Jerry DiPaola stories, Page 93
Penn State’s Shaka Toney, Michal Menet, Will Fries drafted back-to-back-to-back in seventh round
Three Penn State teammates were drafted with consecutive picks in the seventh round Saturday. Edge rusher Shaka Toney, center Michal Menet and guard/tackle Will Fries were taken with picks No. 246, 247 and 248 by the Washington Football Team, Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts. The Los Angeles Rams broke the...
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!!!...
Browns pick WVU linebacker Tony Fields in 5th round
West Virginia linebacker Tony Fields II, who played one season for the Mountaineers after three years at Arizona, was selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday by the Cleveland Browns. He was drafted 153rd overall. Fields (6-foot-1, 220 pounds) recorded 88 tackles for the Mountaineers 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...
Super Bowl champ Bucs pick ex-Gateway OL Robert Hainsey in 3rd round
Gateway graduate Robert Hainsey is going home — to Florida. Before matriculating to Notre Dame to play offensive tackle, Hainsey transferred from Gateway to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. And, now, he’s moving on to the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who drafted him Friday night in the third...
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)...
Penn State’s Jayson Oweh goes to the Ravens in the 1st round
The Baltimore Ravens chose potential and athleticism over production when they selected Penn State defensive end Jayson Oweh in the first round (31st overall) of the NFL Draft on Thursday night. Oweh (6-4 7/8, 257 pounds) has run a 4.37-second 40 and has the potential to transition to outside linebacker...
Cowboys choose Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons 12th overall in 1st round
Linebacker Micah Parsons hasn’t played a meaningful snap since Dec. 28, 2019, when he helped Penn State defeat Memphis in the Cotton Bowl. But Parsons’ decision to opt out of the 2020 season didn’t discourage the Dallas Cowboys from choosing the Harrisburg native 12th overall in the first round of...
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...
Duquesne freshman Chad Baker decides to transfer
Freshman Chad Baker wasn’t Duquesne’s best player during the 2020-2021 season, but he flashed impressive shooting ability that offered hope for the Dukes’ future. Duquesne won’t get an opportunity to benefit from Baker’s potential, however, after the 6-foot-7 forward from the Dominican Republic informed coach Keith Dambrot that he intends...
Pirates’ Erik Gonzalez takes aggressive mindset into batter’s box
There’s a reason Derek Shelton likes turning around in the Pittsburgh Pirates dugout and seeing Erik Gonzalez waiting to be called into the game. “He plays three positions on the infield, above average,” Shelton said of his utility player who can handle the chores at shortstop, second and third base....
JT Brubaker finds strike zone, leads Pirates past Brewers
There were fewer than 12,000 people in American Family Field on Friday night, but all of them seemed to be rooting for JT Brubaker to fail. Funny thing: The louder the noise level grew in the third inning of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 6-1 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers, the more...
Cracked fingernail puts Pirates reliever Michael Feliz on injured list
Michael Feliz was able to maintain his control and pitch through the discomfort of a cracked nail on his right middle finger in two relief appearances this week. But the Pittsburgh Pirates decided to employ caution in Feliz’s situation and put him on the 10-day injured list Friday before their...
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi makes it official: wide receiver Melquise Stovall added to roster
Pitt added another wide receiver to a position already stocked with experienced players when coach Pat Narduzzi announced Friday that Melquise Stovall will enroll this year. Stovall, who verbally committed to Narduzzi last month, played the past two seasons at Hawaii, recording 49 receptions for 480 yards and four touchdowns...
Pitt’s women’s volleyball team makes history, reaches NCAA Sweet 16 after defeating Utah
Emotionally drained after sweeping Utah, 3-0, to finally reach the NCAA Regional Semifinal after four previous failures, Pitt’s women’s volleyball players were unanimous on how they wanted to spend their day off Friday. “I think we’re going to go to the zoo,” coach Dan Fisher said. “Omaha is known for...
Duquesne coach Keith Dambrot gets signed letters of intent from 3 transfers
The letters of intent and financial aid agreements are signed and delivered, and Duquesne coach Keith Dambrot is finally free to talk about his three-man raid on the NCAA transfer portal. Guard Leon Ayers III (Mercer) and forwards Rodney Gunn Jr. (Lenoir-Rhyne) and Tre Williams (Indiana State) will be part...
