Pitt’s Calijah Kancey named second-team preseason All-American
Pile another honor upon Pitt defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, who was named a second-team Associated Press preseason All-American on Monday. Kancey, a redshirt junior, also has been named to the preseason All-ACC first team, plus six watch lists for national awards. Kancey led Pitt with 13 tackles for loss and...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi beat the ACC in 2021, but this summer the lawn mower wins
With Pitt coming off an ACC championship, Pat Narduzzi may not have as many problems as he did early in his eight-year tenure. But he confronted one Monday morning that he really can’t fix — the guy cutting the grass on the field where the Steelers were scheduled to practice...
With a week of camp to go, here’s a positional look at Pitt’s roster
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...
Parents, Aliquippa legends Darrelle Revis, Ty Law help advance M.J. Devonshire’s Pitt career
For M.J. Devonshire’s development as a Pitt cornerback, nothing was more impactful than the ride back to Aliquippa in his dad’s car. “I normally ride home with him from the games,” he said, the lure of a home-cooked meal and mom doing his laundry too strong to ignore. On the...
Pitt Take 5: Scrimmage on Saturday at Acrisure gives quarterbacks avenue to make their case
Pat Narduzzi will take his team over to Acrisure Stadium on Saturday for Pitt’s final scrimmage of the summer. Big surprise: Quarterbacks will be a major area of focus. Narduzzi reiterated Friday morning that he doesn’t know when he will make his decision public between Kedon Slovis and Nick Patti,...
Pitt hopes 1,000-yard rusher emerges from deep running back room
Dating back to the first time it happened — Tony Dorsett, 1,686 yards as a freshman, 1973 — Pitt has claimed 15 running backs who have broken the 1,000-yard barrier in 23 of 49 seasons. The list is an impressive one, including: • Pro Football Hall of Famers Dorsett and...
Pitt’s quarterbacks won’t trot to the sideline this season for play calls
Pat Narduzzi expects to be especially wary of play-stealers this season after he has changed the method of delivering calls to the quarterback. Throughout former offensive coordinator Mark Whipple’s three seasons at Pitt, the quarterback trotted almost to the sideline to get the play call. In the few seconds available,...
Pitt signs baseball coach Mike Bell to contract through 2027 season
Athletic director Heather Lyke took a significant step toward further stablity in Pitt’s baseball progam, signing coach Mike Bell to a new contract that runs through the 2027 season. Bell has an 83-87 record in four seasons after replacing longtime coach Joe Jordano before the 2019 season. Nine of Bell’s...
With season approaching, Pitt ramps up the optimism
With no fresh evidence to prove otherwise, streams of positivity flow when Pitt players discuss the upcoming season. For example: • Players often mention national championship as a goal. • Backup offensive lineman Ryan Baer spoke Wednesday of “great coaches, great players. Put those together. Who’s going to stop it?”...
Pitt QB still not set, but Pat Narduzzi won’t wait until game day to reveal his choice
While Pitt enters the final two weeks of training camp, the question on the lips of many fans remains: Who will be the starting quarterback for the opener against West Virginia and — in a perfect world — the rest of the season? My answer, only partially in jest: “What...
Pitt safety Erick Hallett lays down the law: His only focus is football
When Erick Hallett II finally decides he has taken this football thing as far as it can go — whether that’s five, 10 or 15 years from now — Pitt’s senior free safety said he hopes to go to law school in his native Texas. Already holding a bachelor’s degree...
Pat Narduzzi pleased with linebackers’ interceptions in Pitt’s 1st scrimmage
Within his self-made parameters, Pat Narduzzi was as transparent as his coach’s mindset allowed Tuesday morning while reporting on how Pitt’s closed, 124-play scrimmage unfolded Saturday. Prominent among his mentions were the interceptions recorded by linebackers Bangally Kamara and Shayne Simon. “Two nice interceptions,” he said. “I thought, ‘Wow, that...
Pitt ranked No. 17 in Associated Press preseason poll
More national recognition rolled Pitt’s way Monday when the Panthers were placed No. 17 in the Associated Press Top 25 preseason college football poll. It’s the first time since 2010 Pitt is ranked in the preseason poll, but don’t bother telling Pat Narduzzi. He doesn’t care. Pitt’s coach made his...
