Pitt's Calijah Kancey keeps company with Aaron Donald, named ACC Defensive Player of the Year

Pitt’s Calijah Kancey, who didn’t let his comparatively short stature keep him out of opposing backfields this season, was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year on Wednesday.

Kancey, a 6-foot, 280-pound junior defensive tackle from Miami, is the first Pitt player named ACC Defensive POY since Aaron Donald, who won the honor in 2013 at 6-foot-1.

He also is the first tackle to earn the honor since Donald and only the third all-time since the first year of the award in 1993.

“I am extremely thankful and humbled to receive this incredible honor from the ACC,” Kancey said Wednesday in a statement. “I share this award with all of my teammates and coaches. They make me better every day, on and off the field. I’m so proud to wear the Blue and Gold with them.”

Earlier this season, Kancey said Donald paved the way for defensive tackles his size.

“You have to play with good technique. I know I can’t lack in technique or pad level,” he said, adding his smaller stature is an advantage. “Offensive linemen don’t like smaller or quicker defensive linemen.”

Kancey is touted by Pro Football Focus as the nation’s best defensive tackle and also is a finalist for the Outland Trophy (best interior lineman) and Bronko Nagurski Trophy (top defensive player),

In 11 games this season, Kancey recorded 31 tackles, including 14½ for a loss (7½ sacks) and 10 quarterback hurries. He’s been the focal point of Pitt’s defense that leads the nation in total sacks (45) and sacks per game (3.75), is seventh against the run (95.5 yards) and 19th in fewest total yards allowed (319.7).

Along with his quickness and strength, Kancey said he enters every game with a plan.

“Always have an answer for what the offensive lineman is doing,” he said. “Watching film and seeing what he gets beat with, what he’s good at, what he lacks and just taking advantage of that.”

Kancey forces offensive linemen to hold so often that Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi warns game officials to be alert to the penalties.

“That’s our mindset. Nobody can block us, the D-line as a whole,” Kancey said. “We want to be unblockable. That makes the game easier.

“I know we get held. We can’t do anything about it. We have to find a way to beat the blocks a little quicker, more violent.”

Narduzzi said Wednesday in a statement that Kancey has been equally effective as a run stopper and pass rusher.

“Calijah has been absolutely outstanding all season long and is highly deserving of this honor,” Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said. “On behalf of our entire program, I want to congratulate Calijah on receiving this award. He has absolutely earned it.”

From his position at middle linebacker directly behind Kancey, SirVocea Dennis has the best view of his teammate’s disruptive play.

“When I know something good is going to happen, I just laugh, really,” Dennis said. “There he goes again.

“That’s a bad man. I’m thankful he’s on our team.”