When Ohio’s 2024 recruiting class steps out of the shadows of the 2023 class, one of the top prospects will be Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Xavier defensive lineman Ted Hammond.
Standing 6-foot-5, 263-pounds, Hammond opened eyes early this past season when he moved from tight end to defensive line while earning a starting role at one of Ohio’s top programs.
Hammond earned praise from many during the season as he posted 32 tackles and a sack while freeing up Bombers linebackers like Grant Lyons to post nine sacks with 67 tackles.
In September, Hammond’s early success earned his first scholarship offer from Temple, with Miami University adding their name in January.
This past weekend, Hammond visited the University of Cincinnati and spoke with Football In Ohio about his visit and the other schools that have caught his early interest.
“I had a good time and met a lot of the coaches at Cincinnati,” said Hammond. “It was great to experience the whole place as we started off getting measured for our height, weight, and wingspan before having a recruiting person walk us around, showing us what it would be like living at UC and what classes are in the different buildings.”
While excited by what he saw during the tour, watching the Bearcats practice and talking with coaches piqued his interest even more.
“After practice ended, I spoke with Coach (Walter) Stewart,” he continued. “We talked about St. Xavier, my position, and what the recruiting process would be like going forward.
“I also had a chance to speak with Coach (Luke) Fickell. He remembered that I was the 2024 nose guard from St. Xavier. So I was impressed he knew who I was.
“I left UC feeling the people there, really enjoyed being there. Plus, the facilities are fantastic.”
So far, Hammond has only visited Miami and Cincinnati. However, many schools have been by the Bombers weight room and expressed their interest to head coach Steve Specht.
“Penn State is a school with ties to St. Xavier as Sean Clifford is there,” he said. “Coach (Gabe) Infante offered me when he was at Temple, and now he’s at Penn State. He spoke with Coach Specht and wants to get me over for a visit. So I’m looking forward to learning more about them.
“A coach from Wisconsin also reached out to Coach Specht, and I’m looking to visit them this spring. Georgia Tech now has Coach (Mike) Daniels there. He’s a Cincinnati guy who came to the weight room and wants to get me down to campus.
“Coach (Sean) Duggan of Boston College played for Coach Specht, and I’ve heard great things about him. Coach (Larry) Black is another Cincinnati guy who is now coaching at Vanderbilt University, and they both want to get me on their campus.
“Notre Dame has also reached out to Coach Specht as Coach (Chad) Bowden said he wanted to get me up on campus. He was at Cincinnati before going to Notre Dame. They would be one of my top schools for sure.
“I had the chance to visit Miami University and was impressed with their facilities and the coaching staff. They provide great educational opportunities, and Coach (Chuck) Martin and his staff were great during the visit.”
Hammond has a great frame and room to add bulk without losing athletic ability. This overall athletic ability allows Hammond to play on the nose or bounce out if needed. Does a great job at the point of attack, using his hands and strength to shed offensive linemen. Shows excellent balance and body control along with quick-twitch and explosiveness. Some coaches might look at moving Hammond over to the offensive side of the ball. However, in our live evaluation, we feel he’s got the tools to play in the trenches on the defensive side of the ball at a high level. One of Ohio’s top overall prospects in the 2024 recruiting class. – Dave Berk – Recruiting Analyst
