FARMINGTON, Utah — Sacramento State senior Rodney Hammond, Jr., was named the Big Sky Special Teams Player of the Week, it was announced today. The honor is the first for Hammond in his career.

Hammond compiled 262 all-purpose yards in the team's 55-27 win at Weber State on Saturday. Serving as the team's primary kick returner, he broke his first attempt of the game for 32 yards. The Norfolk, Va., native put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter with a 99-yard kick return for a touchdown. The return is tied for the third-longest in school history and was the longest by a Hornet since Tyrone Taylor also went 99 yards at Idaho State in 1996.
 

Dealing with some slow internet but in the meantime, Rodney Hammond had a 99-yard kickoff return for the longest by a Hornet since 1996. pic.twitter.com/64fLDCfAkM

— Sac State Football (@SacHornetsFB) October 12, 2025

Hammond also played a huge role in the team's dominant running performance against the Wildcats. He had 15 carries for 106 yards and two touchdowns and was part of the first trio of 100-yard rushers in school history.

This season, Hammond leads the Hornets with 367 rushing yards and is averaging 5.4 yards per carry. He also has a team-high average of 30.8 yards per kickoff return.

Sacramento State returns home to face Northern Colorado on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 6 p.m.