Central Catholic Senior Hugh Hamer’s Work Ethic Boost Confidence For 2020 Season
by Jace LeJeune
Central Catholic High School head coach Tommy Minton has been around some extremely talented players over his career including Kenny Hilliard (Patterson High School/LSU/Houston Texans/Washington Redskins), but he has also coached a lot of guys that are talented, but are hard working players that will do whatever it takes on either side of the football. One of those guys is senior Hugh Hamer. For Hamer, he is pretty busy for the Eagles playing all kinds of positions including running back, wide receiver, and defensive back.
The Central Catholic versatile athlete looks up to Christian McCaffrey as a football player and it shows because he does a lot of things as both a runner and a receiver like the star Carolina Panthers running back. Case in point, last season, Hamer had 86 carries for 711 yards averaging eight yards per carry and five touchdowns while also catching five passes for 81 yards. On defense, Hamer also had 17 tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and two pass deflections.
“I feel that my speed, strength, elusiveness, and catching has all improved since my first year as a starter,” Hamer said. “I feel confident and I’m ready to show my abilities on the field.”
At only 5-9, 170 pounds, Hamer may not be as big or fast as other players, but what he does not lack is toughness and work ethic.
“I got 100 percent every rep, and I focus on bettering myself everyday,” Hamer said.
Helping Hamer become better everyday is Coach Minton. Hamer has a great relationship with Coach Minton because they both have a business approach when it comes to preparing for games on Friday nights.
“Everyday, we got to work,” Hamer said. “Every day Coach Minton demands excellence, and we grind every single day. Coach Minton is the best coach I have ever had and he has given me the opportunity to be successful in our program. Playing under Coach Minton is great everyday and I wouldn’t want to go to war for anybody else.”
Hamer trains his body like he is going to war to help him prepare for the upcoming season. In the weight room, Hamer can bench press 260 pounds, squat 410 pounds, and can power clean 230 pounds. When not playing other sports like baseball, he gets in shape by not only working out, but by also doing kickboxing training as well. Staying ahead of the curve in getting ready for the upcoming season makes it not so much a big transition in dealing with tougher practices in the middle of a pandemic.
“Practice has been a grind,” Hamer said. “We are installing new things everyday. We are working hard and conditioning every day. I have been working out extra every day preparing for my senior season. I am in the best shape of my life and I’m ready to get things started so that we can surprise more than a few people.”
After a 5-5 campaign including a first round playoff loss to Country Day, Hamer and the Eagles are looking to improve on that mark in 2020.
“Last season was full of ups and downs,” Hamer said. “We lost a few games that we shouldn’t have in the fourth quarter, but I do feel that we didn’t quite reach the goals we set out for ourselves. However, we are more explosive and experienced than ever and we are prepared for this season.”
As Hamer is working on to become the best player and athlete he can be for the Eagles, he, himself is looking to carry on the family tradition as his first cousins are currently playing for in-state colleges in Garret Leblanc, who is playing for Nicholls State, and Cooper Leblanc, who is battling for a starting spot at UL. When it is all said and done, Hamer would like to join his cousins playing for a Louisiana college like LSU, Nicholls State, or Southeastern specifically, but he would also like to show what he can do to other coaches.
“Colleges should take a chance on me because I go out and grind every single day to improve myself and my team,” Hamer said.
In the end, it is the hard work and determination of players like Hugh Hamer that shows how important it is for them to get the chance to play high school football in 2020 if and when given a chance.
Click below to check out Hugh Hamer’s junior highlights:
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9704804/5dd2126fb534360de85c9106
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Jace is from Addis, LA but resides in Port Allen, LA. Jace attends Southeastern Louisiana University and is majoring in Communications. This is Jace’s fourth year as Associate Editor at Louisiana Football Magazine. He is also a graduate from Catholic High School in Baton Rouge where he was the editor of the school newspaper the “Bearly Published.” While at CHS, Jace also announced their football, basketball, and baseball games for the Bruin Broadcast Network which is the Catholic High’s streaming website for their events. On weekends, Jace is the PA announcer for his middle school football games. At home, Jace enjoys time with his family and friends. Besides being a huge football fan, Jace is also an avid NHRA drag racing fan.
