2025 Preview: Hammond Skyhawks

What's the biggest thing that Hammond has to work against after a 12-0, state championship season, capped off with a win against Porter Guad?   Complacency, according to Skyhawks assistant head coach Wyn Thomas.   “We don't want our guys to get complacent. (We want them) understanding what it takes to get to a championship level, right? We don't want to take for granted the people who have come before us, but last year doesn't matter anymore. It's all about this year, so really taking ownership. You know, the seniors leading, we got some good junior leadership as well, so just be ready to go and make it their team, their run to a championship and not just hang their hat on past years,” Thomas told us at the Prep Redzone Media Day at Westwood earlier this month.   The Skyhawks lost a lot of seniors off of that state championship team. Continuing to gel and build chemistry between each other, and embracing the hard work for when you're in tight situations in a tight game will be key.   “I feel like all the guys on the team put in a lot of work and a lot of effort. But when we're on the football field and it's the fourth quarter, that's a different type of a dog that's got to come out and you've got to give extra and that's something somebody can always get better at,” defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='763831' first='John' last='Stokes'] (pictured above) said.   One of the first orders of business for the Skyhawks offensively will be figuring out who will be the starting quarterback? Right now, Ben Kiser and Cade Amell are battling it out. Other projected starters on that side of the ball include running back Levi Myers along with [player_tooltip player_id='1675203' first='Asher' last='Gause'] at receiver and a transfer, which we'll get to in a moment. The offensive line should be strong with three seniors in Jaliyl Jamison, Jarius Shaw and [player_tooltip player_id='1170696' first='Josh' last='Berndt'].    The defense will likely be the strength of the team as the Skyhawks return a good nucleus of talent from 2024 with [player_tooltip player_id='1550897' first='Hugh' last='Manning'] being one of the anchors up front. Ben Winkler will have a chance to work his way into the rotation as well.   As the 2025 season opener approaches against Christ Church on August 22, living up to the Hammond standard is the focus for the group.   “(We're) trying to get everybody to live up to the Hammond standard: Working hard in the weight room every single day, no days off. No plays off. With being a newer team, a lot of seniors left, we're just all trying to get back on the same page and do what we do best,” senior offensive lineman Jaliyl Jamison said.   STARS SET TO SHINE   [player_tooltip player_id='763831' first='John' last='Stokes'] DL, 2027 – Stokes (pictured above) performed at the highest level when the stakes were at their highest in the SCISA state championship game last season against Porter Guad. He showed good technique in being able to diagnose a play and then use his quickness to disrupt the play before it could get past the line of scrimmage. He has good size for the position and will be one of the leaders of the defense in 2025. He has visited Campbell, Charlotte and the University of South Carolina this summer.   Expectations heading into 2025: “I was a young buck on the defensive line last year. This year I'm a junior so I'm going to try and get all the young people to follow around and understand what we need to do to get us to live up to the standard that the d-line has because that's one of the main parts of our defense.”   [player_tooltip player_id='262172' first='Bubba' last='Alexander'] LB, 2027 – Whenever there is a play to be made on defense, Alexander is either making the play, or he's involved in helping his teammates do it. He defines what it means to have a motor that is always running, whether it's shooting gaps on run plays or tipping balls up into the air so his teammates can have a chance to make interceptions, he's fun to watch. He is physical at the point of attack and he keeps his eyes in the right place. He has an offer from East Tennessee State University.   [player_tooltip player_id='1603691' first='Jackson' last='Ross'] LB, 2027 – Ross will be team up alongside Alexander at the linebacker position. And he brings the same effort and energy that will give opposing offensive linemen issues in 2025. He has great coverage skills on the outside to be able to read the quarterback's eyes and then jump the route to make the interception, like we saw on his film when he took one back to the house. He also has great hustle to the ball, as he ran down a ball carrier to prevent a touchdown.   [player_tooltip player_id='1014892' first='Jordan' last='Boston'] LB, 2027 – Boston will be a leader in the secondary for the Skyhawks defense in 2025. He has great length and ball skills to be able to knock the pass away before a receiver can get into their route and make a play on the ball. He can anticipate what a receiver is going to do well. And he can come up in run support and defeat blocks quickly to come up and make sure tackles on the ball.   FILM REVIEW   [player_tooltip player_id='1172370' first='Kanye' last='Reed'] WR, 2026 – Reed transferred to Hammond from Blythewood this offseason, and we anticipate that he will provide value to the Skyhawks offense as they look to settle their quarterback competition. He lines up typically on the outside and is a home run threat. He has great speed on the outside and can win the one on one matchup in man coverage. He can also find the green grass in the zone and get open that way.    KEY LOSSES   Andrew Turner QB – Anytime you lose your starting quarterback, it's tough. And the Skyhawks will need to find answers after Turner threw for 2,534 yards and 32 touchdowns, completing 70 percent of his passes.   Mike Tyler TE – Tyler was the team's leading receiver in 2024, recording 38 receptions for 618 yards and six touchdowns   UP AND COMING POTENTIAL   Wham Walker TE, 2027 – Walker will be looking to fill the void left at the tight end position left by Tyler. We'll be interested to see how he works into the rotation in 2025.   Joel Starkes OL, 2027 – Starkes is a junior on the offensive line that will look to work his way into the starting role and establish himself as one of the leaders for the Skyhawks offensive line.    Barnes is listed as a defensive back, but we saw a little bit of his film from last season and he took a snap at running back so there is a possibility that he could see time on offense as well. He's got the athleticism to run down opposing running backs as well at safety.

