Pitt's defense gets a boost from transfers Nick James, Nate Matlack

Pitt bolstered its defensive depth Sunday when two players from power conferences verbally committed to coach Pat Narduzzi.

COMMITTED

H2P pic.twitter.com/PrdP0SRwBh

— Nate Matlack (@nmatlack1) December 17, 2023

Defensive tackle Nick James and defensive end Nate Matlack are transferring from Indiana and Kansas State, but the key to these two roster additions is the fact they play positions where the Panthers need competition in practice and production in games.

Pitt is down to three scholarship defensive tackles — Elliot Donald, Sean FitzSimmons and Isaiah Neal — after losing three seniors to graduation and Deandre Jules to the transfer portal.

James (6-foot-2, 285 pounds) will have an opportunity to fill that need after completing his redshirt freshman season at Indiana this year. Only 19, he has three seasons of eligibility to use after playing in 12 games in 2023, with four tackles, a sack and a pass breakup.

James was highly regarded as a senior at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., earning a four-star rating in 2022 from Rivals.com. Rivals ranked James the 34th overall high school prospect in Florida and the 16th defensive tackle in the nation. He had offers from 26 schools, including Pitt, Auburn, Florida State, Miami, Ohio State, Tennessee, Texas A&M and West Virginia, before choosing the Hoosiers.

At defensive end, Pitt is seeking a replacement for Sam Okunlola, who is transferring. Okunlola tied for the team lead in sacks (five) with linebacker Shayne Simon this season and would have been atop the depth chart going into 2024.

COMMITTED #H2P pic.twitter.com/J219DQBPqh

— Nick James¹⁹ (@Njames9999) December 17, 2023

Matlack (6-5, 249) has played the past three seasons for Kansas State, totaling 16 tackles for a loss, with 9 1/2 sacks. He recorded four sacks during his junior season this year, with one each in games against Southeast Missouri, Troy, UCF and Houston.

Matlack, 21, brings experience to Pitt’s defensive line that includes seniors Dayon Hayes, Nate Temple and Bam Brima, who collectively totaled 8 1/2 sacks last season, and a group of largely unproven ends that includes Nahki Johnson, Jimmy Scott, Antonio Camon and Maverick Gracio.

Matlack and James are the fifth and sixth transfers to verbally commit to the Panthers in the past week, joining cornerback Tamon Lynum (Nebraska), long snapper Nilay Upadhyayula (UConn), wide receiver Censere Lee and running back Desmond Reid (Western Carolina).