Pitt’s stable of running backs gives Narduzzi hope, options
So much has been said, written and projected of Pitt’s loaded stable of running backs that you wonder if Pat Narduzzi ought to just go to the single wing. That’s a poor attempt at humor, of course, but Pitt’s coach and his staff have shown a remarkable ability to find...
West Mifflin rising junior Nahki Johnson gives Pitt verbal pledge
Pitt still has a little room for recruits in its 2020 class, but Pat Narduzzi already has started on 2021. The first rising junior to commit to Pitt’s coach is outside linebacker Nahki Johnson, a recent transfer from Steel Valley to West Mifflin. Momma I’m staying home???#committed #H2P #2ManyLights0n pic.twitter.com/WPzyYNOsfb—...
Charlie Partridge’s south Florida ties connect Pitt to fertile recruiting territory
When Charlie Partridge puts Pitt’s defensive linemen through their paces in practice, it’s easy to see he’s a coach who does not tolerate nonsense and makes sure his players stay engaged throughout each drill. The results show up on game day. Rising junior Rashad Weaver has a chance to be...
Pitt lands Brooklyn, N.Y., running back Israel Abanikanda
Pitt added a second running back to its class of 2020 on Monday when Israel Abanikanda tweeted his intention to enroll next year. Abanikanda (5-foot-11, 196 pounds) is entering his senior season at Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. Officially Committed To... @oc_lincoln pic.twitter.com/BRqrjElwns— Israel Abanikanda (@IAbanikanda) June 24,...
Pitt, Penn Hills product Aaron Donald unfazed by NFL’s bright lightsVideo
Maybe Greg Gattuso stepped out of line on the night 11 years ago when he went to a Penn Hills game on a scouting mission. He was there to watch a linebacker and ended up offering a scholarship — through silent channels — to a junior defensive lineman no one...
Pitt gets verbal commitments from 6 players, including 2 4-stars
Coach Pat Narduzzi sent out his customized Pat Signal tweet for the Class of 2020 six times Saturday, indicating Pitt football received verbal, nonbinding commitments from six prospects, including its first two four-star recruits this year, wide receiver Aydin Hemmingham of Deerfield Beach, Fla., and safety Jahvante Royal of St....
Sam Clancy basks in becoming a Pitt Hall of Famer
Last week, Pitt announced its Athletics Hall of Fame class for 2019. The list was quite esteemed. It included the likes of All-Americans in football and basketball such as Don Hennon, Mark May, Jimbo Covert, Joe Schmidt and football head coach Johnny Majors. Also highlighting the marquee is Sam Clancy,...
WPIAL product Cameron Johnson ready to reward NBA team that takes chance on him
On the eve of the NBA Draft, Cameron Johnson was counting his blessings and crediting everyone who played a role the past five years in his development from borderline Division-I prospect to projected NBA first-round pick. “It’s a long ways from him signing with Pitt and a lot of people...
Pitt unveils Aaron Donald Football Performance Center
What Aaron Donald wanted everyone to know Wednesday night had nothing to do with his muscular arms and quick feet, his two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards or his Super Bowl appearance earlier this year. No, the night was all about how sincerely humbled he was to have...
Pitt football lands 3-star RB recruit Henry Parrish Jr.
The Pitt football team landed its ninth recruit for the Class of 2020 when three-star running back Henry Parrish Jr. made a verbal commitment Wednesday, according to his Twitter account. When Parrish enrolls next year, he will be the fourth Florida running back on the roster, joining current junior A.J....
Pitt, Penn State women’s hoops to meet in ACC/Big Ten Challenge
The Pitt and Penn State women’s basketball teams will play Dec. 5 at Bryce Jordan Center in University Park as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. It will be the first time they’ve met in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Penn State leads the all-time series 29-13, including victories in the...
Georgia cornerback Hunter Sellers commits to Pitt, fifth verbal in two days from class of 2020
Pat Narduzzi received his fifth commitment in two days Monday night when cornerback Hunter Sellers announced his plans to enroll next year. Sellers, a rising senior at Woodward Academy in College Park, Ga., was part of a group of more than 20 prospects who visited Pitt’s campus over the weekend....
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi adds 5 rising seniors during recruiting weekend
Pitt’s big recruiting weekend started Saturday with the first of five of these tweets, signaling Pat Narduzzi had received a verbal commitment from a coveted prospect. PITT IS IT!!! #H2P #2ManyLights0n pic.twitter.com/g5nzT7DsRT— Pat Narduzzi (@CoachDuzzPittFB) June 16, 2019 By Sunday night, there had been plenty of tweets from Narduzzi’s account,...