What's the biggest thing that Hammond has to work against after a 12-0, state championship season, capped off with a win against Porter Guad?

Complacency, according to Skyhawks assistant head coach Wyn Thomas.

“We don't want our guys to get complacent. (We want them) understanding what it takes to get to a championship level, right? We don't want to take for granted the people who have come before us, but last year doesn't matter anymore. It's all about this year, so really taking ownership. You know, the seniors leading, we got some good junior leadership as well, so just be ready to go and make it their team, their run to a championship and not just hang their hat on past years,” Thomas told us at the Prep Redzone Media Day at Westwood earlier this month.

The Skyhawks lost a lot of seniors off of that state championship team. Continuing to gel and build chemistry between each other, and embracing the hard work for when you're in tight situations in a tight game will be key.

“I feel like all the guys on the team put in a lot of work and a lot of effort. But when we're on the football field and it's the fourth quarter, that's a different type of a dog that's got to come out and you've got to give extra and that's something somebody can always get better at,” defensive lineman John Stokes John Stokes 6'0" | 280 lbs | DL Hammond | 2027 State SC (pictured above) said.

One of the first orders of business for the Skyhawks offensively will be figuring out who will be the starting quarterback? Right now, Ben Kiser and Cade Amell are battling it out. Other projected starters on that side of the ball include running back Levi Myers along with Asher Gause Asher Gause 6'1" | 170 lbs | WR/DB Hammond | 2028 SC at receiver and a transfer, which we'll get to in a moment. The offensive line should be strong with three seniors in Jaliyl Jamison, Jarius Shaw and Josh Berndt Josh Berndt 6'3" | 280 lbs | OL River Bluff | 2026 State SC .

The defense will likely be the strength of the team as the Skyhawks return a good nucleus of talent from 2024 with Hugh Manning Hugh Manning 6'4" | 210 lbs | DL Hammond | 2027 State SC being one of the anchors up front. Ben Winkler will have a chance to work his way into the rotation as well.

As the 2025 season opener approaches against Christ Church on August 22, living up to the Hammond standard is the focus for the group.

“(We're) trying to get everybody to live up to the Hammond standard: Working hard in the weight room every single day, no days off. No plays off. With being a newer team, a lot of seniors left, we're just all trying to get back on the same page and do what we do best,” senior offensive lineman Jaliyl Jamison said.

STARS SET TO SHINE

John Stokes John Stokes 6'0" | 280 lbs | DL Hammond | 2027 State SC DL, 2027 – Stokes (pictured above) performed at the highest level when the stakes were at their highest in the SCISA state championship game last season against Porter Guad. He showed good technique in being able to diagnose a play and then use his quickness to disrupt the play before it could get past the line of scrimmage. He has good size for the position and will be one of the leaders of the defense in 2025. He has visited Campbell, Charlotte and the University of South Carolina this summer.

Expectations heading into 2025: “I was a young buck on the defensive line last year. This year I'm a junior so I'm going to try and get all the young people to follow around and understand what we need to do to get us to live up to the standard that the d-line has because that's one of the main parts of our defense.”

Bubba Alexander Bubba Alexander 5'11" | 205 lbs | LB/RB River Bluff | 2027 State SC LB, 2027 – Whenever there is a play to be made on defense, Alexander is either making the play, or he's involved in helping his teammates do it. He defines what it means to have a motor that is always running, whether it's shooting gaps on run plays or tipping balls up into the air so his teammates can have a chance to make interceptions, he's fun to watch. He is physical at the point of attack and he keeps his eyes in the right place. He has an offer from East Tennessee State University.

Jackson Ross Jackson Ross 6'3" | 210 lbs | LB Hammond | 2027 State SC LB, 2027 – Ross will be team up alongside Alexander at the linebacker position. And he brings the same effort and energy that will give opposing offensive linemen issues in 2025. He has great coverage skills on the outside to be able to read the quarterback's eyes and then jump the route to make the interception, like we saw on his film when he took one back to the house. He also has great hustle to the ball, as he ran down a ball carrier to prevent a touchdown.

Jordan Boston Jordan Boston 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB Hammond | 2026 State SC LB, 2027 – Boston will be a leader in the secondary for the Skyhawks defense in 2025. He has great length and ball skills to be able to knock the pass away before a receiver can get into their route and make a play on the ball. He can anticipate what a receiver is going to do well. And he can come up in run support and defeat blocks quickly to come up and make sure tackles on the ball.

FILM REVIEW

Kanye Reed Kanye Reed 6'1" | 190 lbs | WR Ridge View | 2027 State SC WR, 2026 – Reed transferred to Hammond from Blythewood this offseason, and we anticipate that he will provide value to the Skyhawks offense as they look to settle their quarterback competition. He lines up typically on the outside and is a home run threat. He has great speed on the outside and can win the one on one matchup in man coverage. He can also find the green grass in the zone and get open that way.

KEY LOSSES

Andrew Turner QB – Anytime you lose your starting quarterback, it's tough. And the Skyhawks will need to find answers after Turner threw for 2,534 yards and 32 touchdowns, completing 70 percent of his passes.

Mike Tyler TE – Tyler was the team's leading receiver in 2024, recording 38 receptions for 618 yards and six touchdowns

UP AND COMING POTENTIAL

Wham Walker TE, 2027 – Walker will be looking to fill the void left at the tight end position left by Tyler. We'll be interested to see how he works into the rotation in 2025.

Joel Starkes OL, 2027 – Starkes is a junior on the offensive line that will look to work his way into the starting role and establish himself as one of the leaders for the Skyhawks offensive line.