Toledo owes Coach Reynolds thank you note for switching Hammer to receiver at Ross

Representation is important.

Charles Woodson is possibly the best defensive back in NFL history, the only player to win the Heisman Trophy primarily for his exploits on defense and a Fremont Ross legend. That last part is important around here.

Bryson Hammer is the best wide receiver in Little Giants history and nobody had more solo tackles in a career. He finished third all-time in tackles as a safety.

He'll represent Fremont as he continues his career at Toledo on offense.

"He made me see someone from my city can make it big," Hammer said. "That was the big thing. I've always wanted to make a name for myself and if you put your mind to it, you can do it. No job is too big."

Even when you weigh 130 pounds as a varsity freshman on defense. He was a two-way starter the next three years., often representing Fremont through injuries.

"I had confidence, but I started to make plays as a freshman," he said. "'If I keep working, good things will come.' I broke some records as a receiver as a sophomore. I knew good things would come."

Hammer scored 33 touchdowns, ninth all time in program history. He had 978 yards receiving (first) as a junior, 919 (second) as a senior and 775 (third) as a sophomore.

"He's one of the best route runners I've seen in a long time," Long said. "He knows how to get open and take a hit. He's polished. Mr. Everything. He's all over the record book in Fremont history on offense, defense and special teams.

"I'd say he's the best all-around player I've coached. Punt return and kick return, all the records. He broke every record you could have as a receiver. He's third in he long history of Fremont players in tackles. He'll sacrifice his body and everything to win.

"You don't find that often. It's special to find that elite player in all three phases of the game."

He caught 80 passes (first) as a junior, 70 (second) as a senior and 64 (third) as a sophomore. He caught 11 touchdowns (second) in one season, 10 (third) in another and eight (tied eighth) as a senior.

"My biggest trait is my IQ for the game," he said. "I've always had that love for the game. The biggest development was my route running. I was always a running back. I didn't want to switch to receiver.

"Coach Jamieson [Reynolds] moved me in ninth grade. I was in the rotation at receiver. I love receiver now."

He had 2,667 (first) career yards receiving, which is 1,100 yards better than second. He caught a 75-yard scoring pass from Kaden Holmes.

The partnership remains in tact as Holmes heads to Toledo as well, his position to be determined. The Rockets were one of the first programs to pursue either.

"A familiar face to work with and go run routes," Hammer said. "It's good to have Kaden. We talked about it, but [the decision] wasn't about going to the same college. At the end, I told him to go to Toledo. It was a blessing to have Kaden at quarterback, in the same class.

"Me and Kaden and Adam [Hrynciw] got together and worked so our chemistry was second nature. The bond and the work showed on Friday."

Hammer considered Youngstown State, but its receiver coach took another job and the program stopped reaching out.

"I'm excited to stay close to home and continue with my dreams trying to make them come true," he said. "I'll be playing in front of family when I work hard. They won the MAC. It's a winning program. It was one of the first schools I went on a visit.

"That was very important. It was kind of stressful with everybody asking where I'm going. I'd stay up at night thinking where I'd go and where I saw myself. I didn't know. When I picked Toledo, it was a stress reliever."

Hrynciw caught a two-point conversion to cap a 37-36 victory over Tiffin Columbian in the first game Hammer's junior season.

"We came back and won," Hammer said. "That's something coaches can show, how connected we were with a bond to never give up. Anything can happen."

Part of two postseason wins, he'll fondly recall a 47-18 victory over Sandusky as a junior. Woodson spent the game with the team, including the locker room.

"Having him on the sideline was incredible, and to play in front of him," Hammer said.

Hammer had 220 receptions (first), including 29 career touchdowns (first) for his career. He had 12 receptions (tied first) in a postseason loss as a junior and 11 in another to tie for third.

He had 10 three times in a tie for seventh, nine three times for a tie for 11th and eight five times in a tie for 15th. He had 191 yards (third) in a postseason setback, and 133 or more seven times, including three wins.

Hammer was a rare high school athlete to represent on SportsCenter with a one-hand 7-yard touchdown catch in a loss to Toledo Whitmer in Week 10 as a senior.

"You see NBA and NFL stars making plays, then one night you see me on there," he said. "It was exciting. Not a lot of people can say they did that. I was running a corner. Kaden threw it behind me a little. I lost it in the lights, when I saw it come out, I turned my body and reached back to catch it."

He had 431 yards (first) returning kickoffs as a junior. He had 1,056 yards (first) on 52 returns (first) for his career, an average of 20.3 yards per.

He might have opportunities to return kicks at Toledo as well. He heads to the North-South Game as a receiver, but expects to play on defense or special teams as well.

"Defense will be something that's hard to give up, but I can work even harder at receiver and perfect my craft," he said. "With special teams, I loved always being on the field."

He had 190 solo tackles and 279 overall. He had 22 tackles in a postseason loss to North Royalton and returned a fumble 69 yards in a win over Sandusky as a senior.

"No matter what, I'm always going to give 100 percent," he said. "That's what Toledo is going to get. You never know who is watching, that's how I was raised. I'll go to Toledo, work as hard as possible. Since I was a little kid, I've wanted to play in the league [NFL]."

Hammer represents the very best players in Ross program history. Another symbol of what's possible.

mhorn@gannett.com

419-307-4892

Twitter: @MatthewHornNH

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Bryson Hammer leaves defense behind with Ross football for Toledo spot