Pitt received more bad news Tuesday when it was revealed senior cornerback Damarri Mathis will miss this season with a nonfootball related injury.
Mathis is the second key contributor Pitt announced will miss this season since camp started. Preseason All-American defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman opted out to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft.
Mathis has played in 36 games since his freshman season, with 12 starts — 10 last year. Last season, he broke up 11 passes, which was tied for second on the team with safety Paris Ford, and recorded two interceptions. Among his 23 tackles were two for loss.
Mathis was part of Pitt’s experienced cornerback tandem that included senior Jason Pinnock, who has played in 34 games with nine starts.
After losing cornerback Dane Jackson to the NFL, coach Pat Narduzzi must turn to sophomores Marquis Williams and AJ Woods and, possibly, freshmen Rashad Battle and Jahvante Royal over the final 2 ½ weeks of training camp.
Before he revealed the news about Mathis, Narduzzi said he was pleased with Battle and Royal, plus freshman Hunter Sellers.
“One of those three are going to play for us this year,” he said. “I don’t know who can get to the 15th round of this heavyweight battle. All three of them are tough.”
“We are certainly disappointed for Damarri,” Narduzzi said later in a statement. “Fortunately, he still has a redshirt season available in addition to the eligibility relief the NCAA will provide this year.”
Mathis, who will be 22 before the start of the 2021 season, also could declare for the draft.