Pitt linebackers coach Ryan Manalac demands versatility from his ‘hungry’ group
Pitt’s linebackers are “improving … watching extra tape … hungry … eager.” Those were the words of position coach Ryan Manalac, who is directing the one area of the team that needs the most significant makeover after last season. Three linebackers who contributed 200 tackles (21½ for a loss) —...
Offensive linemen understand Pitt’s system, the value of staying in school
One at a time, five large men walked into Dave Borbely’s office late last season, seeking his counsel and wisdom. Each player — Carter Warren, Marcus Minor, Owen Drexel, Jake Kradel and Gabe Houy — had the same question: “Should I come back?” Pitt’s offensive line coach, who at the...
Pitt Take 5: A week full of football, Apple Jacks and Pat Narduzzi kicking up his heels
Two weeks into training camp — and with two weeks remaining — Pitt’s players and coaches have reached a point where football matters most, but everyone can see there’s more to life than turnover drills and trying to throw a football into a little net. Pitt quarterbacks practice throwing footballs...
While Pitt kickers compete, Pat Narduzzi will ‘say my prayers’ for good health before live scrimmage
Pitt practice was lighter and a bit shorter Friday morning for good reason. The team will conduct a live scrimmage Saturday for the first time this summer. What does Pat Narduzzi want to see in the scrimmage? What every coach wants, of course: To have every player walk off the...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi urges Konata Mumpfield to save pass-catching acrobatics for games
The scouting reports on Akron wide receiver Konata Mumpfield were glowing. His speed, hands and route-running ability had placed him among the best pass catchers in the Mid-American Conference and earned him Freshman All-American status. When his name appeared in the NCAA transfer portal after last season, he was recruited...
Pro football greats Rickey Jackson, Russ Grimm join 7 All-Americans in Pitt’s 2022 Athletics Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Famers Rickey Jackson and Russ Grimm, seven All-Americans and three others who enjoyed celebrated careers at Pitt were named Thursday to the school’s athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022. Pitt’s fourth Hall of Fame class, representing nine sports, will be inducted Sept. 30 at a...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi eager for Saturday, the summer’s 1st scrimmage
Preseason games such as what will occur Saturday night at Acrisure Stadium between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks aren’t part of the college football landscape. It’s probably because no one thought of it many, many years ago when schools first planned their preseason camps. Old habits are hard to...
While hunting quarterbacks, Pitt’s John Morgan shows young people another way
Depending on who’s listening, John Morgan III has separate messages that convey his passion for football and for life above and beyond the game. Pitt’s senior defensive end spent the summer preparing for training camp that is now deep into its second week. But there’s more cooking inside his brain...
Pitt notebook: Pat Narduzzi pays no mind to preseason polls
Pat Narduzzi has a vote in the USA Today Sports/AFCA Poll, but he wouldn’t mind if all preseason polls went away. And he’s not especially pleased with the existence of in-season polls. “There shouldn’t be a preseason poll. To me, the preseason poll means absolutely nothing,” the Pitt coach said...
Pitt notebook: Tight end depth gives offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. options
During his 32-year coaching career, Pitt’s Frank Cignetti Jr. has been a quarterback whisperer to such noted slingers as Aaron Rodgers and Eli Manning. But it’s a testament to his versatility as an offensive coordinator that he also has gained a reputation as a coach who still believes in an...
Pitt players will link with fans through Steel City NIL Club
Pitt football team members have banded together to form the first-of-its-kind Steel City Name, Image and Likeness Club that will allow fans to offer financial support to players. In exchange, donors will be able to meet players on video calls, watch discussions of practices, upcoming games and recruiting and interact...
Competition in crowded backfield led C’Bo Flemister from Notre Dame to Pitt
After he decided to leave Notre Dame, running back C’Bo Flemister put Pitt at the top of his list of potential transfer destinations. Doing due diligence, he sat down and watched video of Pitt’s top three returning running backs. What he saw was the best of Izzy Abanikanda, Vincent Davis...
