FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ offense has enjoyed a late-season resurgence from running back T.J. Hammonds.
Following what many viewed as a breakout sophomore season from the Little Rock native in 2017, Hammonds’ in-game impact has since come in small doses, and not always been beneficial for the Razorbacks.
That has not been the case against LSU and Missouri.
“He’s been showing up these past few weeks and we appreciate that,” offensive lineman Myron Cunningham said Tuesday. “He works hard throughout the week and it shows come game time.”
During Arkansas’ loss at Missouri, Hammonds put together his best rushing performance in more than three years, finishing with 52 yards on six carries — an average of 8.7 yards per touch. It was his most rushing yards in a game since he totaled 119 and a touchdown on seven carries against Coastal Carolina in 2017.
Hammonds appears to have made the most of his chances in the absence of running back Rakeem Boyd, who missed the LSU game on Nov. 21 due to being in quarantine then opted out of the final two games of the season. Trelon Smith, who backed up Boyd much of the season, has taken a starting role since his departure.
But Arkansas has made an effort to get Hammonds involved both through the air and on the ground.
Based on a pair of explosive plays against LSU that totaled 80 yards, Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman said last week that Hammonds had earned more touches and prepared well ahead of the Missouri game.
“I think he can (build on that game),” Pittman said. “I mean, he made a really nice catch across the middle, then he made a really nice run out of the backfield. We’ve always known he’s had speed. We’re proud he made those plays.”
Smith, who rushed for a career-high 172 yards and three touchdowns in the 50-48 loss at Mizzou, said Hammonds stepped up Saturday in the run game. Four of his six carries came in the fourth quarter, and his two touches on Arkansas’ final series netted 20 yards.
According to SECStatCat.com, Hammonds is averaging 2.8 yards per carry after contact. Five of his nine runs have resulted in a first down.
Hammonds’ time at Arkansas has been a rollercoaster. In 2018, he participated in four games and did not play after the fifth game then later underwent in-season knee surgery. The following spring, he was not with the team due to an academic issue, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.
Hammonds rejoined the team in May 2019 but did not play in the first four games in the fall.
He appeared in five games last year and was on the field for 47 plays, including 36 on offense, according to Pro Football Focus. He totaled 65 rushing yards on 8 carries; caught 4 passes for 10 yards; and returned 3 kickoffs for 61 yards.
Arkansas receiver Treylon Burks, who finished with a career-high 206 receiving yards against Missouri, has been proud of Hammonds’ play and effort of late. He said the two talk often about how Hammonds will respond when given the opportunity to produce.
“T.J., that's my boy,” Burks said Tuesday. “As you can see, he's reacted positively to it. I just told him to keep his head straight. Don't get the big head and keep pushing forward.”