The Pitt Panthers received good news ahead of this weekend’s college football slate. Running back Rodney Hammond Jr. will be good to go against North Carolina.
Hammond, who had been deemed ineligible earlier this season, is now cleared to compete.
“Big news for Pitt football,” ESPN’s Pete Thamel said Thursday afternoon. “Pat Narduzzi announces that they are getting tailback Rodney Hammond back for the UNC game.”
The Panthers are currently an unbeaten 4-0 this season.
Big news for Pitt football (4-0). Pat Narduzzi announces that they are getting tailback Rodney Hammond back for the UNC game. He’d been deemed ineligible earlier this year. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry and rushed for 547 yards last year.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 3, 2024
The NCAA declared Hammond ineligible right before Pitt’s season opener against Kent State. Of course, no reason was provided at the time, if you can believe that. But nonetheless, Narduzzi’s announcement on Thursday will give way to his return to the lineup.
Hammond has 329 carries in his career for 1,510 yards, and 14 rushing touchdowns. Last season, Hammond had 547 yards on 118 carries and four touchdowns.
He’ll hope to add more dimension to the undefeated Panthers, who hope to keep up ground in the ACC. Pitt will play the Tar Heels this weekend, who’ve been inconsistent to say the least. North Carolina dropped a humiliating game to James Madison and hasn’t really looked all that sharp. With Hammond aboard, the Panthers could simply be in a better place than the Tar Heels, so we’ll see how his return impacts the game.
