DB Josh Guerrier, WR Tony Kinsler among Pitt true freshmen vying for playing time

In college football, true freshmen can hit a wall for a variety of reasons, delaying their emergence as contributors.

For starters, there is the strength and size discrepancy between those just emerging from high school and the more grown-men specimens found in college.

Then, there’s the mental challenge of learning a new playbook.

Ultimately, true freshmen have to put all of the above together if they’re going to impress coaches and rise through the ranks at their positions.

One such Pitt player who’s seemingly managed to do that since arriving on campus in January is safety Josh Guerrier.

“He’s done a lot of good things, like splash plays, and he’s a football player,” said Guerrier’s position mate, senior Javon McIntyre. “You can tell. Especially, he’s early enrolling in the spring, it’s like, ‘all right, learning curve coming,’ but he’s still making splash plays and playing instinctive. That’s what you want to see out of a young safety.”

True freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel had high praise for his classmate.

Heintschel, who also was an early enrollee in January, has watched his new teammate go through winter workouts, spring ball and now fall camp.

“Josh Guerrier — he’s a freak,” Heintschel said. “That dude is a stud. He’s going to make some noise here soon. It’s tough going against him in practice. True freshman vs. true freshman — he’s a dude. I’m not going to lie.”

Guerrier took it upon himself to dive into the film room and watch predecessors at his position, naming former Panthers safeties Paris Ford and Brandon Hill as those he has studied.

“I feel like I’ve taken everything in, probably not just going through the motions but wanting to learn, wanting to get to know the plays and being there for the team,” Guerrier said.

Guerrier is not alone among Pitt’s true freshmen vying for a role this fall.

Offensive lineman Torian Chester, a 6-foot-4, 325-pounder factoring in at right guard, has earned the continued praise of coach Pat Narduzzi this month.

Calling Chester a “big beast” earlier during camp who could “make moves” if others ahead of him on the depth chart failed to step up, Narduzzi likes the potential of his young lineman.

However, on Wednesday, Narduzzi indicated Chester may be encountering that true freshman wall.

“He flashes,” Narduzzi said at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side. “He looks good when he’s with the 3s, but all of the sudden, he moves up to the 2s and it becomes, ‘Oh, shoot.’ But I think the more reps we get with him in there, the better he’ll get. We’ll see.”

Another true freshman who’s made waves has been receiver Tony Kinsler, a 1,000-yard wideout as a junior and senior at Spruce Creek High School in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Kinsler has been name-dropped by just about every one of his fellow receivers, including Blue Hicks and Poppi Williams, as well as defensive backs who have covered him in practice, such as Tamon Lynum.

Late into camp, Kenny Johnson, Hicks and Williams have looked like they’ll enter the season as the Panthers’ top trio of wideouts.

But receiver is among Pitt’s deeper position groups, with Censere Lee, Deuce Spann and Zion Fowler-El, among others also vying for receptions.

Still, despite all those sets of hands wanting the ball, Narduzzi feels Kinsler is capable of carving out a role.

“I think Tony Kinsler is going to be a dude,” Narduzzi said. “I think he’s going to help us this year somewhere.”

Notes: Narduzzi told reporters Wednesday that he’d issue an injury update Thursday, as the Panthers near the conclusion of fall camp. Regular weekly practices are set to commence Monday, with Pitt’s season opener vs. Duquesne on Aug. 30 at Acrisure Stadium. Narduzzi typically does not delve into injury particulars unless players have suffered long-term or season-ending ailments. … Narduzzi said he plans to announce who’s won Pitt’s starting kicker position Thursday. James London, brought in on scholarship from Murray State (FCS), entered camp as the favorite to succeed Ben Sauls on field-goal and placekicking duty, but he has been challenged by redshirt sophomore Sam Carpenter and freshman Trey Butkowski. London made 14 of 19 (73.6%) of his field goals last season for the Racers and has kicked in 21 career college games. In his career, he’s gone 16 for 22 (72.7%) on field goal tries. Carpenter’s game experience consists of a made extra-point attempt in 2023 while serving as holder on another extra-point try last year. Butkowski, a walk-on, joined the program in June.