After being ruled ineligible for the year at the beginning of the 2024 season, Pat Narduzzi announced Thursday that Rodney Hammond Jr. has now been deemed eligible to play Saturday against North Carolina.
On Aug. 30, a day before Pitt was set to open its season against Kent State, the Panthers released a statement that stated: "Running back Rodney Hammond Jr. has been declared ineligible for 2024 season game competition. Hammond remains a member of the program and is permitted to practice with the team."
Now, almost five weeks later, Hammond will have the opportunity to help the Panthers try to improve to 5-0 on the season and earn a victory at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. for the first time in program history.
"He's practiced up and ready to roll," Narduzzi said Thursday during his press conference. "We're excited as a coaching staff, as a team, that he is back. It's a great thing for everybody. We're facing a great North Carolina football team, regardless of what you guys think, you watch the tape, you put it on, they are talented, they can run, they got all the tools and we'll have our hands full as we go down there."
They'll have one extra playmaker as well. Narduzzi said he learned Wednesday that Hammond would be reinstated, which is something that he was hoping for. However, Narduzzi didn't go into further detail and when he was asked if there was an appeal process for Hammond's suspension, he said: "Right now, he's ready to play, that's all I care about and that's all we're going to focus on and we're going to focus on North Carolina."
Hammond has been a mainstay in the Pitt locker room since joining the program as a freshman in 2021. He's tallied just over 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns on 329 rushing attempts over the past three years and will immediately add a new weapon to Pitt's offense. He'll join Desmond Reid in the backfield after the Western Carolina transfer has already racked up 486 yards and four touchdowns on offense, along with a punt return touchdown, in just three games.
Narduzzi said nothing will change in the backfield as far as who is starting, but Hammond will play a role moving forward as he's been practicing with the team since being ruled ineligible.
"He's been great, he's been mature, it's weird because you don't know when it's going to happen," Narduzzi said. "But I grabbed him over the weekend and just said, 'You need to take every rep, we're playing the best.' He was on the scout team on Tuesday and I said 'You need to go out there and play and be that guy and give us the best possible look. You're the guy and I want you taking every rep.' He went out there Tuesday and got after it. Obviously, things happen for a reason and he's got some good work in."
Hammond returning to the backfield gives Kade Bell and Eli Holstein another option out of the backfield. He's a seasoned veteran who has played a big role in the past and was expected to take another step forward this season. When you add Reid into the equation, the pair can create a dangerous tandem. Before he was ruled ineligible, Hammond said he and Reid "are going to be something the people want to see. So we are going to put on a show every Saturday, Thursday, whatever day, Sunday, I don’t care. Whatever day you want to see us play, we are here."
In Bell's offense, the pair could do just that. They both can find holes in the middle of the offensive line, but can also bounce runs to the outside and hurt defenses in the passing game. Hammond has shown that in the past and Reid has done so throughout this season.
"Rodney has been good with ball skills out of the backfield to begin with," Narduzzi said. "I mean go back to the ACC Championship, I can still see him running down that far sideline. He’s got ball skills out of the backfield so he can do it all. He’s was all through spring field so it’s not like it’s a new offense and he’s a smart football player."
The Pitt offense was already dangerous and is currently fifth in the country in scoring, averaging 48.5 points per game and has averaged 522.8 yards per game, which is the sixth-best mark in the country. Now, they add another weapon to an already loaded backfield with Reid, Derrick Davis Jr. and Daniel Carter as they prepare for their first conference matchup of the year.
