PHOTO | TROY HULL

Elijah Hood, who starred at Charlotte Catholic High as an All-America running back, is excited to have a chance to make the Carolina Panthers.

Elijah Hood grew up on Panthers running backs.

The Charlotte Catholic alumnus admired the exploits of the franchise’s ground-oriented offense, and now that he’s joined the team after a season in Oakland, is eager to line up for his hometown team.

“I’ve known Panther football all my life and the Panthers run the ball, so I’m happy I get to be part of such a storied and powerful running game,” Hood said during rookie camp at Bank of America Stadium. “Watching [Jonathan Stewart], [DeAngelo] Williams, [Tshimanga] Biakabatuka, all those guys run that rock for the Carolina blue, and I’m happy I can finally join their ranks. I’m real excited.”

If for no other reason, Hood is eager to return to Charlotte, where he was an All-America tailback who ran for 8,981 yards and 147 touchdowns in four seasons at Catholic. Hood earned all-ACC at North Carolina in 2015 after rushing for 1,463 yards and 17 touchdowns, then was a seventh-round draft pick by the Raiders in 2017, playing just one game on special teams. Instead of feeling discarded by Oakland, which brought Jon Gruden back for a second stint as head coach, Hood is invigorated by the support from friends and family.

“My phone was turned off from all the messages and calls I was getting,” he said. “Everybody from my school community, college friends, it seemed like the whole state was trying to say congrats and welcome back home. It felt real good for sure.”

Although Hood was inactive for most of his time in Oakland, he made a point of learning from Marshawn Lynch, one of the best power runners of his generation. Although Lynch is one of the league’s more mercurial personalities, Hood praised his preparation and professionalism.

“I just kind of latched on to Marshawn, honestly,” Hood said. “Just try to leach off everything from that guy: how he runs, how he sets up his broken tackles, what he’s looking for, how he makes the game easier for himself. I learned a lot from him, a lot of little subtle hints that they don’t really tell you.”  

Hood faces long odds making Carolina’s roster, where the Panthers added 1,000-yard rusher C.J. Anderson last week as the primary power back. Christian McCaffrey, last year’s No. 1 pick, is the change of pace and Cameron Artis-Payne is still around. Earning a job may come down to Hood’s effectiveness on special teams, an area the Panthers addressed by bringing back Kenjon Barner, a 2013 draft choice who spent the last three season with Philadelphia.

“It’s a great group of guys so far,” Hood said. “They’ve really welcomed me. I’m getting real comfortable, just looking forward as far as the experience we get to build up together as a team with the chemistry.”

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