Robert Hammond III's 37-Day Countdown to 2026 Kicks Off
Robert Hammond III, the transfer kickoff specialist from Toledo, has officially begun his 37-day countdown to the 2026 season.
A redshirt junior kicker, Hammond is majoring in business management and is expected to be a starter for Manhattan College. He played in all 13 games for the Toledo Rockets last season, serving as the primary kickoff man and place kicker in the Boca Raton Bowl.
Hammond averaged 62.9 yards on 71 kickoffs, leading the Mid-American Conference in kickoff average, touchbacks, and touchback percentage (60.6%). He had a career-high average of 65.8 yards against Akron, thanks in part to a 90-yard touchback after kicking off from the 10-yard line due to two personal foul penalties.
Hammond had a standout performance against Western Kentucky, going 8 for 8 on touchbacks, and also had six touchbacks in seven tries against Northern Illinois. He made a pair of field goals against Louisville in the Boca Raton Bowl, including a 50-yarder.
Prior to his time in Toledo, Hammond redshirted in 2023 and did not see any playing time in 2024 at Florida Atlantic University. He prepped under head coach Matt Dubuc at Cardinal Gibbons Catholic High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Hammond earned all-state honors as both a junior and senior, and tallied a school record with 57 consecutive extra points made. He had a career-long field goal of 53 yards and totaled 62 touchbacks on 91 kickoffs (68.1%) with an average of 58.0 yards.
As a kicker, Hammond is known for his consistency and accuracy. He was regarded as the 35th-best kicker nationally in the Class of 2023 by Kohl's Kicking. Hammond has also been involved in other sports, competing in volleyball in high school.
Hammond originally committed to Tom Herman and Florida Atlantic as a preferred walk-on over scholarship offers from Air Force, Army, Elon, and Tennessee State. When he transferred to Toledo, he did so over scholarship offers from Florida A&M, UTEP, and Wagner.
Hammond's transfer to Manhattan College is seen as a key move for the team's special teams unit. With his experience and skills, he is expected to make a significant impact on the team's performance.
In his free time, Hammond enjoys playing the guitar. As he begins his 37-day countdown to the 2026 season, Hammond is likely to be focused on preparing for the new season.
Hammond's past performance and experience make him a valuable asset to Manhattan College's special teams unit. As the team prepares for the 2026 season, Hammond's skills and consistency will be crucial to their success.
The 2026 season is set to kick off in just 37 days, and Robert Hammond III is ready to take the field.
Source: Yahoo Sports
