On Campus: Hammond Skyhawks

Chris Dearing May 16, 2025 @ 09:37 AM

COLUMBIA | When you're the eight-time defending state champion in the highest division SCISA has to offer, you don't rebuild, you just reload. It looks like Hammond coach Jon Wheeler and his staff have done just that with a talented 2027 Class that should make the Skyhawks the target for the foreseeable future.   College coaches from East Tennessee State and Coastal Carolina stopped by on Thursday with the Buccaneers offering three of the Hammond prospects – 2026 defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1014892' first='Jordan' last='Boston'], 2027 linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='262172' first='Bubba' last='Alexander'] and 2027 wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1172370' first='Kanye' last='Reed'], a transfer from Blythewood. Earlier in the day, 2027 linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1603691' first='Jackson' last='Ross'] received an offer from Jacksonville State.   Alexander was one of the top performers at the Carolina Coaches Combine at West Florence last month. He also took some reps at running back and showed great vision and a burst from the backfield.   Those are just the tip of the iceberg for the Skyhawks, Ross and Jackson are going to form the best inside linebacker duo in SCISA this season but that defense is loaded and they will have plenty of help. Ross is super athletic and left for Memphis after practice to participate in an AAU basketball tournament.   Boston will be a lockdown presence in the secondary but the player that stood out the most in practice on Thursday was 2027 defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='763831' first='John' last='Stokes'] (5-foot-11, 255 pounds). Stokes disrupted the Hammond offense on nearly every play, and he did it with quickness and power, beating his defender to the spot or bull rushing offensive linemen when needed.   Joining Stokes on the defensive front will be 2027 end [player_tooltip player_id='1550897' first='Hugh' last='Manning'], a transfer from AC Flora. He's playing with his hand in the dirt more with Hammond after being a stand-up rush end with the Falcons.   Hammond has to find a way to replace record-setting quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1261525' first='Andrew' last='Turner'] and tight end/H-back [player_tooltip player_id='1157738' first='Mike' last='Tyler'] (a South Carolina signee) on offense, but the pieces are falling into place.   Transfer Cade Amell, one of the top signal callers in the 2029 Class took almost all the reps on Thursday and looked polished in doing so. Senior Ben Kiser was sidelined with an injury, but he will also play a factor in the fall. Wheeler said he could see a scenario where both play key roles.   The Skyhawks will be talented up front with 2026 center [player_tooltip player_id='1170696' first='Josh' last='Berndt'] moving over from River Bluff to anchor the middle of the line. Add in 2027 offensive tackle Joel Starks (6-foot-3, 270 pounds) and they shouldn't miss a beat.   Whoever plays quarterback, they will have Reed and 2028 wide receiver Asher Gause to throw to. Tyler will be huge shoes to fill but 2027 tight end/H-back Wham Walker looked the part, catching several passes and being a factor in the running game as well.

COLUMBIA | When you're the eight-time defending state champion in the highest division SCISA has to offer, you don't rebuild, you just reload. It looks like Hammond coach Jon Wheeler and his staff have done just that with a talented 2027 Class that should make the Skyhawks the target for the foreseeable future.