Analysis: With Jordan Addison in the transfer portal, can Pitt still be special?
Jordan Addison’s name appeared in the NCAA transfer portal Tuesday, which likely will end the Pitt career of one of the finest pass catchers in school history — after only two seasons. He has not announced his next school, but Pitt “remains a very viable option,” according to ESPN’s Pete...
Tim Benz: Question the Steelers draft strategy if you like, let’s just debate the right things
For the most part, I liked the Pittsburgh Steelers 2022 draft class and the team’s approach to building it. That’s because while I’m not in the “Kenny Pickett, future Hall of Famer” camp just yet, I do think he’s got the potential to be at least an above-average NFL quarterback....
Madden Monday: Mitch Trubisky ‘should feel hoodwinked’ after signing with Steelers
When it comes to who should start at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLIVE feels that the decision is obvious. Who cares if Mason Rudolph has been with the team the longest? Who cares if Mitch Trubisky was signed to be...
Pitt tight end Lucas Krull signs with Saints
Lucas Krull entered Pitt’s Pro Day with something to prove. He did that, but the most important proving ground for Pitt’s former tight end will be in New Orleans. The former Pitt tight end signed a free-agent contract with the Saints after the draft. While scouts from 31 NFL teams...
Pitt long snapper Cal Adomitis signs with Bengals
Former Pitt long snapper Cal Adomitis was recognized as college football’s consensus best at his position, and the Cincinnati Bengals took notice, signing the Central Catholic graduate to a free-agent contract after the draft. Adomitis, who spent the past five seasons as Pitt’s starting long snapper, was so serious about...
Pitt secures verbal commitment from high school quarterback Kenny Minchey
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi likes to add a quarterback to his roster every year, and he received a verbal commitment for the class of 2023 on Saturday when Kenny Minchey announced his plans to enroll next year. CommittedColossians 3:23-24 pic.twitter.com/BRwg7FlfKm— Kenny Minchey (@kenny_minchey) April 30, 2022 Minchey (6-foot-3, 200 pounds)...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: College athletes should do what’s best for themselves
Jordan Addison, the reigning Biletnikoff Award winner as college football’s top wide receiver in 2021, will likely transfer from Pitt to Southern Cal. Addison will be a junior. Pitt supporters are apoplectic, which is their preferred disposition. You’d think they’d be grateful for a chance to martyr themselves. Pitt coach...
Damarri Mathis keeps up Pitt cornerback/safety tradition, goes to Broncos in 4th round
Until Pat Narduzzi started recruiting cornerbacks who could learn to cover wide receivers without safety help, the NFL largely ignored Pitt’s defensive backs. For eight consecutive drafts from 2010-17, no Pitt defensive back heard his name called. Then, the doors leading from Pitt’s workout facility sprung open and six defensive...
Reports: Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison considering transfer from Pitt
Pitt wide receiver Jordan Addison, the 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner who teamed with Kenny Pickett to give the Panthers one of the top passing games in college football, is considering a move into the NCAA transfer portal, according to multiple national reports. Addison’s name did not appear in the portal...
Tim Benz: We’ve established Kenny Pickett’s ‘high floor,’ how high can his ceiling be?
When it comes to writing a sports column or hosting a sports talk show, there should be no easier topic to formulate a hot take about than the local NFL franchise drafting a first-round quarterback for the first time in 18 years. So, here’s mine as it relates to the...
Pat Narduzzi shares ’emotional’ moment of seeing Kenny Pickett selected by Steelers
Normally unflappable no matter the game’s intensity, Kenny Pickett was on the phone Thursday night, bent over, hiding his face, his emotions now in charge. He had been drafted into the NFL. In the first round. But by whom? Pat Narduzzi, whose own emotions were starting to spill over, looked...
Tim Benz: Let’s not kid ourselves about what the drafting of Kenny Pickett means for Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph
Congratulations to Mitch Trubisky. His career as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting quarterback has ended without any losses, sacks or interceptions. Or any actual starts. Let’s be honest. Kenny Pickett is going to be the new starting quarterback for the Steelers. He will be the successor to Ben Roethlisberger. He has...
Steelers take Pitt quarterback Pickett in 1st round of NFL Draft
The Pittsburgh Steelers had their pick of the quarterback litter when it was their turn in the NFL Draft on Thursday night. Or should it be, their Pickett of the litter? The first quarterback off the board was Pitt’s Kenny Pickett, who went to the Steelers with the No. 20...
