Pitt’s Isaiah Neal had good reason to enter the offseason with confidence.
Last fall, after the Panthers were decimated by injury at defensive end, Neal — to that point a tackle — was tasked to transition to the outside midseason.
By year’s end, Neal had impressively played the part, recording career highs in starts (nine games), tackles (36), tackles for loss (seven) and sacks (3 1/2).
As the Panthers approach the midway point of spring ball, Neal has enjoyed focusing on developing at defensive end, his sole position now.
“I would say up until this point, practice seven going into eight, I’m taking steps in the right direction with pass rushing,” Neal said. “Going from inside to outside, as you get a little more space out there, you get a little more freedom to be an athlete. I feel like I’m trusting myself a little bit more out there.”
The redshirt junior had been among the smaller defensive tackles on the team prior to his position change.
Neal weighs 265 pounds, compared to former interior position mates Sean FitzSimmons (295), Nick James (280) and transfers Jeremiah Warren (315) and Eliyt Nairne (290).
Being a smaller, quicker defensive tackle didn’t hamper Neal in 2024, when he emerged as a contributor for Pitt. He appeared in all 13 games, posting 21 tackles (three for loss) with 1 1/2 sacks.
“One of the most versatile guys we’ve got on defense,” FitzSimmons said of Neal. “If you really wanted to put him at linebacker, too, he could probably play that. He’s real fast, quick (and) powerful.”
But now, with his position, technique and responsibilities altered at defensive end, Neal is enjoying life even more.
“I’m loving it,” Neal said. “I feel like that’s honestly the thing I love the most being out there, is being able to be creative. I pride myself on being smart. I don’t want to say all the time, but a lot of the time I can kind of get a sense of what’s going on. When you’re out there, you have a little bit more space to actually act on that, whereas when you’re inside it’s a little more strict, like, ‘Hey, we need you right here in this A gap or we need you right here in this B gap. Get off and get vertical.’ Out there, I can be a little bit more cute, a little bit more athletic and use my ability. I’m loving it.”
Along with Neal, the Panthers return another proven player at defensive end in Jimmy Scott, who enters his fifth and final collegiate campaign this fall.
Zach Crothers, a redshirt sophomore, showed promise early last year but suffered a season-ending injury in Week 4.
Crothers is not practicing this spring but will likely be in the rotational mix at fall camp.
Finally, the Panthers are still looking to see what they have in Oregon transfer Jaeden Moore, who was injured last August and missed the majority of the season.
Neal can already claim to be a leader by example, given his on-field success to date.
Moving forward, he aims to keep developing more vocally in that role.
“I’m also growing as a leader at this time and gaining the trust of my fellow defensive players and my teammates in general,” Neal said.
