Analysis: New batch of playmakers take center stage for Pitt in win over Central Michigan

In Pitt’s Week 1 win over Duquesne, several players quickly emerged as heroes to help their team rout the crosstown Dukes.

To be sure, some of those players — namely quarterback Eli Holstein and tailback Desmond Reid — looked good again in Week 2 as Pitt cruised to a 45-17 victory over Central Michigan.

However, this time around, a new batch of individuals shined on offense and defense:

WR Poppi Williams

Williams hauled in a 45-yard pass against the Dukes last week, but he was still overshadowed by position mates Blue Hicks, who caught four passes and scored a pair of touchdowns, and Kenny Johnson, who also had four grabs and a score.

But Saturday vs. Central Michigan was Williams’ show. He finished with a team-high 81 yards on five catches, scoring a pair of touchdowns.

“Poppi, I’ve been impressed with him,” coach Pat Narduzzi said. “One of the things going into the offseason was, ‘Poppi, just don’t catch and fall down.’ It has to be yards after the catch. He’s done a great job the last two weeks. He’s explosive. He runs good routes. He gets open. Gives (coordinator) Kade (Bell) an opportunity to throw it to him. Poppi has been good all camp.”

Williams’ contributions Saturday came in all shapes and sizes.

POPPI ALL DAY ????@Poppi1k finished the day with 5 catches for 81 yards with 2 TDs! pic.twitter.com/9kb8BZvcBH

— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) September 6, 2025

He came down with a 48-yard touchdown pass from Holstein late in the third quarter that was a nail in the coffin for Central Michigan, coming only 41 seconds after the Chippewas scored.

He also was the first Panther to make a catch, taking one 20 yards from Holstein on Pitt’s opening drive, which ended with a 3-yard Holstein-to-Williams end zone connection.

Williams finished with 49 yards after the catch and led the team with nine targets from Holstein.

Though he was the only Pitt receiver to catch a touchdown, four of his teammates (Johnson, Hicks, Deuce Spann and Zion Fowler-El) had receptions of at least 18 yards.

“This receiving corps is very special,” Williams said. “It can be any one of our weeks. We’re all explosive. Next week, it could be somebody else. It could be Kenny. It could be anybody.”

DE Zach Crothers

With Jaeden Moore still sidelined with an undisclosed injury, there are opportunities at defensive end.

Zach Crothers, a redshirt freshman playing in only his second college game, made the most of those chances against Central Michigan.

He finished with seven tackles (two for loss), leading his position group, posting 1¹⁄₂ sacks and a quarterback hurry.

“I’m excited, obviously,” Crothers said. “First sack of the game, it’s a surreal feeling, to be honest. … Just keep working hard and get better every week.”

Crothers recorded his first sack of the afternoon in the second quarter, when Pitt was leading 21-3, by getting to Angel Flores for a loss of 5. A play earlier, he brought Flores down (aided by linebacker Braylan Lovelace) for a loss of 2.

Later, in the fourth quarter, when Pitt was up 38-17, Central Michigan had driven to the Panthers’ 20-yard line.

But Crothers sacked Flores again for another 5-yard loss, before CMU ultimately turned the ball over on downs.

For Narduzzi, it’s rewarding to see Crothers, a player who struggled with a debilitating back injury in 2024, emerge as a contributor.

“Zach has come a long way, a long, long way,” Narduzzi said. “… A year ago, there were times when he was crying because his back hurt so bad. To see where he’s come, that’s development. In the weight room, the training room, recovery, just knowing who you are, what your body is like. I couldn’t be happier. … And he’s going to keep getting better.”

Crothers’ teammates were similarly amped up about his day.

“Our boy ‘Crow,’ he’s a ball player. I’m not going to lie,” linebacker Rasheem Biles said. “He’s a very good player. He just keeps learning and getting better every play. Even in camp, he was wreaking havoc every time he was on the field. I love playing with Crothers. That’s my boy.”

CB Shadarian Harrison

For reasons unknown, Pitt was without senior corner Rashad Battle on Saturday.

Harrison started in his place, and he finished second behind Biles in tackles (nine), six of which were solo, in his first college start.

The main blemish on Harrison’s afternoon came in the third quarter when, while defending CMU’s Langston Lewis in single coverage, he allowed a 21-yard gain on fourth-and-4.

One play later, the Chippewas were in the end zone, cutting Pitt’s lead to 24-17.

That said, Narduzzi was pleased with Harrison, as well as freshman corner Shawn Lee.

“He just keeps working,” Narduzzi said of Harrison. “I’ve been impressed with him. We actually played mostly with our backup corners the whole game. That won’t happen next week … (but) getting depth at corner, guys you can trust, that was impressive.”