Razorback Roster Rundown: No. 41 TJ Hammonds

This article is part of a series previewing the Razorbacks’ 2020 football roster.

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Joe T. Robinson alum T.J. Hammonds is one of just four 2016 class members left on the Hill. Of his classmates, eight graduated, four medically retired, six transferred and one was dismissed from the team.

Hammonds looked like he may not make it to graduation as a Hog after a brief stint away from the team in the spring of 2019 but he returned as a walk-on for the 2019 season and is now back on scholarship for his final season.

Hammonds suffered an injury during his first fall camp but played in seven games anyways. He put up 88 yards on 15 carries with four first downs, good for a 5.9 yards per carry. He had his first touchdown of the season at home in Little Rock against Alcorn State.

As a sophomore, Hammonds played in all 12 games but only doubled his carries with David Williams, Devwah Whaley and Chase Hayden ahead of him. Despite never cracking the starting depth chart and being hampered by injuries, the Arkansas native has shown real big play ability.

Against Coastal Carolina in 2017, he took a screen pass 60 yards for a touchdown and had an 88-yard scamper, helping the Razorbacks avoid an embarrassing loss. In Arkansas's embarrassing 2018 loss to Colorado State, he took a pop pass 64 yards for a touchdown.

Hammonds ended up taking advantage of new NCAA legislation and redshirted his junior season with a full depth chart at running back and wide receiver limiting his usage.

The depth chart wasn't any clearer for Hammonds in 2019, which is why he only got on the field in five games, but the Razorbacks were still able to get him a little more involved. He had 65 rushing yards on eight carries, while hauling in four passes for 10 yards, with three kick returns for a total of 61 yards.

Hammonds worked with both the running backs and the wide receivers in multiple seasons, which could open the door for him to compete for some more snaps in his final year.

T.J. Hammonds once again has the benefit of a clean slate with a new staff and it's come right in time for his final season at Arkansas. Despite fewer than 300 snaps in his career so far with the Razorbacks, he still has a lot to offer both on offense and special teams.

Kendal Briles does have starting returners at running back and all three receiver spots but after that, the snaps are up for grabs and, with Hammonds' explosivity, it won't be a surprise to see him used in both the running and passing game.

Hammonds, Micahh Smith, Deon Edwards and Jonathan Marshall–all four stragglers from the 2016 class–have a big opportunity to make important contributions, whether their roles are minor or major.

A four-star athlete coming out of Joe T. Robinson in Little Rock, Hammonds was the No. 250 overall prospect in the Class of 2016 and the No.2 prospect in Arkansas behind almost-5-star McTelvin Agim. He turned down offers Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma State, TCU and several other schools to stay home and play for the Razorbacks.

Hammonds was one of the first commits in the 2016 class, pledging his talents in the spring after his junior season.

Since Hammonds' commitment, Arkansas has had a strong pipeline at Robinson high school. David Porter and Koilan Jackson signed in the 2017 class, Zach Williams signed in 2019, JT Towers signed in 2020 and the Hogs are on another major prospect in the 2022 class, offensive lineman E'Marion Harris.

MORE: Razorback Roster Rundown