Pitt target’s JUCO coach likes his ex-player’s shooting ability, swagger
Pitt coach Jeff Capel has four scholarships available for the 2019-20 season, and he appears to be saving one of them for junior college guard Ryan Murphy. Luke Adams, who was Murphy’s coach at New Mexico Junior College last season, confirmed Pitt has made his former player an offer. Pitt...
Pitt could play at Fenway Park come 2020 bowl season
Just what the college football world has been missing all these years: A rematch of the 2011-2012 BBVA Compass Bowl between Pitt and SMU. Yes, it’s possible by the 2020 postseason now that the ACC and the AAC are creating a bowl game to be played at Fenway Park in...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi golfing for his ‘passion’ – cancer researchVideo
The most important part of the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl Challenge is not 12 college football coaches trying to outdo each other on a golf course. It’s competing, for sure, but every penny of the $650,000 prize pool, including the winner’s purse of $100,000, goes toward scholarships and charities earmarked by...
Franklin Regional grad Colin Jonov invited to Bills rookie minicamp
Colin Jonov, a cornerback, has been invited to attend Buffalo Bills rookie minicamp, according to his Twitter account. The 2014 Franklin Regional graduate spent the past season as a graduate transfer at Pitt, where he played in 11 games, mainly on special teams. Congrats to FSQ Athlete @ColkyJonov10 on his...
Pitt’s Jeff Capel offers scholarship to Trey McGowens’ brother
If you’re a Pitt fan, feel free to over-react to Bryce McGowens pinning one of his latest tweets atop his page Monday, the one proclaiming he has received a scholarship offer from Panthers coach Jeff Capel. Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Pittsburgh?#H2P pic.twitter.com/u5OGeqv1zw— Bryce McGowens (@BryceMcgowens5)...
Former Pitt star Qadree Ollison stands out among Falcons RBsVideo
Qadree Ollison isn’t entering an especially crowded running back situation in Atlanta. In fact, physically, the former Pitt running back will stand out in the crowd at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds because the other backs are listed at 5-8 (Devonta Freeman and Marcus Green) and 5-9 (Ito Smith). No question, the...
Big day for Pitt’s Elijah Zeise: Graduation and a call from the NFL
Elijah Zeise was standing in line with his fellow graduates Saturday at PPG Paints Arena, getting ready to accept his diploma from the University of Pittsburgh. Suddenly, his phone rang. It was the Los Angeles Chargers, calling to offer Zeise a free agent contract to continue his football career. Nothing...
Pitt gets verbal commitment from Georgia wide receiver Jaylon Barden
On the night when several former Pitt players started chasing their NFL dream, coach Pat Narduzzi received a verbal commitment from a rising high school senior. Jaylon Barden, a three-star wide receiver from Macon Ga., announced on his Twitter account that he plans to enroll next year. 1000% Committed... Now...
Pitt’s Qadree Ollison picked in the 5th round by Falcons
Pitt running back Qadree Ollison waited a bit more than two hours Saturday, but he finally heard his name called in the fifth round of the NFL Draft when he was picked 152nd overall by the Atlanta Falcons. We got 99 problems and Qadree is all of them. ? pic.twitter.com/sWZhsxWjqT—...
Former Pitt guard Kham Davis picks Weber State
Guard Khameron Davis, who started 23 games as a freshman at Pitt before accepting a lesser role under coach Jeff Capel last season, will transfer to Weber State, the Standard-Examiner of Ogden, Utah, reported. Davis, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, will sit one season and have two years of eligibility remaining. “The...
Witness in NCAA basketball corruption trial says he paid Pitt, Penn State players
A continuing trial into corruption in NCAA basketball took a turn into college football Tuesday, when a former Pittsburgh financial adviser said he paid players from several major football programs, including Pitt and Penn State. Marty Blazer, an informant for federal investigators into their probe of payments made to college...
Pitt signs 4-star wing player to letter of intent
Justin Champagnie, a 6-foot-5, four-star wing player from Brooklyn, N.Y., signed his letter of intent with Pitt after verbally committing to coach Jeff Capel in March. “Justin is a high-energy player who competes hard on every possession,” Capel said in a statement. “He has the skill set and versatility to...
