The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Salute to Service: Meet UAB Football Linebacker Paul Hammonds
11/13/2019 10:25:00 AM | Football
BIRMINGHAM - Linebacker Paul Hammonds was nowhere to be found inside the walls of the Football Operations Center for the first two week of 2019 fall camp.
Injured? No. Suspended? Negative. So where was Paul Hammonds?
He was in Utah on a regularly scheduled trip with the Army Reserve 74 Delta, also known as the CBRN: Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Specialist unit.
Hammonds, a junior in the classroom and a redshirt sophomore on the field, has been a member of the Army Reserve since graduating high school and has three more years serving in the Reserve before he can pursue active duty.
A standout for Tuscaloosa County High, Hammonds was convinced he was going straight into active duty out of high school until his parents, who were both Marines, convinced him to attend college.
"Both my parents served straight out of high school, so they wanted me to go to college and get an education," Hammonds said. "My dad had scholarships for football and baseball, but went straight to the military instead. He wanted me to get the college life experience he never had. I am very thankful for that because I have been more than blessed with the opportunities that have come my way."
So here he is. A criminal justice major playing football and fulfilling his responsibilities with 74 Delta, which includes a monthly trip to Anniston, Alabama as part of his duties with the Army Reserve.
And like every member of the military, Hammonds responded when he was called to action. In his only appearance on the field this season, Hammonds recorded a sack on the final play of the game in UAB's 38-14 victory over Old Dominion on Homecoming.
"When the sack happened, I was like 'Ok, I made a play.' But then I got up, it was the last play of the game, and the whole defense ran out and jumped on me. Kyle Harrell tackled me right there on the field and everyone else dog-piled me. That was probably one of the best moments of my life. That moment right there - I will never forget."
Hammonds has only played in one game this year and has recorded one of UAB's 32 sacks on the season, but his contributions to the team go well beyond the playing field.
Paul Hammonds is arguably one of UAB's most important players.
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The Blazers host UTEP this Saturday, Nov. 16 for the annual Salute to Service Game. Fans can participate by donating a $10 ticket to the Tickets for Troops initiative which will then be distributed to a military member through VetTix. To donate, click here and use the promo code: TFT
For more information on Saturday's Salute to Service game, click here.
Injured? No. Suspended? Negative. So where was Paul Hammonds?
He was in Utah on a regularly scheduled trip with the Army Reserve 74 Delta, also known as the CBRN: Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Specialist unit.
Hammonds, a junior in the classroom and a redshirt sophomore on the field, has been a member of the Army Reserve since graduating high school and has three more years serving in the Reserve before he can pursue active duty.
A standout for Tuscaloosa County High, Hammonds was convinced he was going straight into active duty out of high school until his parents, who were both Marines, convinced him to attend college.
"Both my parents served straight out of high school, so they wanted me to go to college and get an education," Hammonds said. "My dad had scholarships for football and baseball, but went straight to the military instead. He wanted me to get the college life experience he never had. I am very thankful for that because I have been more than blessed with the opportunities that have come my way."
So here he is. A criminal justice major playing football and fulfilling his responsibilities with 74 Delta, which includes a monthly trip to Anniston, Alabama as part of his duties with the Army Reserve.
And like every member of the military, Hammonds responded when he was called to action. In his only appearance on the field this season, Hammonds recorded a sack on the final play of the game in UAB's 38-14 victory over Old Dominion on Homecoming.
"When the sack happened, I was like 'Ok, I made a play.' But then I got up, it was the last play of the game, and the whole defense ran out and jumped on me. Kyle Harrell tackled me right there on the field and everyone else dog-piled me. That was probably one of the best moments of my life. That moment right there - I will never forget."
Hammonds has only played in one game this year and has recorded one of UAB's 32 sacks on the season, but his contributions to the team go well beyond the playing field.
Paul Hammonds is arguably one of UAB's most important players.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Blazers host UTEP this Saturday, Nov. 16 for the annual Salute to Service Game. Fans can participate by donating a $10 ticket to the Tickets for Troops initiative which will then be distributed to a military member through VetTix. To donate, click here and use the promo code: TFT
For more information on Saturday's Salute to Service game, click here.
Players Mentioned
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