No. 2: Deyavie Hammond.

Deyavie Hammond is out to prove you can go home again.

 

The 6-foot-3, 345-pound tackle has returned to Lakeland for his senior season. The highly touted lineman was a first-team, all-county selectino as a sophomore, but transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton last year. Although he was at Lakeland when fall practice began, Hammond returned at the end of the first week of fall practice.

 

“At first, I was thinking about it, but I got to thinking about my senior season and how great it would be to come back and play with the home school that I left,” he said.

 

Hammond has been one of the top recruits in his class since he was a sophomore. He is ranked 13th in the state by rivals and the third-ranked offensive lineman behind two former IMG teammates Evan Neal (seventh oeverall) and Dontae Lucas (12th overall).

 

Despite playing for one of the top programs in the state at Lakeland and already being highly recruited, Hammond made the move to IMG last year.

 

“I just wanted to see what the competition was like,” said Hammond, who was committed to Alabama at the time. “We all are going to college, hopefully, and I just wanted to see how it is to play with the best of the best at my position or my opposite position.”

 

It wasn’t an easy call.

 

“It was a very tough decision,” he said. “I’ve been here all my life. I grew up watching Lakeland and it's always been my dream to play as a kid. It was just a decision I made. It definitely was worth it, just seeing how the players playing and going against the best of the best. It was great being there.”

 

Hammond said the biggest benefit to the move was that he learned how to practice.

 

“The intensity was great every day,” he said. “It was always a high-intensity play, and no one ever slowed down, so everybody always got better.”

 

Lakeland, of course, is happy to have Hammond back.

 

“He’s a very smart kid, good with his hands, good feet, pretty good hips,” offensive line coach Caleb Pickrell said.. “You can tell he’s pretty well developed. He still has a lot to learn for the next level, but he’s a very physical guy. Once he starts understanding how strong he is, it’s going to be a little bit different.”

 

Hammond’s return to Lakeland immediately makes the Dreadnaughts' offensive line a strength. He plays right tackle opposite left tackle Alleek Saint-Aime, one of two returning starters along with guard Tanner Howe. Keavis Dyer, who had been at right tackle, is out with a hand injury. When Dyer returns, he might go back to right tackle and allow the Dreadnaughts to move Hammond to guard to team with Saint-Aime to form a devastating left side of the line.

 

“A guy like him is great because we can play everyone to their strengths and fill him in anywhere and there’s no drop off,” Pickrell said. “So it definitely helps contribute and getting guys to fit their best position. Other guys don’t have to play out of position.”

 

Despite his size, Hammond is athletic and might end up a guard or center in college.

 

“He moves really well laterally,” said Pickrell. “He has a great first step when he pulls, so I’d say guard or even center if someone can get him snapping.”

 

Hammond decided to decommit from Alabama earlier this year as he wanted to open up his options. He said he has narrowed his list of colleges that he’s focusing on, but declined to reveal which schools they are.

 

“When I get to college, I want to make an immediate impact,” Hammond said. “I feel like waiting three years to start wouldn’t be in my best interest.”

 

In the meantime, his immediate focus is his senior year. He noted that the wall at Bryant Stadium that displays the years Lakeland has won state titles hasn’t changed in more than 10 years.

 

“We’ve got to do it this year,” Hammond said. “I’ve seen multiple seniors come in and leave without a ring. This is definitely the year, especially with the team we have.”