Arguably the biggest headlines generated from the Pitt football program this week weren’t the players that left, instead it’s been about the players that will return.
At the end of the season, much speculation centered around whether or not Pitt’s two most talented offensive players, Gavin Bartholomew and Rodney Hammond, would return or enter their names in the transfer portal.
In the last 24 hours, Pitt received promising news as both players released statements announcing that they would be returning. Bartholomew was first to announce his decision last night and Saturday night, Hammond did the same.
Credit the 412 Alliance for impacting both Bartholomew and Hammond’s decision because both players couldn’t have been happy with the way they were used in 2023.
One of the biggest criticisms of former offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. was for his failure to find a way to get both Hammonds and Bartholomew the ball. The junior from Virginia finished the season with 118 carries for 547 yards and 4 touchdowns. In 3 seasons with Pitt, Hammond has a total of 16 touchdowns.
It what frustrated everyone that watched Pitt, Cignetti would not get Hammond the ball. The most carries he received this season was 15 and it resulted in a season high 145 yards rushing. In 12 of Pitt’s games. Hammond received less than 10 carries five times.
Whomever is hired as Pitt’s next offensive coordinator, look for him to get both Hammond and Bartholomew a lot more than they received it this past season.
I believe if Cignetti was still here this would’ve been a different result.
I don’t argue that, I’m hoping the new coordinator will use both appropriately. It was such a shame how Cignetti misused both Hammond and Bartholomew.
1000%
While I agree, Powell deserves some of the blame here too IMO. He makes the decisions on the backs and it’s at times mind boggling.
If he was our special team’s coach too, he needs to be released. We had the worst special teams in D1 football, other than our PK.