Running Back TJ Hammonds Set to Rejoin the Razorbacks
When Arkansas head coach Chad Morris announced in late February that running back TJ Hammonds was no longer "with the team," it put the Hogs in a tough position for spring practice.
With his departure, Maleek Williams’ transfer to FIU and Rakeem Boyd still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, Arkansas was down to two scholarship running backs for spring practice. That prompted the Razorbacks to move defensive back Jordon Curtis to the position, which he played in high school, and had the Hogs using several walk-on running backs often.
However, Hammonds is now back with the Razorbacks after leaving the team for the spring semester. He announced the news via Twitter on Monday.
With Hammonds returning to the team, Boyd returning to full strength, adding Arizona State transfer Trelon Smith (who will sit one season) and adding A’Montae Spivey, their lone running back signee in 2019 who will join the team at the end of the month, the Hogs will have triple the depth they had for spring as they head towards fall camp.
The former 4-star and no. 250 prospect in the nation in 2016 is slated to be a redshirt junior in 2019.
Hammonds has struggled to stay healthy throughout his time as a Razorback. As a freshman, a knee injury during fall camp was thought to make him a redshirt candidate, but he managed to play in seven games. As a sophomore, he missed most of fall camp after having surgery to repair an MCL sprain, but didn’t miss any games. Last year, an ankle sprain limited Hammonds in the fall and he ultimately needed another knee surgery that ended his season.
In three seasons with the Razorbacks, the oft-injured Hammonds rushed for 378 yards on 57 carries and caught six passes for 148 yards, scoring two touchdowns apiece on the ground and through the air.
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