Rodney Hammond Jr. News, Rumors, Updates - Pittsburgh Panthers

Heading to Sacramento State Hammond announced his committment to play for FCS Sacramento State for the 2025 season via his X account.

Impact Hammond will join the Hornets following four seasons with Pitt. The senior running back appeared in just four games for the Panthers in 2024, running for 35 scoreless yards on 12 rushing attempts in that time. He will retain a single year of eligibility with Sacramento State.

JANUARY 30 • ROTOWIRE

Hitting portal Hammond will enter the transfer portal, Chris Peak of Rivals.com reports.

Impact Hammond took a redshirt year in 2024, intentionally appearing in just four games. The tailback logged 12 carries for 25 yards. He'll have one more season of eligibility remaining after spending four years on the North Shore of Pittsburgh.

DECEMBER 3, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Out vs. BC Hammond (redshirt) won't play against Boston College, Riley Holsinger of WTAJ News reports.

Impact Hammond has requested to be redshirted this season, and has already appeared in four games. Last week, he didn't travel to Louisville either, so it's safe to assume the halfback's season is done. Hammond collected 35 rushing yards this fall.

NOVEMBER 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Doesn't travel to Louisville Hammond (redshirt) didn't travel with Pittsburgh to Kentucky for its game against Louisville, Stephen Thompson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Hammond, who is reportedly considering a redshirt, is looking as if he's set to sit out Pittsburgh's final games of the season. Considering he isn't even on the travel roster, the tailback figures to be calling it a season.

NOVEMBER 23, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Considering redshirt Hammond is being considered for a redshirt, Chris Peak of Rivals reports.

Impact Hammond did not play during Pittsburgh's latest game and has already played four games this season, meaning one more would use up his senior year of collegiate eligibility. To preserve it, he would have to sit out the remainder of Pitt's season, three regular-season games and a potential bowl matchup.

NOVEMBER 12, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Pitt's Rodney Hammond Jr. reinstated for ACC opener at North Carolina PITTSBURGH - Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi shared an unexpected piece of personnel news as he opened ...

OCTOBER 3, 2024 • THESTATE.COM

Ineligible Pitt RB Rodney Hammond gets green light to play Pitt senior running back Rodney Hammond was ruled eligible after missing the first month of the season and will play Saturday when the Panth...

OCTOBER 3, 2024 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Available Saturday Head coach Pat Narduzzi indicated that Hammond will be available for Saturday's game against UNC, per Christopher Carter of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Impact The news comes as a bit of a shock after Hammond was ruled ineligibile for the 2024 season prior to the Panthers' first game, but it appears as if the senior running back will be able to play this season after all. It's unclear what changed in his eligibility, but the pecking order of the Pitt backfield is now heavily in question following his return. Hammond previously ran for 547 yards and four touchdowns for the Panthers in 2023, averaging 4.6 YPC in the process. It will be worth monitoring how involved Hammond will be in the Pitt gameplan after being sidelined for the first four games of the season.

OCTOBER 3, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Pitt running back Rodney Hammond Jr. declared ineligible for 2024 season Pitt football announced less than 24 hours before kicking off the 2024 season that senior running back Rodney Hammond Jr. has been declared...

AUGUST 30, 2024 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Pitt RB Rodney Hammond Jr. ruled ineligible for season Pittsburgh senior running back Rodney Hammond Jr.has been declared ineligible for the 2024 season on Friday, one day before the team’s seaso...

AUGUST 30, 2024 • THESTATE.COM

Pitt RB Rodney Hammond Jr., the Panthers' leading returning rusher, declared ineligible for season

Pitt running back Rodney Hammond Jr. has been declared ineligible and will miss the 2024 season, the school has announced

AUGUST 30, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pittsburgh Star Running Back Rodney Hammond Ruled Ineligible for the 2024 Season Hammond was expected to lead the running back room once again in 2024.

AUGUST 30, 2024 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Pittsburgh Star Running Back Rodney Hammond Ruled Ineligible for the 2024 Season Hammond was expected to lead the running back room once again in 2024.

AUGUST 30, 2024 • SUNHERALD.COM

Deemed ineligible for 2024 Hammond has been deemed ineligible for the 2024 season, Karl Ludwig of Pittsburgh Sports Now reports.