Pitt’s Kenny Pickett invited to Manning family quarterback camp
When Archie Manning is asked how much contact his famous sons have with campers and counselers at the Manning Passing Academy, he is quick with an answer. “Every minute for 24 years,” he said Monday. Or, every minute for as long as the camp has been in existence. That’s what...
Georgia cornerback Tee Denson joins Pitt’s Class of 2020
When one of Pitt’s graduate assistants heard a scream coming from coach Pat Narduzzi’s office Sunday morning, he walked in to see if something was wrong. Actually, it was good news. Cornerback Tee Denson of Atlanta told Narduzzi he planned to enroll at Pitt next year. “He was just really...
Pitt lands outside linebacker Kamara of Akron, N.J. athlete DeShields, Florida DE Belgrave
Pitt landed a versatile safety/outside linebacker for its Class of 2020 on Sunday when Bangally Kamara of Akron East High School tweeted his intentions to enroll next year. He is one of five prospects to verbally commit to Pat Narduzzi this weekend, according to the coach’s Pat Signal tweets. Only...
Pitt gets 6 on list of top 100 football players in the ACC
Inching closer to the start of the college football season, I came across some interesting reading that sheds what appears to be a clear light on the best players on Pitt’s team. Jim Johnson (not that one, but the editor of southernpigskin.com) ranked the top 100 players in the ACC,...
Detroit Tigers select Pitt product, Norwin grad Connor Perry in 28th round
A couple of major league teams called during Day 2 of the MLB Draft, but they decided to pass on Connor Perry. More calls came during Day 3. Still, nothing. Perry’s nerves were tested, but during the 28th round, he got a call from the Detroit Tigers. The conversation went...
Pitt names star-studded 12-member Hall of Fame class
Pitt announced a dozen athletes ranging from All-Americans to All-Pros will be welcomed to its Hall of Fame in 2019. The 12-member class will be inducted Sept. 20 at Petersen Events Center and introduced at Heinz Field when the Panthers play UCF on Sept. 21. Sam Clancy, men’s basketball: A...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi improves to No. 42 in Sporting News’ ranking of college football coaches
The college football off-season has only about a month left, which makes it time for Sporting News’ annual ranking of the coaches, 1-130. Not surprisingly, the top 25 is the exclusive domain of the Power 5, led by the Big Ten with seven coaches, followed by the SEC with six,...
Pitt’s Qadree Ollison could be ‘dangerous’ with Falcons’ offense, NFL analyst says
It wasn’t the strongest NFL draft class for running backs. But Pitt’s Qadree Ollison may be one of the most impactful of the bunch. That’s according to NFL.com’s Gil Brandt. Here’s what he said about the Falcons’ fifth-round pick. “In a perfect world for the Falcons, Devonta Freeman and Ito...
List of top NFL rookie running backs includes Pitt’s Qadree Ollison
An NFL.com ranking of the top five projected rookie running backs this season includes someone who has spent time working out on the fields at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Hint: It is not Pittsburgh Steelers’ rookie Benny Snell Jr. Rather, former Pitt running back Qadree Ollison made the list compiled...
Pitt adds 5th basketball recruit in graduate transfer Eric Hamilton
Pitt added to its frontcourt depth by signing the fifth member of its 2019 recruiting class in graduate transfer Eric Hamilton, a power forward who has played at Wichita State and UNC Greensboro. The 6-foot-9, 250-pound Hamilton averaged 6.1 points and 4.4 rebounds in 16.3 minutes a game last season...
Pitt adds 6-9 grad transfer Eric Hamilton
Jeff Capel added an important piece to his front line Thursday when grad transfer Eric Hamilton, a 6-foot-9, 250-pound power forward, announced on his Twitter account his plans to enroll this season. #ShockerNation ??#UNCG ??#ZooEra it’s our time NOW ???? #BetOnYourself pic.twitter.com/OMzEUYKD6t— Eric Hamilton (@iAM_EH25) June 6, 2019 Hamilton, who...
Pitt to host Rutgers basketball in Big Ten/ACC Challenge
The Pitt men’s basketball team will host Rutgers in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Dec. 3 at Petersen Events Center, the university announced Thursday. Pitt is 2-3 all-time in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, going 1-1 at home. The Panthers lost at No. 14 Iowa, 69-68, last year. “The Big Ten/ACC...