Dropping the Hammers: QHS wide receiver puts ‘second talent’ to use in record-setting fashion

QUINCY — The God-given talents are clear to see.

Speed, strength, shiftiness and power give Tykell Hammers an edge against any defensive back who lines up opposite Quincy High School’s most celebrated wide receiver. Yet, it’s what Hammers refers to as his “second talent” that makes him elite.

He catches the ball with his hands, not his body.

“People don’t talk about this enough,” QHS football coach Rick Little said. “He catches the ball away from his body. He has strong hands. He runs through contact. There are so many things you look at for a big-time wide receiver — sure, he catches the ball and he’s fast — but the strength of his hands sets him apart from other guys.”

While some of that strength is God given, Hammers has worked tirelessly to learn to catch with his hands.

“You naturally want to catch the ball, but it’s more that it’s something you have to be taught,” Hammers said. “I’ve been around a couple guys throughout my career who have always taught me catch with my hands. It makes you a better player and gives you a lot more room to work and more balls to catch.”

No one in QHS history has caught more.

Heading into Saturday’s Class 7A state quarterfinal matchup with Chicago St. Rita at Doyle Stadium, Hammers has caught 80 passes for 1,334 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. Last Friday night, in the 44-14 victory over Moline, Hammers eclipsed 3,000 career receiving yards.

In his three-year varsity career, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Hammers has caught 201 passes for 3,017 yards with 32 touchdowns. He ranks in the top 20 in Illinois High School Association history for receptions and receiving yardage.

And then there’s this — he’s never caught a pass from anyone other than senior quarterback Bradyn Little.

“He was my quarterback when I started playing football in seventh grade,” Hammers said. “He’s the first guy to ever throw me a ball during a game.”

Their chemistry is obvious, as is Hammers’ willingness to initiate and accept contact.

“I’m more like a running back with the ball in my hands, that’s how I like to think of it,” said Hammers, who is also an All-Western Big 6 Conference outfielder for the QHS baseball team. “I get to run people over sometimes.”

But his real forte is catching the ball, be it in open space or a small window. The strength of his hands allows him to catch balls in spots not all receivers can reach.

“You feel very comfortable ripping the ball if you know your guy is going to go compete for a ball,” Rick Little said. “Catching the ball away from his body is a big deal.”

When you flank Hammers with the likes of Rico Clay Jr. and Caeden Johannessen, defenses are forced to pick their poison.

Clay, who burst onto the scene as a junior as a lockdown cornerback and has parlayed his success into a scholarship from Illinois State University, has taken on an added role as wide receiver this season and continues to make plays.

The 6-foot-3 Clay has caught 56 passes for 880 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Not bad for someone who stood 5-foot-7 as a freshman.

“He’s been a fun guy to watch his evolution as a football player,” Rick Little said. “He just continues to get better and better and better.”

Clay relishes the role he’s found.

“I feel like I can help the team a lot more,” he said. “I feel like I can help on both sides of the ball.”

It’s another reason the Blue Devils are 11-0 and in the state quarterfinals for the second consecutive season. The challenge is to get past the Chicago Catholic League hurdle and make the first state semifinal appearance in school history.

Hammers is confident that’s possible.

“We’re more battle-tested and more prepared this time,” he said. “We’re locked in.”