Pitt center Jimmy Morrissey joins Raiders as 7th-round draft choice
Only five years ago, Jimmy Morrissey was a walk-on at Pitt, hoping to earn a scholarship. Now, he’s in the NFL. After starting as Pitt’s center for four seasons, serving as co-captain for the last two and earning All-ACC honors the last three, Morrissey (6-foot-3, 303 pounds) received the call...
Former Central Catholic, Pitt star Damar Hamlin goes to Bills in 6th round
Damar Hamlin spent so much time at Pitt — five seasons from 2016-20 — that it might be difficult to imagine him in another uniform. But the free safety from McKees Rocks and Central Catholic will wear the colors of the Buffalo Bills after they drafted him in the sixth...
After missing Pitt season as opt-out, Jaylen Twyman goes to Vikings in 6th round
Jaylen Twyman, who opted out of the 2020 season after being named a preseason All-American, had to wait until the sixth round Saturday before he was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings. Twyman was selected by the Vikings with the 199th overall selection, the same spot where seven-time Super Bowl winner...
Jets choose Pitt cornerback Jason Pinnock in 5th round
Pat Narduzzi called it: Jason Pinnock made some money at Pitt’s Pro Day. The former Pitt cornerback will get a chance this summer to earn a regular NFL paycheck after he was drafted by the New York Jets in the fifth round (175 overall) on Saturday. The Pick is IN!!!...
2 years after knee injury, Pitt’s Rashad Weaver drafted in 4th round by Titans
When Pitt defensive end Rashad Weaver suffered a serious knee injury in training camp two years ago and needed season-ending surgery, he didn’t feel sorry for himself. It just reinforced the work ethic that carried him through his five-year Pitt career. LETS GOOOO! I’m so thankful for the @titans believing...
Pitt’s Patrick Jones II goes to the Vikings in 3rd round
During the 2020 season when many college football players decided to stay on the sideline and opt out, Patrick Jones II opted in. And the result surfaced Friday night when Jones, one of Pitt’s two consensus All-American defensive ends last season, was chosen in the third round (No. 90 overall)...
Pitt players eagerly await NFL Draft weekend
Here’s what we know about the NFL Draft, for sure: We don’t know anything, for sure. There was plenty of speculation — both good and bad — last month after Pitt’s Pro Day when the 10 Panthers who hired agents, plus several others, worked out for NFL scouts, coaches and...
On cusp of NFL career, ex-Pitt player Damar Hamlin enters new world of digital trading cards
Damar Hamlin can’t control when he will be drafted, which NFL team will pull the trigger or how long the process will take. But the former Pitt and Central Catholic defensive back said he’s more than ready to be a professional, and he’s acting that way off the field, too....
Pitt tackle Carson Van Lynn opts to transfer, enters NCAA portal
Pitt lost some of its depth on the offensive line when tackle Carson Van Lynn placed his name in the NCAA transfer portal. I have nothing but love and immense pride in being a Pitt man. Pitt is a very special institution with coaches and staff who truly care about...
While remaining on covid-19 pause, Pitt baseball cancels weekend series with Northern Kentucky
For the second consecutive week, Pitt baseball canceled its three-game weekend series Monday due to the team remaining in covid-19 protocol. The Panthers were scheduled to play Northern Kentucky in nonconference games Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Charles L. Cost Field. Pitt’s three-game series last weekend at No. 5...
Plenty of familiar faces give Pitt’s defense running start into 2021 season
Assuming the injured players heal over the summer — and Pat Narduzzi seemed confident they will — Pitt can almost repopulate its 2021 defense with some of the unit’s best players from a year ago. And that group doesn’t include at least five players who may assume more significant roles...
Positive signs abound during Pitt’s spring game, but can they last into the season?
The big questions that need to be answered after Pitt’s Blue Gold game Saturday at Heinz Field are these: What did all the positive signs mean? • Can they be sustainable through the summer, into training camp and during the season when the games count? • What about the improved...
Pitt’s Izzy Abanikanda, John Petrishen named Conway Award winners as most improved players in spring drills
Two players pushing starters for playing time were named the most improved players during Pitt’s spring drills. Running back Izzy Abanikanda and senior outside linebacker John Petrishen (Lower Burrell/Central Catholic) were chosen on both sides of the ball by coach Pat Narduzzi and his staff. The announcement was made Saturday...