Pitt’s Gerald Drumgoole backs up his commitment, signs letter of intent
After verbally committing to Pitt in February, wing player Gerald Drumgoole signed his letter of intent Wednesday and will join the Panthers for the upcoming season. Drumgoole, 6-foot-6, 200 pounds, played last season at national powerhouse La Lumiere (Ind.), helping the team to a 29-1 record and runner-up finish in...
Pitt football and South Side shop spar over ‘412’ trademark
The University of Pittsburgh football team may yet wear 412 on their helmets this season. A Pittsburgh trademark attorney said Monday that South Side apparel shop merchandise company Shop412 is “splitting hairs” in its alleged trademark dispute with the university over the 412 area code. “The picture of the Pitt...
Pitt football gets its second 2020 commitment
Pitt received its second commitment from the class of 2020 Saturday when offensive lineman Michael Statham announced on Twitter he will enroll next year. 110% COMMITTED pic.twitter.com/niMc3jL0pI— Michael Statham (@_bigmike57) April 14, 2019 Statham, who attends St. Frances High School in Baltimore, has nine scholarship offers from Power 5 schools,...
Shocky Jacques-Louis, Paris Ford see stock rise during Pitt’s spring game
These players stood out Saturday in Pitt’s Blue-Gold Game: Offense Quarterback Kenny Pickett After a tough ending to last season, Pickett used some new techniques taught to him by offensive coordinator Mark Whipple (footwork, etc.) and looked confident in the pocket. He completed 10 of 14 passes for 125 yards...
Deep passing game emerges in Pitt spring game
Placing too much significance on spring football is often folly, but three Pitt players were so sure in their declarations after the Blue-Gold Game on Saturday that they should not be ignored. • In his own words, wide receiver Tre Tipton is “lovin’ life,” a revelation that actually hit him...
Former Pitt great Aaron Donald wants to remain humbleVideo
When Aaron Donald wants to work out at Pitt’s South Side facility – and that’s almost every day – he calls ahead. “I just want to make sure I’m not in the way,” he said. The two-time defending NFL Defensive Player of the Year and one of the most decorated...
Pitt football announces most improved awards prior to Blue/Gold game
Two Pitt players switching positions, one who has battled a variety of injuries and a redshirt sophomore who moved onto the No. 1 offensive line two weeks ago were named winners of the Ed Conway Award as the most improved players in spring ball. Former safety Phil Campbell, who is...
Pitt players, coaches visit Children’s Hospital, 6 other sites around townVideo
When Pat Narduzzi, his players and coaches visited Children’s Hospital on Friday, he played catch with one patient, colored with another (and stayed inside the lines) and at the end of day was reminded of how lucky he is to coach Pitt’s football team. The visit was part of a...
5 things to watch in Pitt’s spring game
Pitt will celebrate its football program — past and present — Saturday with its spring game at Heinz Field. It’s an opportunity to get a look at what Pat Narduzzi, his coaches and players have worked on for the past month, and to maybe meet the game’s honorary coaches, former...
Aaron Donald makes historic 7-figure donation to Pitt football
Aaron Donald, the two-time defending NFL Defensive Player of the Year of the Los Angeles Rams, is doing more than lifting weights at the University of Pittsburgh Performance center. Pitt announced Friday morning that Donald, a Penn Hills graduate who was the nation’s most dominant defender in 2013, has made...
Pitt’s Jimmy Morrissey out for spring game; recovery from foot surgery going well
Pat Narduzzi said junior center Jimmy Morrissey won’t play in Pitt’s Blue-Gold Game on Saturday at Heinz Field, but his recovery from season-ending foot surgery is going well. Which is good news considering he is Pitt’s most experienced offensive lineman and perhaps its most valuable player on offense who doesn’t...
How strategy played a role in Pitt’s spring game draft
When Pitt senior defensive tackle Amir Watts made safety Jazzee Stocker the first pick in the spring game draft Thursday, he shouted, “You’re the first pick. We want to make you a very rich man.” But Watts’ co-captain on the gold squad, senior wide receiver Maurice Ffrench, had another reason...
Pitt secondary brings necessary experience, leadership to the team
Most mornings this spring around 7 a.m., Pitt safeties coach Cory Sanders expected a text message from sophomore Paris Ford. “Coach, you there?” “He wanted to get some extra work,” Sanders said, “which a lot of those guys do.” With only two of 15 practices remaining this spring, Pitt’s secondary...
