The two interior defensive linemen Pitt brought in through the transfer portal in January had formative experiences at their previous colleges.
For Eliyt Nairne, who spent 2025 at Tulane, that was competing in the College Football Playoff.
Jeremiah Warren, who played three years at Illinois before joining Pitt, was mentored as a freshman by the 2023 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in Johnny Newton, a second-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft by Washington.
Now both players have arrived in Oakland looking to continue their development with the Panthers.
“Pitt has produced some very, very good defensive linemen like Aaron Donald and Calijah Kancey just going first round,” Warren said. “Here, it’s the type of defense that allows D-linemen to show how athletic they are and do what they’re best at.”
Added Nairne: “This is a place that we call home. Outside of the emotional, Pitt was a place that stood out to me because of the way they play. It’s a winning school, the defense is a winning program — why not Pitt? There’s no other way to explain it.”
Nairne’s early emotional connection stems from multi-generational tie-ins, as his grandmother conducted doctoral studies at Pitt, and he also has an aunt who graduated from the university.
Warren, a 6-foot-2, 315-pound specimen, and Nairne (6-1, 290) were acquired to bolster a defensive tackle group that lost standout Francis Brewu (Notre Dame) and Jahsear Whittington (Nebraska) to the transfer portal.
Heading into 2026, they join players such as Sean FitzSimmons, Isaiah Neal and Nick James as interior options for coach Tim Daoust.
So far, Warren has hit it off with his new position coach.
“It’s really easy to become a player for him because he’s just a guy you can connect to on a level that’s deeper than football, as a mentor, coach. He’s just overall a good person,” Warren said.
Daoust was also a big factor in attracting Nairne.
“I definitely see the plan he has for us, me as well, to flourish and be a great defensive line in this nation,” Nairne said.
At Illinois from 2023-25, Warren played in 26 total games, including 11 last year.
This past fall, he made only three tackles. At Pitt, he aims to take the next step as a player.
“I feel like my on-the-field play is very explosive, dominant, good at reading offenses’ keys and stuff like that,” Warren said. “Off the field, I’m a guy that’s just going to have a great time. I love my teammates and just being a brotherhood.
“(Pitt’s defensive scheme is) just so vertical. Everything is pierce the line of scrimmage. That’s a dream for a defensive lineman, to be able to play fast, not think, just play. Coaches make it very, very simple to just turn our brain off and go play football.”
Nairne spent the first two seasons of his collegiate career at Liberty before joining Tulane in 2025.
During his one year with the Green Wave, he appeared in all 14 games, recording 13 tackles with a fumble recovery for a squad that won an American Athletic Conference title.
As he gets settled with the Panthers during winter workouts, Nairne eagerly is looking ahead to spring ball.
“I feel like my effort and my love for the game are definitely going to show,” Nairne said. “Each snap, it’s just relentless effort, 100% — that’s just me showing my love for the game, my love for the team, my love for the program and my dedication to Pittsburgh.”
Nairne complimented Tulane coach Jon Sumrall (now at Florida) for how he encouraged the development of strong bonds within the Green Wave’s locker room.
With Pitt working in several new coaches and other transfers in all three phases this offseason, Nairne hopes to be part of a similar dynamic.
“As we grow, although it’s early on in the year, it’s definitely going to be a great experience learning the ins and outs of each other,” he said, “how to compete with each other to win and get to the ultimate goal.”