Impact Hammond was reported to not be the Panthers' starter at tailback for its opener against Kent State, and now we know why. After a productive season for Pitt in which he ran for 547 yards and four touchdowns, Hammond will have to ride the bench this fall. That leaves Desmond Reid and Derrick Davis Jr. to carry the load in the backfield in Oakland.

AUGUST 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Loses starting job for Week 1 Hammond will not start at running back for Pittsburgh's game Saturday against Kent, Jerry DiPaola of Trib Total Media reports.

Impact Hammond was Pittsburgh's primary option at running back during 2023. But to begin the Panthers' 2024 season, they will have Desmond Reid as their main RB against Kent.

AUGUST 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Active during Monday practice Hammond (undisclosed) was active during the Panthers' team practice Monday, Pittsburgh sports reporter Amanda Godsey reports.

Impact An undisclosed problem prevented Hammond from participating in the 2024 Panthers' spring practice. Fortunately for him, they began their fall camp with him fully healthy. Hammond has been a consistent player for the Panthers, having logged somewhere from 450 to 550 yards and four or five touchdowns each year since 2021. 2024 is expected to be no different, so his floor makes him a relatively safe pick in league drafts.

AUGUST 6, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Pitt positional preview: Rodney Hammond to lead revamped RB room for Panthers Pitt football training camp opens July 30. In the two weeks before the Panthers return to the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex to begin preparatio...

JULY 25, 2024 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Pitt's Rodney Hammond Jr. may not be a 'power back,' but Panthers must let him be a game changer When you look at junior running back Rodney Hammond Jr.’s first two seasons with Pitt, you see a lot of tough runs for hard-fought yards. Yo...

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Why Pitt's Rodney Hammond is ready to be the next big ACC running back threat Israel Abanikanda left big shoes to fill for Pitt football’s feature back of 2023, but Rodney Hammond seems poised to fill them with his own...

AUGUST 1, 2023 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Out against Georgia Tech Hammond (leg) will not play Saturday against Georgia Tech, Corey Crisan of the DKPghSports reports.

Impact Hammond has not played since the opener and that will continue Saturday. Israel Abanikanda stands to be the leader of Pitt's backfield against the Yellowjackets

OCTOBER 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Likely remaining out Hammond (leg) is not warming up ahead of Saturday's game against Rhode Island, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact It doesn't appear that Pitt will risk rushing Hammond back against an FCS opponent. He's off to the side and not in uniform as the rest of the team warms up. Look for a heavy dose of Israel Abanikanda, Daniel Carter and Vincent Davis on Saturday. Hammond's next chance to return comes Oct. 1 against Georgia Tech as Pittsburgh opens conference play.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Out again Saturday Hammond (leg) did not travel with the team for Saturday's game against Western Michigan, Jerry DiPaola of TribLive.com reports.

Impact Hammond is set to miss his second straight contest after suffering a leg injury in the loss to West Virginia on Sept. 1. Israel Abanikanda will once again be in line for the bulk share of carries while Hammond looks to return Sept. 24 against Rhode Island.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to practice Hammond (undisclosed) is active and practicing for Pittsburgh, Jerry DiPaola of TribLive.com reports.

Impact Hammond was inactive for the spring game with an undisclosed injury, but the sophomore running back has made his return to practice for Pittsburgh. The 5-foot-9 back tallied 512 rushing yards and five touchdowns, along with eight receptions for 57 yards and two scores across 11 games in 2021 as a true freshman.

AUGUST 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting out spring game Hammond will miss Pitt's spring game Saturday, Jerry DiPaola of TribLive.com reports.

Impact The reason behind Hammond's absence is unclear, but it will leave the Panthers down a bit of depth for the intra-squad contest. Assuming he's healthy this fall, Hammond faces the same hurdles as last year to consistent reps with Israel Abanikanda and Vincent Davis both also set to return in 2022.

APRIL 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

'We're good': Pat Narduzzi, Geoff Collins put handshake drama behind them Last time Pat Narduzzi and Geoff Collins met on the field, their postgame exchange was, shall we say, frosty. After Pitt’s 34-20 win at Geor...

SEPTEMBER 27, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

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Pitt RB Rodney Hammond Jr., the Panthers' leading returning rusher, declared ineligible for season