Justin Guerriero stories, Page 4
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi puts bow on Stanford win, discusses crowded field of ACC contenders
Following a long return trip home from Stanford, Pat Narduzzi didn’t wake up Sunday morning feeling like Pitt had put its best effort together against the Cardinal. While the Panthers cruised to a comfortable enough 35-20 victory and recorded three interceptions, Pitt still lost the turnover battle, as quarterback Mason...
Kickoff time, TV details announced for Pitt’s home game vs. Notre Dame
In the first of three pivotal consecutive games to conclude the regular season, Pitt hosts No. 10 Notre Dame on Nov. 15 at Acrisure Stadium. That contest will be a noon kickoff, televised nationally on ABC or ESPN, the ACC announced Monday. The Panthers (7-2, 5-1 ACC) will head into...
Analysis: Ahead of ACC title chase, final bye couldn’t come at more opportune time for PittVideo
The ACC’s schedule-makers did Pitt a favor (in multiple regards, as it would turn out) by placing the team’s second and final bye after Week 10. For one, the Panthers can relax on their way back across the country from Stanford, which they defeated 35-20 on Saturday for a fifth...
Stage set for Pitt freshman guard Omari Witherspoon to contribute early
In Pitt’s preseason exhibitions against Providence and Pitt-Johnstown, as coach Jeff Capel looked to get an initial glance at his retooled Panthers squad, he utilized essentially the same starters twice. But one particular tweak was notable, in true freshman guard Omari Witherspoon entering the lineup at tip-off against the Mountain...
Pitt commits 4 turnovers but still beats Stanford handily for 5th straight win
Injuries, cross-country travel or looking ahead to three upcoming ranked matchups in a row all could have been reasons Pitt might stub a toe Saturday at Stanford. While the Panthers once again missed some key players and did have to deal with a long road trip, they got the job...
Pitt to be shorthanded once again at Stanford, with several players sidelined by injury
Pitt’s final ACC player availability report was submitted ahead of kickoff Saturday afternoon at Stanford. Once again, the Panthers (6-2, 4-1 ACC) will be shorthanded, specifically on defense, as they aim for their fifth straight win. Linebackers Rasheem Biles and Nick Lapi were ruled out on Friday night’s report, along...
‘Compete every possession’: Jeff Capel lays out new-look Pitt’s blueprint for success
The preseason is all but over, no more exhibitions remain and from now on, when Pitt takes the court, a tally in the win or loss column will follow. But who is this 2025-26 Panthers team that prepares to begin its campaign Monday at Petersen Events Center against Youngstown State?...
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi downplays travel challenges heading into game at Stanford
Cross-country travel is a byproduct of conference realignment, with several schools having joined new leagues despite a lack of geographical attachments. For example, only such shuffling could have Oregon playing a conference game at Penn State in late September, followed by the Nittany Lions traveling (and losing to) UCLA the...
Pitt’s Kavir Bains-Marquez earns honorary ‘Shark’ status after deputizing at linebacker
When Kavir Bains-Marquez stuffed N.C. State’s Wesley Grimes for a loss of 3 yards last weekend, he couldn’t help but toss up a shark fin gesture in celebration. At first glance, it may have seemed odd for Bains- Marquez, a free safety, to hijack the imagery exclusively utilized by Pitt’s linebackers,...
Blocking chatter about his future, Mason Heintschel focused on chasing ACC title with PittVideo
Mason Heintschel’s first collegiate start likely wasn’t even over before a chorus of speculation began as to where Pitt’s true freshman quarterback would transfer or which programs would be lining up to poach him at the earliest opportunity. Within the framework of college athletics in 2025, such a response was...
Junior QB from Florida commits to Pitt
Kevin Verpaele, a Class of 2027 quarterback, announced his commitment to Pitt on Tuesday afternoon. Verpaele becomes coach Pat Narduzzi’s fourth verbal commitment for the 2027 class, joining offensive lineman Colin Urrea, receiver Jacob Thomas and tailback Tyler Reid. #AGTG 1st, I want to thank God, my family, my coaches,...
Pitt’s true freshmen providing a boost in all 3 phases
When the dust settled around Pitt’s 2025 recruiting class and 22 true freshmen prepared to join the Panthers’ program, coach Pat Narduzzi had reason to be pleased with the reinforcements he was bringing in from the high school ranks. Whether Narduzzi could have foreseen just how significant the contributions he’d...
Pitt starts sluggish before pummeling Pitt-Johnstown in final exhibition
Following Pitt’s Monday exhibition against Pitt-Johnstown, the Panthers, from here on, will play games that count in the win-loss column. After dispatching Providence on Oct. 19, Pitt hosted the Mountain Cats and put together a rout, winning their second and final preseason contest 100-65. But what ended as a blowout...
