With a week of camp to go, here’s a positional look at Pitt’s roster
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Pat Narduzzi and his Pitt coaching staff analyze the roster daily, watching practice video, discussing potential role changes and thinking up new ways to confuse the opponent based on the talent available.
Those meetings are closed, and what a journalistic coup that would be to get invited to a Narduzzi staff meeting.
But, failing that, this seems like a good time to look at the Pitt roster, position-by-position, now that the opener against West Virginia is little more than one week away.
Quarterback
This has been a two-man battle since the day Nick Patti was fully recovered from his Peach Bowl injury — not as long as you might think after his New Year’s Eve shoulder surgery.
With Kedon Slovis and Patti, Pitt has two capable quarterbacks.
“We can win a lot of games with both of them,” Narduzzi said.
Both are 6-foot-3 (ideal height for a college quarterback), with Patti 10 pounds heavier at 225. And they’re not kids: Slovis is 21, Patti 22.
Slovis appears to be the front-runner, based on his experience – 7,576 yards passing in three seasons at USC – but Patti is skilled, courageous and respected in the locker room.
No one will be surprised if or when Narduzzi names Slovis the starter, but Patti would be a solid Plan B.
Running back
Narduzzi wants a back he can trust to pass-block, gain extra yards when he reaches the second level of the defense and keep the football off the ground.
Pick a starter out of the hat (how about Izzy Abanikanda?), but Vincent Davis, Rodney Hammond Jr. and C’Bo Flemister will get plenty of opportunities.
Wide receiver/tight end
How can Pitt’s passing game not take a step back after losing Jordan Addison and Kenny Pickett? But it’s always next man up, and Jared Wayne, Konata Mumpfield, transfer Bub Means, Jaylon Barden and Jaden Bradley offer five of them. No one needs to be Addison, but each receiver is expected to be reliable and minimize his drops.
Sophomore tight end Gavin Bartholomew is another aerial threat, and transfer Karter Johnson has flashed in camp. One of the objectives is to increase Bartholomew’s average of 11.7 yards per catch last season, but even that was good for a freshman tight end.
Offensive line
With five starters returning, there might not be much room or playing time for backups. But Matt Goncalves and Blake Zubovic refuse to be ignored. It will be interesting to see how line coach Dave Borbely works 6-foot-7, 335-pound freshman Ryan Baer into the rotation.
Defensive line
Line coach Charlie Partridge will make ample use of his depth early when the sun is hot and late when some players are getting worn down.
Meanwhile, Calijah Kancey will anchor the interior, with Deslin Alexandre and Habakkuk Baldonado at ends.
When (not if) he’s drafted, Baldonado will be the first Italian-born defensive lineman to achieve that distinction since the San Francisco 49ers took Leo Nomellini in the first round in 1950.
Linebacker
Coaches will tell you they are not finished with their evaluations, but many signs point to middle man SirVocea Dennis being flanked by Bangally Kamara and Shayne Simon.
There have been several indications depth eventually will emerge among Solomon DeShields, Tylar Wiltz, Brandon George and a few others.
Defensive back
Any defensive coach believes you can’t put a price on two experienced safeties working side by side. But invaluable and job-saving might be two adjectives that fit.
The feeling in camp – where there has been nothing but positivity for nearly a month – is that Brandon Hill and Erick Hallett will form one of the best safety tandems in the nation.
Is there reason to believe Hill and Hallett will perform better than seasoned safeties Damar Hamlin and Paris Ford did in 2020? Perhaps. Hill, in fact, replaced Ford midway through that season.
If speed and athleticism matter at cornerback, there is plenty of that with Marquis Williams, A.J. Woods and M.J. Devonshire.
Kicker/punter
Sam Scarton and Ben Sauls shared the kicking duties last season, with Scarton hitting 17 of 21 field goal attempts and Sauls kicking off.
Freshman Sam Vander Haar will give Pitt a new leg at punter for the first time since 2018. Punting often involves stress, but coaches seem confident the 25-year-old, Australian-born Vander Haar can handle it.