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....
Hobbled Pitt drags WVU through 11 innings at PNC Park before losing
Mike Bell was unhappy when the 2021 NCAA Tournament field was revealed, and his Pitt baseball team was not among the chosen 64. Who could blame him? Pitt won 17 games against the top 50 of the RPI and was 18-12 against teams in the NCAA field. The Panthers were...
Pitt gets verbal commitment from Imhotep sophomore defensive tackle Jahsear Whittington
Defensive tackle Jahsear Whittington of Imhotep Charter School in Philadelphia has two years of high school football ahead of him, but he made up his mind early and verbally committed to Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi on Monday. 4444% Committed ????????????????????????#H2P pic.twitter.com/13RHyJXolY— 4⭐️ Jahsear whittington (@jahwhitt) April 19, 2022 Only a...
Pitt gets commitment from former Ole Miss power forward Blake Hinson
Jeff Capel added a second piece in his quest to rebuild Pitt’s basketball program Monday when 6-foot-7 forward Blake Hinson made a verbal commitment to the Panthers. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Blake Hinson (@b2_smooth) Hinson, who lives in Deltona, Fla., hasn’t played since the 2019-20...
Plum’s Kaitlyn Killinger commits to Pitt women’s soccer
Pitt is it for another Plum girls soccer standout. Junior Kaitlyn Killinger, an All-WPIAL and all-state forward who helped the Mustangs reach the WPIAL Class 3A championship game for the second year in a row and make a deep run in the PIAA playoffs, gave a verbal commitment to the...
First Call: Ohio State quarterback honors Dwayne Haskins; NFL team shows late interest in Kenny Pickett
Monday’s “First Call” takes a look at how former Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins was honored by his college football alma mater over the weekend. Another NFL team is being tied to Kenny Pickett in advance of the draft. There was action in the NHL’s Eastern Conference. And we examine the...
Pitt tight end Kaymar Mimes decides to transfer
Tight end Kaymar Mimes, who was approaching his fifth season in the Pitt program, has placed his name in the NCAA transfer portal. Mimes, 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, has been a member of the team since 2018. He appeared in 24 games, mostly on special teams, with one reception for 4...
First Call: Kenny Pickett won’t attend NFL Draft bash in Vegas; ex-Pirates pitching battle; Penguins get help in standings
In Friday’s “First Call,” we reveal the players who will be at the NFL Draft in Las Vegas at the end of the month. The Pittsburgh Penguins got some favorable results on Thursday, beyond their own victory. We also celebrate an anniversary for the team that history occasionally overlooks. And...
Former USC QB JT Daniels transfers to WVU, setting up reunion with Pitt’s Kedon Slovis
There is no public indication that the 2019 USC quarterback competition was anything but cordial. But for a reunion, the two primary participants might meet in a Brawl. Former Trojans quarterback JT Daniels is transferring to West Virginia, and in the Mountaineers’ season opener Sept. 1 he could be matching...
Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. predicts Pitt’s Kenny Pickett will go to Steelers in 1st round
Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett is considered a first-round talent in the upcoming NFL Draft, and two noted prognosticators have the Pittsburgh Steelers taking him with the No. 20 overall pick. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein each kept Pickett in his adopted home city in their respective...
Pitt, West Virginia announce 4 more Backyard Brawls 2029-32
Pitt and West Virginia will be Brawling into the next decade. Four months before the school’s football programs renew their longstanding rivalry, Pitt and WVU jointly announced their teams will play annual games from 2029-32. The “Backyard Brawl” series dates to 1895 and has featured 104 games — but none...
Gold beats Blue, but Pitt players, coach know there’s plenty of work to do
There was a winner and a loser, and, of course, “Sweet Caroline” flowing through the Heinz Field speakers after the third quarter. Just like an autumn Saturday on the North Shore. But the rest of Pitt’s Blue Gold spring game had little resemblance to what you’ll see — or hope...
RB Daniel Carter, LB Bangally Kamara named most improved players in Pitt spring drills
In advance of Pitt’s Blue-Gold game Saturday at Heinz Field, coach Pat Narduzzi announced that redshirt junior running back Daniel Carter and junior outside linebacker Bangally Kamara have been named winners of the Ed Conway Award for most improved players during spring drills. Carter, a big back at 5-foot-10, 240...
Pitt Take 5: Panthers hope to put some spring in their 1st steps of 2022
Pitt will take its first public (baby) steps of the 2022 season Saturday in the Blue-Gold spring game at Heinz Field. The goalposts have moved since Pitt won the ACC championship last season. Prevailing in the conference used to be the goal, but players say that no longer is enough....
Here’s what to see — and what you may not see — in Pitt’s Blue-Gold game Saturday
The news emanating from Pitt’s Blue-Gold Game on Saturday will split into two areas: Plays and players seen and unseen. There will be plenty of both. Coaches are eager to see how players carry what they learned in 14 practices — with hardly anyone watching — into Heinz Field under...
U mad, bro?: Readers bubbling over Mitch Trubisky’s future, state of Pirates for Opening Day
I’ve got nothing to be angry about this week. I’m taking off a day early. I’m going to Boston for the Frozen Four. I’ll see some of my family that I haven’t seen since the pandemic hit. I cleaned up at the casino on some Final Four and hockey bets....
First Call: Steelers meet with college safety, see pro safety sign elsewhere; Pat Narduzzi on Kenny Pickett’s preferred team
Thursday’s “First Call” starts with more news about the Pittsburgh Steelers safety position. Pitt’s coach shares some details about Kenny Pickett. We have a look at the Penguins game against the New York Rangers. And another local college athlete is getting into business with the WWE. Search still on One...
Stakes set for Pitt spring game: Steak for the winners, ‘dirty-water’ hot dogs for the losers
If you think there’s nothing at stake Saturday at Heinz Field in Pitt’s intra-squad Blue-Gold Game, let defensive line coach Charlie Partridge set you straight. “Steaks or hot dogs,” said Partridge, who will coach the Gold team against offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti’s Blue squad. “Winner goes to one part of...
Pat Narduzzi short on details while Kedon Slovis, Nick Patti compete for Pitt QB job
If Jordan Addison eludes defensive backs as effectively as Pat Narduzzi deflects questions about his quarterbacks, Pitt will have a back-to-back winner of the Biletnikoff Trophy. Reporters tried different variations of queries Tuesday, hoping to get an idea of how the competition between Kedon Slovis and Nick Patti is evolving....
Pitt QB Kenny Pickett’s stock drops in latest Pro Football Focus mock draft
Former Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett had been a consensus first-round pick in most mock drafts ahead of the NFL Draft that begins April 28. At least until Pro Football Focus released its latest mock draft. In the latest mock draft released Monday, Pickett isn’t even selected in the first two...
