Rodney Hammond Jr. is entering his final season at Pitt, coming off an up-and-down junior campaign, and there are expectations that he will rise in a major way.
Hammond — a 5-foot-9, 200-pound running back from Booker T. Washington in Norfolk, Va. — has been named to the watchlist for the Doak Walker Award, which is given annually to the most outstanding running back in college football.
He’s one of 15 running backs from the ACC to receive the preseason honor.
Hammond — and Pitt — didn’t have the easiest season in 2023, but at no point did he think about leaving Pittsburgh during the offseason.
“We ain’t wanna leave business unfinished,” Hammond said in the spring. “A lot of us didn’t just want to leave that bad rap on our name. You can’t just go out there, 3-9 and then when stuff gets tough, you leave. No, I’m not that type of person. I believe everybody else that came back, they’re not that type of people. So, when stuff gets bad, we’re gonna stay down until we come up.”
Hammond is the Pitt X-factor. He was supposed to take that next step in 2023, but his usage was… confusing, to say the least. He led the Panthers with 118 carries for 547 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and four touchdowns, and he’s the most talented runner on the roster. At least, I believe he is.
If running backs coach Lindsey Lamar could pick one trait for his players to embody, it would be hard work. He doesn’t have to wish that Hammond worked hard. Hammond is once again showing that he works incredibly hard — with superior attention to detail and a professional mindset every day.
“I love Rodney,” Lamar said. “He’s been great. He works. The biggest thing for me is you give me a guy that’s gonna work. And right now, Rodney is showing me that he works. Obviously, he’s a guy that’s played some ball here, played a lot of ball for us here, but I’ve been impressed with the way he works.”
Hammond has racked up 329 carries for 1,511 yards (4.6 yards per carry) and 14 touchdowns during his three seasons in Pittsburgh — adding 22 receptions for 190 yards and two touchdowns.
Hammond and newcomer Desmond Reid appear likely to form a solid 1-2 punch this season, complementing the way the other plays well.
The offense was criminally miscast last year. Between Bartholemew and Rodney Hammond–it was ridiculous
Nothing against Hammond but they put half the kids in the country on these “watch lists” every preseason.