Pitt Alters Rodney Hammond's Status for Spring Game

The Pitt Panthers will have Rodney Hammond in the mix this weekend for the spring game.

Nov 16, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers running back Rodney Hammond Jr. / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

PITTSBURGH -- When the Pitt Panthers started dividing up their team for the annual Blue-Gold Game scheduled for this weekend, top returning tailback Rodney Hammond was not available on the spring game draft board but the coaching staff has made a last-minute change.

Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said two days before kickoff of the Blue-Gold Game that Hammond would play but only in a limited capacity.

"I think we're going to put Rodney Hammond in a red jersey as well, just to get him - so you know, he can't get tackled - but just to get him involved a little bit so he's not bored on the sidelines," Narduzzi said.

Hammond is the Panthers' leading returning rusher and had participated in practices all spring long. Sometimes the coaches will opt to keep a veteran player who doesn't necessarily need the extra reps on the sidelines for the spring game out of an abundance of caution, hoping to avoid a long-term injury that spills over into fall training camp.

There will still be a healthy dose of carries left to go around for some other members of Pitt's deep running backs room, which includes headliners like Desmond Reid, Derrick Davis, Daniel Carter Juelz Goff and Montravius Lloyd - a mix of veterans and young players that give them a diverse set of skills.

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