Pitt running back Rodney Hammond plans to enter transfer portal
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Running back Rodney Hammond Jr. put an end to his four-year Pitt career Tuesday when he announced on X that he is planning to enter the transfer portal.
Thank you for everything Pittsburgh but I will be entering the portal for my last year
— Rodney L. Hammond (@RodneyLHammond1) December 3, 2024
The recently concluded season was a struggle for Hammond, who was declared ineligible in August and missed four games before he was reinstated. He was used only sparingly in next four games after Desmond Reid commanded the RB1 role. At that point, coach Pat Narduzzi granted Hammond’s request to be redshirted, preserving his final season of eligibility for 2025.
Hammond was an important player for the Panthers from the outset of his freshman season of 2021 when — as a backup to Izzy Abanikanda — he rushed for 504 yards on 102 carries, averaging a career-high 4.9 yards. He often was inserted into games in the fourth quarter to help run out the clock with the ground game. That season, he became the first Pitt freshman to rush for three touchdowns in a game since Dion Lewis in 2009. He also scored one of his five touchdowns in the ACC championship game victory against Wake Forest.
In 2022, he rushed for 74 yards and two touchdowns in the opener against West Virginia. He was injured in that game and missed the next five, but he recorded perhaps his finest career performance in the Sun Bowl victory against UCLA when he gained 94 yards, scored twice and was named MVP.
He collected a career-high 547 yards in 2023 but carried the football only 12 times for 35 yards this season. He concludes his Pitt career with 1,546 yards and 14 touchdowns on 341 carries, a 4.5 average.
Hammond is joined by four Pitt teammates who have revealed plans to transfer. Center Terrence Moore, cornerback Noah Biglow and defensive tackle Nahki Johnson (West Mifflin) declared Monday. Running back Montravius Lloyd announced his plans Tuesday. He totaled five carries for 20 yards in 2023 but did not appear in any games this season.
Also, defensive tackle Elliot Donald (Central Catholic) and wide receiver Lamar Seymore no longer are listed on the roster on the team’s official website.
— Montravius ( WIZZ ) Lloyd (@LloydMontravius) December 3, 2024