Pitt Will Feature Healthy Rodney Hammond Against UNC
PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers have given their top three tailbacks a near-even split in carries during the first three weeks of the season, but that will change as they get set to open ACC play in Week 4.
Head coach Pat Narduzzi said during his final media availability of the week that the Panthers will feature Hammond, who is now fully healthy after sustaining an undisclosed injury during training camp, prominently as they try to get back in the win column against North Carolina this weekend.
"Rodney, we’re going to put a load on Rodney [on Saturday], he needs to go," Narduzzi said. "I think you guys will all be happy with that. He was a little banged up during camp but we got him back, hopefully, to as good as health as he’s had. So Rodney’s ready to go."
Hammond has taken just about 23% of the total carries for the Panthers this season and 34% of the rushes from pure running backs, accounting for 110 total yards and a pair of touchdowns so far this year.
Hammond said he hasn't been frustrated by the relative lack of touches so far this year because he knew more was in store.
“We really got a plan for me, so whatever they need me to do, I’ll do it," Hammond said. "I didn’t really look at what was going on. I know we have a plan for me, so I wasn’t really worried about anything.”
He was the backup to Israel Abanikanda last season, but in the season opener against West Virginia, took the majority of the touches before succumbing to a leg injury late in the second half.
His workload has been progressively increasing with each week in 2023, beginning with five against Wofford, then six against Cincinnati and 14 against West Virginia. Now the Panthers are ready to turn Hammond loose and he's ready for the challenge.
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