Pitt's Rodney Hammond Becomes Bell Cow Back

The Pitt Panthers finally treated Rodney Hammond like a workhorse and he delivered a career day.

PITTSBURGH -- Rodney Hammond has been listed atop the Pitt Panthers' running back depth chart all season long, but rarely has he truly been treated like a starter. Entering the home finale against Boston College, Hammond had taken just 48% of the total touches, accounted for just 41.5% of the total yards and scored just 37.5% of the touchdowns from Panthers running backs. 

He was introduced as a co-starter with super senior C'Bo Flemister on Senior Night and Flemister took the bulk of the carries on the first couple of drives. That changed quickly as Hammond began to rip off chunks and chunks of yardage, using speed, agility and power to set multiple career bests and power the Panthers to a desperately needed win over Boston College. 

Hammond surpassed his career high with a 66-yard scamper through the middle of the Eagles' defense. It was the longest single run of his career and once he saw an opening, Hammond knew he could do something special. 

“That’s the cheetah speed right there," Hammond said. "Ain’t no one catching me.”

In between Hammond's bursts through the Boston College defense, there was plenty of time to wonder where this had been all year. Hammond amassed a quarter of his total yards for this season and 13% of his touches for the year in a game. It had been an up and down year for Hammond, who like the team always felt like he had more to give. 

“After a season like this, I definitely needed a night like this," Hammond said. "Just to boost the team up. I like to bring energy to the offense and we’re going to end of the season well.”

He was more than just a boost for the Panthers. Hammond was a bolt of lighting. 

Toting the ball a career-high 15 times against the Eagles, Hammond finally became the bell-cow back he was expected to be coming out of training camp. All spring and all summer, he was the clear-cut top dog in the running back room. Then, all of a sudden, he wasn't and neither head coach Pat Narduzzi nor running backs coach Andre Powell were willing or able to give a direct answer about why. 

They liked the versatility Daniel Carter gave them and the leadership and toughness that C'Bo Flemister brought them. But Hammond has talent that is undeniable now if it wasn't already before. It was inexplicable why Hammond had to split carries with Flemister and Carter in the middle of the season and it looks even more inexplicable now, after his dominant night against the Eagles. 

Hammond did most of his damage in the second half, running for 129 yards and his line touchdown after halftime, proving that he is capable of capitalizing on momentum. 

Now Pitt's coaching staff has to hold up their end of the bargain. They gave Hammond the largest rushing workload of his career against Boston College and he delivered the best rushing performance of his career. Hammond has earned the right to carry the ball and the offense as far as he can. 

“As a running back, once you get those carries and you get those good yards and you get hot, no one’s stopping you," Hammond said. "It doesn’t matter who you are. My offensive line, I trust in them. If they get me hot, I’m going to keep me and them hot.”

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