Pitt women’s basketball signs 6-foot-1 Avery Strickland
Pitt women’s basketball coach Lance White added the second member of his 2022 recruiting class Thursday, signing 6-foot-1 Avery “Ace” Strickland to a national letter of intent. “She is ultra-competitive, has the pedigree of a winner, and is ready to work,” White said Strickland is a two-time all-state choice from...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans’ pre-draft complaints; Pens fans’ pre-playoff concerns; Pitt fans have Kenny Pickett angst
It’s a “Draft Day” edition of “U mad, bro?” So, of course, Steelers fans are a little riled up. Pitt fans are, too, since Kenny Pickett is in play for the hometown NFL team. And Penguins fans are starting to think about the draft as well — before the playoffs...
Pitt women’s lacrosse team defeats Louisville in ACC tournament opener
Pitt isn’t ready to put away its lacrosse sticks. In the first-year program’s debut venture into the ACC Championship, Paulina DiFatta set a tournament record Wednesday with 19 saves to lead the Panthers to 13-10 victory against Louisville at Arlotta Stadium in South Bend, Ind. DiFatta, a second-team All-ACC selection,...
Kenny Pickett leads Pitt hopefuls into 3-day NFL Draft
There were 13 Pitt players who worked out for representatives from 31 NFL teams at Pitt’s Pro Day on March 21. The large number of hopefuls isn’t surprising. Most college players dream of playing in the NFL, and putting on a show for the scouts — and in some cases...
He’s a coach, not an FBI agent, but Pitt swimming’s Chase Kreitler sees common traits
Back in college at Cal State Bakersfield, Chase Kreitler had many conversations with his swim coach, Morgan Bailey. Mainly, they talked strokes and how best to take seconds off Kreitler’s times. You know, swimming basics. Then, Bailey changed professions. All of a sudden, he was working for the FBI in...
Pitt’s new swim coach Chase Kreitler worked with national champions at California, Olympic gold-medal winners
Pitt’s swim program will move in a new direction for the first time in six seasons, with the hiring of Chase Kreitler as its new coach. The university announced Kreitler’s appointment Tuesday morning. He replaces John Hargis, who had served as swim coach since 2016-17. Kreitler was an assistant at...
First Call: National outlets see Malik Willis, Kenny Pickett available for Steelers in draft; Alex Ovechkin’s injury status
Tuesday’s “First Call” leads us to believe the Pittsburgh Steelers will be on the clock with their choice of quarterbacks on the board during the NFL Draft Thursday night. There will be some scoreboard watching going on Tuesday in the NHL’s Eastern Conference. And we’ve got an update on Alex...
ACC spring wrap: Conference champion Pitt, Wake Forest look to keep ACC momentumVideo
The ACC changed significantly last season with Pitt winning the league title, Wake Forest taking the Atlantic Division and conference powerhouse Clemson largely out of the mix by mid-October. Panthers coach Pat Narduzzi and Demon Deacons coach Dave Clawson believe their teams worked hard this spring to stay on top....
Tim Benz, Matt Williamson’s draft preview: If Malik Willis is on the board at 20, Steelers ‘will absolutely take him’
In the first of our annual series of pre-NFL Draft podcasts, Steelers Nation Radio host and TribLIVE Steelers film analyst Matt Williamson joined me to break down the quarterbacks in this year’s draft. Since Ben Roethlisberger retired, you may have seen — or heard — their names mentioned a few...
Pitt adds Louisiana Tech wide receiver Jerrod ‘Bub’ Means from transfer portal
Despite a full stable of talented wide receivers, Pat Narduzzi didn’t believe Pitt had enough at that position. So, he dipped into the NCAA transfer portal and secured another — for now and future seasons. Jerrod “Bub” Means, who played at Louisiana Tech last season, announced on his Instagram page...
First Call: Daniel Jeremiah still sees Kenny Pickett as ‘best fit’ if Steelers go QB in draft; Ravens may nab Jordan Davis
At least one NFL draft analyst still sees Pitt’s Kenny Pickett as the Steelers’ best option if they go quarterback in the first round of next week’s draft. However, the team is the betting favorite to land a different quarterback instead. The Baltimore Ravens may scoop up a different player...
Pitt’s Jeff Capel gets commitment from 6-11 Fede Federiko, formerly of First Love
Pitt added some desperately needed size and shot-blocking ability Thursday when coach Jeff Capel received a verbal commitment from 6-foot-11, 210-pound Fede Federiko, who previously played at First Love Christian Academy in Washington, Pa. Federiko is a native of Helsinki, Finland, and he played for the Finnish under-19 national team....
