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Hammond, Mason look for 'big' strides LUCAS AT LARGE MIKE LUCAS • UWBADGERS.COM s competing wide re- ceivers, Marquis Mason and Chase Hammond have had ample time — largely through their inactivity due to injuries the last two seasons — to size up their potential roles. Size has not been the is- A sue. Hammond is a 6-foot-5, 212-pound sophomore from Youngstown, Ohio. Mason is a 6-4, 223-pound sophomore from Madison East High School. "We try and tell each other that we didn't come here to sit on the sidelines,'' Mason said. "We didn't come here to do any- thing but make big plays. We're big receivers.'' They know the difference between big receivers and big- play receivers, though. As room- mates, Mason and Hammond have shared conversations on how "big'' this spring is to their development. "For me, personally, it's do or die,'' Hammond said. "I feel like I've got to step up.'' "I'm healthy and he's healthy,'' Mason said, "and it's about showing our athleticism.'' It's also about showing others. They both say they're playing with a chip on their shoulder. "Once you're put in the spot- light at a young age, everybody expects you to be the top guy at all times," said Mason, an all- state basketball player. "I've had countless people tell me I'm overrated because 8 » VARSITY APRIL 19, 2012 I haven't done anything here yet. I don't let that bother me at all. But my point is to prove to everybody that I'm here for a reason'' There have been that many doubters? Countless people? "I kind of hear it through the grapevine,'' Mason said. Hammond began hearing the same things after he broke his ankle in the first game of his junior year at Boardman High School in Youngstown. "The doctors told me I prob- ably wouldn't play again,'' he said. "I had eight screws and plate put in my ankle at the time. It was tough.'' How did Hammond respond? How did he motivate himself while he was rehabbing from the injury? "I was going to prove everybody wrong,'' he said. "They don't think I'm going to come back? They don't think I'm going to play again? They don't think I'm very good? Well, I'll show them.'' True to his word, Hammond showed up big as a senior and earned a spot in the Big 33 game, which annually showcases the top high school players from Ohio and Pennsylvania. But his injury misfortune continued when he suffered a high ankle sprain. That put him behind when it was time to report as a true freshman to the Badgers. His luck didn't get any better, either. "My ankle was killing me, I got concussed,'' Hammond said, "and I finally had ankle sur- gery.'' That was in December. The following spring, he broke his thumb and "my ankle was still killing me.'' Last August, Hammond had more surgery on his ankle and was sidelined again, replaced on the 105-player training camp roster by a walk-on receiver. "Since then everything has been going great,'' he said with a laugh. Seriously, how has he dealt with all of the setbacks? "You have to learn that you can't control when you get hurt,'' Hammond said. "All you can control is your effort and how hard you work to get back." Mason tried to encourage Hammond during the rehab. Hammond tried to return the favor after Mason tore the ACL in his left knee last spring. "We tried to keep each other's head up when we were going through tough times,'' Hammond said. Mason wound up missing the 2011 season. "There were times when my knee was aching su- per bad and he told me, 'Push through it,''' Mason recalled. "We've been kind of feeding off each other.'' Their journey together con- tinues, and both are hoping to secure a spot in the rotation be- fore the start of the 2012 season. Until then, both are prepared to let the chips fall where they may.