Pitt announces signing of hard-nosed guard Jamarius Burton
The Panthers made it official Friday when they announced the transfer of Texas Tech guard Jamarius Burton, who averaged 4.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists this past season for the Red Raiders. Burton announced his commitment to the program Tuesday, marking the second transfer Jeff Capel has brought in...
Pitt All-Americans Kayla Lund, Chinaza Ndee returning for 2021 volleyball season
The Pitt women’s volleyball team received big news Friday as senior All-Americans Kayla Lund and Chinaza Ndee announced they were electing to return for the 2021-22 season. Lund and Chinaza will use their extra season of eligibility that was granted by the NCAA after the coronavirus pandemic impacted this past...
Pitt center Owen Drexel ready to live up to standards set by Jimmy Morrissey
For the past four years, Jimmy Morrissey set the standard for Pitt centers. He made 47 career starts at the position after walking onto the team as a freshman and earning the starting job year later. He went on to become the first Pitt center to earn an All-ACC selection...
Pitt athletes tops in NCAA Division I for community service
No NCAA Division I school had more athletes spending more hours on community service projects in the first three months of 2021 than Pitt. The Panthers were rewarded for their efforts with the NCAA Team Works Community Service Competition Award on Thursday afternoon. All Pitt student-athletes participated in at least...
Pitt holds annual draft for Saturday’s Blue-Gold spring game
The teams have been chosen for Pitt’s Blue-Gold spring game, which is set to take place at 1 p.m. Saturday at Heinz Field. Defensive coordinator Randy Bates will head the Blue team, which will be captained by quarterback Kenny Pickett and cornerback Damarri Mathis. Tight ends coach Tim Salem will...
Pitt’s Jeff Capel ‘excited’ to add Oakland transfer Dan Oladapo
The Pitt men’s basketball program officially added Oakland transfer Dan Oladapo on Wednesday after the rebounding specialist announced his transfer earlier this week. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward started all 30 games and averaged 12.9 points and 8.8 rebounds for the Golden Grizzlies this past season as they reached the Horizon...
Pitt volleyball players make program history with All-America selections
Pitt volleyball’s historic season reached another milestone moment Wednesday when two players were named to the All-America second team for the first time in program history. Senior outside hitter Kayla Lund was named to the All-America second team for the second straight season and became the first player in Pitt...
Texas Tech transfer Jamarius Burton announces commitment to Pitt
Pitt men’s basketball coach Jeff Capel has had an eventful 24 hours. After landing a commitment from Oakland University transfer Dan Oladapo on Monday, Texas Tech transfer guard Jamarius Burton announced his commitment to the Panthers via his Instagram account Tuesday night. View this post on Instagram A post shared...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi sees improvement heading into Blue-Gold spring game
It was cold and gloomy Saturday, but Pat Narduzzi got a clear look at his football team when the offense and defense squared off in a 137-play scrimmage at Heinz Field. In a video conference call with media members Tuesday, Narduzzi said the offense won the scrimmage by a few...
Pitt picks up rebounding specialist via transfer from Oakland University
After losing a handful of players to the transfer portal since the end of the season, Pitt basketball showed Monday that the process is, in fact, a two-way street. The Panthers received a commitment from Oakland University transfer Dan Oladapo, a 6-foot-7 forward best known for his rebounding prowess. Oladapo,...
Pitt women’s volleyball misses out on Final Four in excruciating NCAA regional final loss
Pitt came within a set — and, for brief moments, a point — of the athletic department’s first Final Four in 70 years. Playing in its first NCAA regional final in program history, the Panthers women’s volleyball team lost an excruciating fashion to Washington in a five-set thriller Monday afternoon...
Pitt, Penn State, WVU soccer teams earn at-large bids to NCAA Tournament
Members of the Pitt men’s soccer team knew they would be in the field for the NCAA Tournament after reaching a No. 1 ranking at the end of the regular season. Despite falling to Clemson in the ACC’s automatic qualifier match Saturday, the Panthers secured an at-large berth into the...
