WARR ACRES – Putnam City Pirate offensive lineman Drandale “D.J.” Hamon has verbally committed to the University of Central Oklahoma to play football.

The 6-foot-5, 290-pound senior left tackle chose the Bronchos over Oklahoma Baptist, Coffeyville Community College (Kan.) , East Central, Nebraska-Kearney and Lane College (Tenn.).

“I looked at all of the schools,” Hamon told West Metro Sports. “(UCO) was the best fit for me.”

UCO head football coach Adam Dorrel won a Division II national championship at Northwest Missouri State and then coached at the Division I level at Abilene Christian. Besides being the head coach, Dorrel coaches the offensive line for the Bronchos, something that was appealing to Hamon.

UCO finished 5-6 in 2023. The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), considered the toughest conference in the NCAA Division II but Hamon believes Dorrel bring the program back to its glory days which included two NAIA national titles.

“(Dorrel)’s going to turn everything around,” Hamon said.

As a senior, Hamon helped the Pirate offense average 352 yards a game. He was named All-District in Class 6A-II District 2.

Hamon’s mind wasn’t on football growing up. Undersized while in middle school, he was focused on basketball in middle school and didn’t play football until the COVID-19 pandemic hit. He started playing football his freshman year.

With the Pirates, he was able to learn from the best when the coaching staff brought in former Oklahoma center Creed Humphrey, the starting center for the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs.