PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The first Pitt player to 100 yards rushing this year is also the ACC Rookie of the Week. Rodney Hammond, Jr. gained 100 yards on 17 carries with three touchdowns against New Hampshire.
"I just want to get better every week," the freshman Hammond said after the game Saturday. "I want to be the best I can every time I step on the field."
"I expect to make plays. Any defense that lines up in front of me. I can make a play."
In high school in Norfolk this spring, Hammond had a 12 carry, 305-yard, 4-TD performance and ranked Virginia's ninth best prospect.
Hammond is the first Pitt freshman to rush for three touchdowns in a game since 2009 when Dion Lewis did it against Cincinnati.
"I look down and I see the end zone," Hammond said. "I got to get it. I can't let my team down. Every touchdown is the game winner for me."
Now Pat Narduzzi said it puts him squarely in the mix with Israel Abanikanda and Vincent Davis for prime-time reps against Georgia Tech Saturday.
"You feel like you have three tailbacks that you can go and rotate and we rotated Izzy and Vince like we said we were going to and we were able to get Rodney going," Narduzzi said. "He's strong, physical, runs low to the ground, spins and twists and just fights for those yards. He's a tough runner, and it does give him an opportunity to go play more. You've got to make sure he's good in the protections and all that stuff, but he did a nice job."
