So I can touch on the triad of teams that follow this site, I am going to speed run a Pitt Preview. It will be biased and overly optimistic. It’s an insight to why people don’t listen to me. Without further ado, your 2024 Pitt Panthers.
Offense: The motto of new OC Kade Bell is play faster and score faster. After a disastrous campaign ran by a WVU infiltrator in Frank Cignetti, the offense needs to be improved in order for Pitt to rebound from a 3-9 campaign. As of a week before the season starts, Pat Narduzzi has refused to name a QB. My money is on Alabama transfer Eli Holstein to be the number one guy but equally likely is longtime Panther Nate Yarnell. Featuring a tandem of backs in Rodney Hammond, who looks to finally have the year that he as well as Pitt fans have been yearning for since his electric freshman year, will be complemented by the much smaller but experienced back in Desmond Reid (transfer in from Kade Bell’s former program WCU). Wide Receiver One will be Senior Konata Mumpfield with Daejon Reynolds and highly anticipated sophomore Kenny Johnson. Poppi Williams is another small but useful tool that comes from WCU. Gavin Bartholomew will finally receive the targets he deserves as this system utilizes tight ends a lot more than the previous system. The offensive line will be up in the air with a mix of experience and young talent that have finally hit their stride coming out of camp. Hopefully the up tempo nature of the offense will be able to hide some of the holes in this unrefined offensive line.
Defense:
From 2019-2022 the Pitt Panthers had consistently finished in the top ten of defenses in sacks. 2023 was a regression to just barely in the top 50. Longtime contributors on the line have left and it leaves an unproven group to fill their places. All eyes will be on former four star and West Mifflin standout converted defensive end Nakhi Johnson. Fellow Pittsburgh native Sean Fitzsimmons to be on the other end of Johnson. The ends will feature transfers Nate Matlack (Kansas State) and Chief Borders (Nebraska) and up and comers Jimmy Scott (redshirt sophomore) and Sincere Edwards (true freshman) on the other side. The linebacking corps could be the best Narduzzi has had since 2021. 6th year senior Brandon George will start at the mike (middle linebacker), while Star (playing the field side of the ball (not close to the boundary)) Linebacker Kyle Louis has received the second most hype of anyone coming out of the fall camp. Wrapping up the money (closest to the boundary) linebacker will be Braylan Lovelace the sophomore from Apollo. Yes they are unproven but the talent here is shocking and will look to be the strength of the defense. Ryland Gandy will likely take the number one assignment placed on the DB’s and longtime contributor Rashad Battle battles (hehe) with Tamon Lynum, the Nebraska transfer to fill out the second cornerback position. While I’m highest on the Linbackers, the safety position is remarkably deep. Donovan McMillon and Javon McIntyre will be the two starting safeties who are up there with the ACC’s best. Behind them is PJ O’brien who has finally appeared to turn the corner and live up to his potential and the most talked about player from fall camp, Steele Valley native Cruce Brookins. The safeties are deep and should be the lid that caps any offense they face. If the defensive line can produce, this defense is going to be as stingy a defense as Narduzzi has had in his ten years at Pitt.
Schedule Note:
The panthers avoid any West Coast trips but have Cincinnati and WVU in the non conference. They finish the year with Syracuse, SMU, Louisville, Clemson and Boston College so the panthers will have to finish the season strong in order to avoid another disastrous campaign.