Panthers claim RB Elijah Hood off waivers from the Raiders

Among those who were let go by the Raiders to make room for three tryout players this week was one of last year’s seventh round picks, Elijah Hood. Today the North Carolina alum was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers.

Hood was buried on the depth chart at running back for the Raiders last season. This year, they returned Marshawn Lynch, Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington while adding Doug Martin.

They didn’t use a draft choice on a running back, but when the team added former Texas running back Chris Warren III after his minicamp tryout, it was Hood who got the ax to make room on the roster.

It’s a homecoming for Hood who returns to his native North Carolina where he also starred at running back for the Tarheels. I remember just how excited he was on conference call after being drafted because he was joining the team with his idol, Marshawn Lynch. While his time with Marshawn was short, he gets a great chance to go home and make a career for himself there.