Recruiting trail: Hammond likes Badgers

Mooney’s Braylon Heard has switched his choice to Nebraska.

By JOE SCALZO

VIndicator Sports staff

After missing his junior season with a severe ankle injury, Boardman receiver Chase Hammond knew there he had to disprove a lot of skeptics this fall.

“Every game, I went out there with something to prove,” he said. “No one thought I was as good as I was. So I said, ‘I’ll show you how good I am.’ ”

Hammond started the season with a 156-yard game against eventual state champion Cardinal Mooney and never slowed down, earning third team All-Ohio honors, as well as first team all-district and All-Federal League.

Oh yeah, and a scholarship from the University of Wisconsin.

Hammond (6-foot-4, 205 pounds) broke single-season school records in the regular season for receptions (56) and yards (986). He also started at free safety for the Spartans, who finished 7-4 and made the playoffs.

He was one of two area standouts who made college decisions last weekend, joining Mooney senior RB Braylon Heard, who switched his commitment from West Virginia to Nebraska.

Since most major schools base their recruiting on a player’s junior season and his summer camps, Hammond was at a disadvantage. His ankle wasn’t 100 percent until just before the season started.

“Wisconsin was the biggest offer I got and everyone told me I should take the Big Ten offer, but it didn’t matter to me about conferences,” said Hammond, who was drawn to Wisconsin’s pre-law program. “It’s not all about football. Football isn’t going to be there forever. It’s about how I feel about the school and about its academics.”

Hammond is going in with his eyes wide open. He knows about the snow (there was 18 inches on the ground for his visit last weekend) and the school’s run-first reputation (which hasn’t been as accurate the past few years). Neither bothers him and he expects to flourish in an offense similar to Boardman’s.

“I don’t mind blocking,” he said. “It’s similar to Boardman in that we would run the ball, run the ball, run the ball and then hit a big play in the passing game.”

Ball State was the first school to offer him and he got several other Mid-American Conference offers before opting for Wisconsin.

“I loved the school and the facilities, of course were great,” he said. “The coaches were great and I got along with the players.

“It felt like a great place and I loved the whole thing.”

Heard was the one of the area’s earliest commitments, verbally committing to West Virginia in July. But Heard decided to use one of his official visits to go to Nebraska, which is coached by Mooney High graduate Bo Pelini. The Cornhuskers’ running backs coach, Tim Beck, is also a Mooney grad.

“He went out there for a visit and felt like he fit in with everybody,” said Mooney assistant coach Chris Amill, who has known Heard for more than a decade. “The biggest thing with him going there [Nebraska] was always going to be distance, but he got there and he didn’t feel homesick.

“He liked everything about the school — the facilities, the coaches and the players.”

Heard will be the second Cardinal to play at Nebraska, joining receiver Tim Marlowe, a 2008 graduate who played primarily on special teams this fall. Heard, who did not respond to an interview request, told Rivals.com he will not visit any other schools.

Heard rushed for 1,980 yards in 14 games — he sat out the first playoff game — and 24 TDs in leading the Cardinals to a 15-0 mark and their seventh state title. He was also a shutdown corner and shared offensive player of the year honors in Ohio in Division III.

Other Valley seniors who have already made college commitments are Boardman LB Ryan Phillis (Indiana), Mooney SS Ray Vinopal (Michigan), Hubbard WR/DB Kurtis Drummond (Michigan State), Hubbard RB Andre Givens (Pitt), Liberty LB Antonio Kinard (Michigan), Poland DB Luke Wollet (Kent), Ursuline LB Dawalyn Harper (Toledo), Warren Harding LB Lewellyn Coker (Syracuse), Harding WR Davion Rogers (West Virginia), Harding RB/DB Mike Dorsey (West Virginia) and Harding DB D.J. Williamson (Michigan).

scalzo@vindy.com