PITTSBURGH – Practice No. 6 on a warm, sunny Tuesday morning at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex featured the first “live” work this summer for the Pitt Panthers, and like Pat Narduzzi, the players were clearly excited to get to work. Pitt is following a three days on, one day off model, so with practices […]
PITTSBURGH – Practice No. 6 on a warm, sunny Tuesday morning at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex featured the first “live” work this summer for the Pitt Panthers, and like Pat Narduzzi, the players were clearly excited to get to work.
Pitt is following a three days on, one day off model, so with practices Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, tomorrow is a day off.
But not before Tuesday’s lively session.
The portion of practice available to the media didn’t feature a whole lot of live work, just one 1-minute-long period, but it’s starting to actually feel like football is right around the corner.
The pieces are coming together. There’s only so much that’s able to be shared from practice, but one thing is for certain – it’s Eli Holstein’s offense.
He’s been his usual self, loud and energetic, but it really does look like he’s taken the reins. He isn’t in a competition for the starting spot and picking up the playbook; he’s been there, done that and looks poised to build upon the work he’s put in this offseason.
I know there’s some… I don’t want to say concern. Maybe apprehension? He was all-world coming out of the gates, hit a rough patch midway through the season and injuries kept him off the field throughout. He wasn’t 100% in the spring. He is now. The jump Holstein can make will determine the ceiling for the Panthers this season, and he’s doing and saying all the right things right now. He’s mobile, spreading the wealth and embracing his role as a leader. He’s shown he can do it.
I’d say Cole Gonzales probably has the leg up on Mason Heintschel at this point in the summer, but that will be an interesting battle to follow.
As will be the battle upfront.
Lyndon Cooper, BJ Williams and Ryan Baer are pretty much locked into their spots on the right side of the line. Jeff Persi and Kendall Stanley are competing for the left tackle spot, with Stanley also getting some work on the interior, but Narduzzi would like to see more of the guards step up so Stanley doesn’t have to work at guard. He mentioned a name – Torian Chester – before practice.
Chester – a 6-foot-4, 325-pound true freshman from Albany, Ga. – is young, but as Narduzzi pointed out, so was Williams when he started as a true freshman in 2023.
I’d still say that the starting O-line, right now, would be (from left to right): Jeff Persi, Keith Gouveia, Lyndon Cooper, BJ Williams and Ryan Baer. With Stanley as the swing tackle.
Other positions are starting to become more solidified, too. Jake Overman is the alpha at tight end, and Kenny Johnson, Poppi Williams and Blue Hicks are emerging at wide receiver. Still waiting to see who else steps up between Zion Fowler-El, Deuce Spann, Censere Lee and Tyreek Robinson.
I know Jimmy Scott is a returning starter at defensive end, but I’ve been impressed by Blaine Spires and Jaeden Moore (he’s been my breakout candidate since the spring), and the coaching staff and their teammates agree. Zach Crothers is making some noise. Julian Anderson, a true freshman who enrolled early, blew up a play during the live period. I’m bullish on the defensive line as a whole. Especially with guys like Sean FitzSimmons, Francis Brewu (who benches 475 and squats 685), Nick James and Jahsear Whittington on the inside.
The Pitt linebacking corps is the strongest unit on the team, with Kyle Louis, Rasheem Biles and Braylan Lovelace forming one of, if not the best units in college football. Jeremiah Marcelin has solidified himself as the No. 4 guy in the room, and Jayden Bonsu and Cameron Lindsey are competing for a spot at Star behind Louis.
I’ve been impressed by Lindsey since the spring. He’s aggressive, instinctual and athletic. He’s likely a guy who’s going to emerge sooner than later.
Didn’t get to see a whole lot of Pitt special teams work, just some punts from Caleb Junko and Cade Dowd, but I don’t see Pitt entering the season with anyone but Junko as the starter. I’m more uncertain about kicker – Narduzzi said that James London currently leads Sam Carpenter by a hair.
Category: General Sports