Jeff Capel, Panthers stay hot on recruiting trail, land 3rd 4-star 2026 commit
Jeff Capel and Pitt’s men’s basketball continue to stay hot on the recruiting trail, as they added another four-star recruit in the Class of 2026 on Monday afternoon. Forward Anthony Felesi, a 6-foot-5 prospect out of Utah Prep (Hurricane, Utah), confirmed his verbal commitment on X and joins fellow four-stars...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi unloads on NCAA pro sports betting rule change: ‘One of the stupidest decisions I’ve ever seen’
The NCAA approved a rule change last week that will allow student-athletes and athletic department officials to gamble on professional sports starting Nov. 1 in a departure from decades of precedent. One day after the NCAA’s announcement, news of a massive NBA gambling scandal broke, featuring fixed poker games tied...
Explosive gains, red zone efficiency becoming hallmarks of Mason Heintschel-led Pitt offense
Helping the offense to 53 points, putting up Pitt’s first 400-yard passing performance in four years and setting a program record for single-game yards through the air by a freshman are achievements Mason Heintschel deserves to celebrate. However, the Panthers’ freshman quarterback wasn’t in the mood to pat himself on...
Analysis: Resurgent offensive line, resilient linebackers propel Pitt in win over WolfpackVideo
Pitt achieved bowl eligibility in style Saturday, pummeling N.C. State, 53-34, in a game that saw significant offensive improvement from a week ago and defensive resiliency in the face of multiple injuries. The Panthers (6-2, 4-1 ACC), winners of four straight, sit in sole possession of third place in the...
‘Tough love’: Pitt transfer guard Damarco Minor steps up as leader for Jeff Capel’s retooled squad
When Pitt men’s basketball coach Jeff Capel brought in Damarco Minor from the transfer portal, he knew he was getting an experienced hand who could help run the offense following Jaland Lowe’s offseason transfer to Kentucky. Minor, who arrived at Pitt from Oregon State and previously played two seasons for...
Injury-depleted Pitt clobbers N.C. State behind Mason Heintschel’s career day
Injuries were plaguing Pitt heading into Saturday’s game against N.C. State at Acrisure Stadium. Before the day was done, more injuries would ravage an already-depleted squad. But despite missing linebackers Kyle Louis and Rasheem Biles and losing receiver Kenny Johnson and tailback Desmond Reid mid-game, the Panthers (6-2, 4-1 ACC)...
Pitt LBs Rasheem Biles, Nick Lapi out vs. N.C. State; Kyle Louis a game-time decision
Pitt will be without a pillar of its defense Saturday vs. N.C. State for the second straight week, as linebacker Rasheem Biles was listed as out on the final weekly ACC student-athlete availability report. Released at 1:30 p.m., two hours before the Panthers (5-2, 3-1 ACC) take on the Wolfpack...
Pitt’s ACC-leading run defense prepares to meet league’s top rusher in N.C. State’s Hollywood Smothers
Pat Narduzzi is not a coach known to brush off an opponent — ranked or unranked, FBS or FCS. Whomever Pitt is facing in a given week, Narduzzi sees that his players prepare appropriately and suppress any thoughts of marching to an easy win. While it’s routine for Narduzzi to...
Pitt football notebook: Panthers continue to generate splash plays on special teamsVideo
Desmond Reid set a high bar on punt returns when, on his first opportunity of 2025, he took one back 88 yards for a touchdown in Pitt’s season-opening blowout of Duquesne. But Reid got banged up in the third game at West Virginia, leading coach Pat Narduzzi to insert receiver...
Pitt’s coaches, DBs distribute praise for secondary’s 3 interceptions vs. SyracuseVideo
Before Saturday, interceptions had been hard to come by for Pitt’s secondary. Shadarian Harrison was the only cornerback (or safety) with a pick through six games, coming down with one against Boston College on Oct. 4. Pitt’s linebackers made up for the drought, posting three as a position group. But...
Pitt aims to clean up offensive line play before next test vs. N.C. State
No player more personified Pitt’s penalty woes over the weekend at Syracuse than Kendall Stanley, who was flagged for five of the team’s 13 infractions. In particular, three of Pitt’s four false start penalties were on Stanley, who also had an unnecessary roughness call in the fourth quarter. While Pitt’s...
Pat Narduzzi seeks balance in all 3 phases as Pitt prepares to host N.C. State
In Pat Narduzzi’s three-phase evaluation of Pitt’s 30-13 win over Syracuse, there wasn’t much room for debate. The Panthers were stout defensively, allowing only two touchdowns, intercepting Orange quarterback Rickie Collins three times and almost totally shutting down the run. On special teams, Kenny Johnson’s 66-yard punt return was arguably...
