2019 IMG Academy (FL) 4-star OG Deyavie Hammond joined teammates RB Trey Sanders and OT Evan Neal, among others, in Frisco, Texas for the Opening Finals presented by Nike last week. After competing against the most ferocious defensive linemen in the country in 1-on-1’s, Hammond took some time to discuss how things are progressing with the Miami Hurricanes.
“I like talking to them,” Hammond said on Miami. “I mean, they hit me up here and there, they might send me a few things.”
The Canes have struggled a bit the past few years to field a consistent offensive line, so help is needed on that front. Offensive line coach Stacy Searels has been searching for the aggressive mentality that it takes to succeed in the trenches and has been leading the way to get Hammond to Miami.
“He’s always the one that’s hitting me up,” Hammond said on Searels. “I definitely like when he keeps a connection with me.”
In the past, Hammond has talked about making a trip to Miami, but has still yet to touch down on campus. The IMG lineman (originally from Lakeland) claims, however, that it’s still a place he’s eager to see before he makes any decisions.
“I definitely want to get down there since they’ve always been there [in my recruitment] and it’s kind of close to home,” Hammond said. “It’s ACC and I’m looking at the ACC and SEC.”
What will he be looking for on his UM visit?
“Definitely looking for how the roster is and what positions are kind of open and how the atmosphere is,” Hammond said.
Past greats and a winning tradition have helped bring plenty of talent into UM over the years, and are also aspects of the Miami program that appeal to Hammond.
“It’s just the winning culture, especially in the 2000’s era, I just really like it,” Hammond said. “That’s just what I’ve seen on TV, I want to go down there and see what it’s like and see how it is for myself.”
Before any commitments are made, Hammond plans on using all of his official visits and seeing the campuses of all his favorites during the season. While he has yet to set any of those trips, he does know one SEC school that will definitely be getting one.
“I’ll be taking my OV’s during the season and I want to get them set before the season,” Hammond said. “There’s not really a set date, but definitely an official to Georgia. I’m looking in the SEC and I feel like Georgia is one of my top schools.”
What draws his attention to Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs?
“It’s definitely the run game,” Hammond said on UGA. “A lot of great running backs have come through there, and great running backs have a great offensive line, so I like that program.”
When talking about other programs he hears from the most, Hammond says the coaching staffs at Florida State and LSU are in constant contact with him. I asked him to talk about what he liked about each program.
FSU: “I love talking to coach Frey. We just talk about, not really football things, but it could be anything.”
LSU: “I haven’t visited yet, but I figured I’d see it since they’ve been great throughout the process.”
While you can’t expect a decision from Hammond over the summer, the 6’3” 340 pounder won’t drag the process much farther than that. He wants to have a set destination before the end of his senior football season.
“I would say towards maybe September, October,” Hammond said. “It’ll be getting into the season and I need to find where I need to go. I don’t want to wait too long.”
A big deciding factor for Hammond will be observing the gameday environment of not just the stadium crowds, but also how the coaches handle the pressure moments in important games.
“The atmosphere, because that plays a big part,” said Hammond. “If I’m going to be there for four years, I need to see the atmosphere of the fans, the coaches. I need to see what they can bring to me and what I can bring to the table for them.”
“I like talking to them,” Hammond said on Miami. “I mean, they hit me up here and there, they might send me a few things.”
The Canes have struggled a bit the past few years to field a consistent offensive line, so help is needed on that front. Offensive line coach Stacy Searels has been searching for the aggressive mentality that it takes to succeed in the trenches and has been leading the way to get Hammond to Miami.
“He’s always the one that’s hitting me up,” Hammond said on Searels. “I definitely like when he keeps a connection with me.”
In the past, Hammond has talked about making a trip to Miami, but has still yet to touch down on campus. The IMG lineman (originally from Lakeland) claims, however, that it’s still a place he’s eager to see before he makes any decisions.
“I definitely want to get down there since they’ve always been there [in my recruitment] and it’s kind of close to home,” Hammond said. “It’s ACC and I’m looking at the ACC and SEC.”
What will he be looking for on his UM visit?
“Definitely looking for how the roster is and what positions are kind of open and how the atmosphere is,” Hammond said.
Past greats and a winning tradition have helped bring plenty of talent into UM over the years, and are also aspects of the Miami program that appeal to Hammond.
“It’s just the winning culture, especially in the 2000’s era, I just really like it,” Hammond said. “That’s just what I’ve seen on TV, I want to go down there and see what it’s like and see how it is for myself.”
Before any commitments are made, Hammond plans on using all of his official visits and seeing the campuses of all his favorites during the season. While he has yet to set any of those trips, he does know one SEC school that will definitely be getting one.
“I’ll be taking my OV’s during the season and I want to get them set before the season,” Hammond said. “There’s not really a set date, but definitely an official to Georgia. I’m looking in the SEC and I feel like Georgia is one of my top schools.”
What draws his attention to Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs?
“It’s definitely the run game,” Hammond said on UGA. “A lot of great running backs have come through there, and great running backs have a great offensive line, so I like that program.”
When talking about other programs he hears from the most, Hammond says the coaching staffs at Florida State and LSU are in constant contact with him. I asked him to talk about what he liked about each program.
FSU: “I love talking to coach Frey. We just talk about, not really football things, but it could be anything.”
LSU: “I haven’t visited yet, but I figured I’d see it since they’ve been great throughout the process.”
While you can’t expect a decision from Hammond over the summer, the 6’3” 340 pounder won’t drag the process much farther than that. He wants to have a set destination before the end of his senior football season.
“I would say towards maybe September, October,” Hammond said. “It’ll be getting into the season and I need to find where I need to go. I don’t want to wait too long.”
A big deciding factor for Hammond will be observing the gameday environment of not just the stadium crowds, but also how the coaches handle the pressure moments in important games.
“The atmosphere, because that plays a big part,” said Hammond. “If I’m going to be there for four years, I need to see the atmosphere of the fans, the coaches. I need to see what they can bring to me and what I can bring to the table for them.”
