Josh

Hammond

Three Florida wideouts were drafted over the weekend -- Van Jefferson, Tyrie Cleveland and Freddie Swain -- and a fourth signs on after the draft in Hammond. The 6-foot, 194-pounder caught 27 passes for 346 yards with two scores in his 13 games in 2019. He’ll need to impress on special teams to have any chance of making the Jacksonville roster.

Hammond, though listed as a wide receiver, did almost nothing in the pass game. He caught one ball for 14 yards. However, on a jet sweep in the final minutes, Hammond (6'1/179) took a carry to the house and put the Gators up by eight, closing out the game for good.

Hammond (6'1/179) hauled in the most catches on the team in the upset loss. His touchdown reception came from backup Kyle Trask on a seven-yard slant where the junior receiver had to lay out to bring it in. Through eight games, Hammond has 16 catches for 231 yards and two touchdowns. The Gators play South Carolina next.

Hammond (6'0/194) was a fixture in the lineup during his time at Florida, and in 2019 he caught 27 passes for 346 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games. The former Gator wideout was also responsible for a 76-yard touchdown run during the team’s comeback win at Kentucky in mid-September. Hammond is one of two Florida wide receivers playing in the game, with Freddie Swain being the other. Hammond projects to be an undrafted free agent.

For his part, Hammond passed along that the game has slowed down by degrees for him since he first enrolled at Florida as a four-star recruit in February of 2016. “The game speed’s a lot different and a lot of the people are a lot smarter, so just thinking on the fly and stuff like that,” he said of what has changed over the last year-plus. The 6-foot-1, 179-pounder caught 14 passes for 177 yards as a true freshman in 2016. For all of Florida’s issues developing a true passing game under HC Jim McElwain, the team is out-and-out stocked with receiving talent just waiting to be unlocked -- Antonio Callaway, Tyrie Cleveland, Brandon Powell, Freddie Swain, Dre Massey and Hammond are all part of this stable. It might be the deepest group of receivers in the SEC.

Florida Coach Jim McElwain offered up no other information other than that Hammond (6'1/179) was dealing with a back injury. We may or may not get more information on the severity of said injury later in the week.

Hammond’s one of several talented wideouts lured into the breach during HC Jim McElwain’s first full recruiting cycle. The 6-foot-1, 179-pounder played his high school ball at Hallandale High School in Florida and Scout.com projects him as a potential slot receiver once he hits the field in Gainesville. The outlet classifies him as a quick, strong receiver who should do well running tough routes, as opposed to simply sprinting down the field over and over again. Scout ranks him as the 33rd best receiving prospect in the country (No. 212 overall).

With Antonio Callaway and Rick Wells still suspended, and Tyrie Cleveland (ankle) likely out for this one, Hammond has surged to the top of the depth chart. He has six catches for 93 yards thus far. The 6-foot-1, 179-pounder caught 14 passes for 177 yards as a true freshman in 2016.