can get some playing time.”
Hammond also hopes to use this spring to get accustomed with his fellow early enrollee Feleipe Franks who will be throwing to him this spring.
“It’s a great thing to have a good quarterback coming in, one of the top rated quarterbacks in the nation,” he said of Felipe Franks. “Hopefully get him on the field earlier so we can acclimated and since he’s coming in this spring we should able to get that chemistry down.”
Franks and Hammond will both have the opportunity to earn playing time this spring but overall the receiver just wants to get comfortable at Florida and learn the Gators offense.
“My goal is to just get acclimated to the system at Florida,” Hammond said of his spring goals. “Learn the playbook as much as I can and just go from there this spring and hopefully get better.”
Hammond, who is always compared to his older brother Frankie, is hoping to out-perform what the older Hammond did in Gainesville.
“Frankie just gives me something to look forward to and he set the bar real high for me,” he said on his brother. “You always want to do better and I always mess with him because his senior year he had 900 yards receiving and I had over 1,000. Just little stuff to try and do better. I catch the ball better than him though.”
One thing is for sure is that Krispy Kreme won’t see a Hammond living there while in Gainesville, but wing places might see Josh “Hot Sauce” Hammond there quite often for the next four years.
“I’m a chicken wing and French fries guy,” Hammond said. “I eat doughnuts but I’m a chicken wing guy every day.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Hammond had two really good practices during the Under Armour All-American game and he proved that he’s a legit SEC receiver with speed and good hands. Hammond needs to get stronger but that will happen this spring.