The end of last season left a sour taste in the mouths of Pitt football fans. After a 7-0 start to the season, a six-game losing streak ended in a heartbreaking bowl game loss to Toledo in overtime.
In the current transfer portal era of college football, one would expect such a difficult second half of a season to break a team, but with many rumors swirling during the off-season, head coach Pat Narduzzi was successful in keeping star junior quarterback Eli Holstein, First Team All-American running back Desmond Reid, and First Team All-American linebacker Kyle Louis. The expectations for the Panthers are the highest since the ACC-winning team in 2019.
But, when a team such as the Panthers finds itself in limbo between a low-level bowl game and a potential conference-winner, it is not always the named stars that make the difference. Instead, it is the low-level starters and high-level backups that can mean another bowl matchup against Toledo or a trip to the College Football Playoffs.
Cornerbacks
Pitt’s 2024 defense was headlined by the linebackers, also known as the “Sharks.” Louis, junior Rasheem Biles, and former sixth-year Brandon George headlined this group that led the Panthers to that initial 7-0 start to the season. But it was not enough — the defense proceeded to give up over 35 points per game in the remaining six games of the season.
This season, the key to Pitt’s defense is the secondary, specifically senior cornerbacks Rashad Battle and Tamon Lynum. In a pass-heavy ACC, the two veteran leaders in the secondary will have to do their best to mitigate long gains and allow one of the best front sevens in the ACC to get after opposing quarterbacks. Much of the media attention this offseason has been focused on the strengths of the linebacker corps and line, but in order for the defense to truly shine, the secondary has to do its job.
Tight Ends
After tight end Gavin Bartholomew was drafted in the sixth round of the NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, his vacancy has left a lot of questions for the Pitt offense. His measly 322 yards don’t tell the full story of his dependability for Holstein during clutch conversions and big plays.
Sixth-year senior tight end Jake Overman impressed last year to the tune of 160 yards, but his big 6’4”, 240 frame has excited coaches with his blocking and receiving as a well-rounded tight end. What Overman has in his blocking, he lacks in big-play ability.
Pitt has two players who will look to incorporate themselves in that role. Junior transfer Justin Holmes and sophomore Malachi Thomas. Both have capable hands, with Holmes especially using his 245-pound body to impress coaches in the red zone during training camp.
The tight end position is critical in both blocking for Reid and giving Holstein trustworthy targets in short field opportunities.
Offensive Line
Pitt will succeed off the backs of Holstein and Reid, but those protecting the two Pitt stars will certainly control the trajectory of the season for the rest of the team. After an injury-riddled back half of the season, which saw over half of the starters on the offensive line miss time, Narduzzi focused on bringing in established veterans to complement the rest of the offense. This came in the form of senior left tackle Jeff Persi and senior left guard Keith Gouvia.
Pitt by no means has a young offensive line — all five starters on the line are listed as upperclassmen — but the experience these two transfers bring to Holstein’s blind side can not be understated. Much of the success of the offense will rest on the 6’8” 315-pound Persi, as well as the equally large 6’4” 310 Gouveia. The health of Holstein and Reid is the difference between another disappointing affair or history for the Panthers, so these two names should be on the minds of all Panther fans heading into the new season.
With all the turmoil and heartaches of Pitt football, it’s difficult to have any faith moving forward, but the stars of this squad, along with the backbone of some of the names mentioned here, could propel Pitt into an unforgettable season.
The talent is there for the Panthers to make history, but it will come from those middling names who decide to step up and change the season themselves.
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