Posted on Fri, Jan. 25, 2008

Unlike most of the other highly-touted recruits in South Florida who were already being pelted with mail and scholarship offers from schools, Hallandale receiver Frankie Hammond was sort-of a late bloomer.

At 6-1, 162 pounds with 4.45-speed in the 40-yard dash, Hammond always had the talent to impress. The problem was the Chargers weren't very good on the football field and he often didn't get a chance to show it. But after a coaching change and influx of talent, Hallandale improved this past football season and Hammond got to show the rest of Broward and the state he was among the elite receivers in South Florida.

By October, he received his first offer from the University of Miami. Hammond was happy. But it wasn't until the University of Florida -- the school he grew up rooting fo -- offered him a scholarship two weeks later that he says he knew where he belonged.

Thursday night, Herald Sports Writer Manny Navarro caught up with Hammond while he was at his high school football banquet to get the story on his recruiting and found out how Florida's spread offense and quarterback Tim Tebow played a role in securing Hammond as a Florida commitment.

To hear the complete interview with Hammond, Broward's third-ranked recruit by The Miami Herald, click on the link above.