Pitt's Narduzzi rips NCAA transfer portal, hopes players use it properly

Pat Narduzzi again raised objections to the NCAA transfer portal Wednesday after the second day of Pitt’s spring drills.

On Monday, he said, “The portal’s a bad thing, in my opinion, as far as how people are using it. Kids need to have their options, but you hope the options work out.”

Then, on Wednesday, he labeled the portal, “The Ugly Toilet Portal.”

“It sounds really good,” he said of the catch-all database where players hoping to transfer can place their names for other schools’ coaches to see. “But I don’t think it ends up being good for a lot of kids.

“When you look at the amount of kids who transfer from Power 5 (schools), how many really make it back to Power 5? They don’t. They’re going down (to a smaller school or lower classification), or they’re asking to see if they can come back here if they did go in the portal.”

Five players have left Pitt’s team since the end of last season. All five were backups.

In Narduzzi’s mind, the portal is a one-way street.

“There’s not really a chance to come back,” he said. “If (coaches) do that, you open up a can of worms that you’re going to let a guy back. We’ll let a guy come back if he wants to walk on, but it ain’t going to be putting him back on scholarship. You let a team down. That’s what it is.

“I think it should be across the board. You want to jump in the portal, you’re in the portal.”

Narduzzi does acknowledge, however, his use of the portal in attempts to keep up with the competition.

When tight end Lucas Krull (Florida) and quarterback Joey Yellen (Arizona State) entered the portal this year, Pitt quickly reached out and signed them to letters of intent.

Krull, a graduate transfer who can play immediately, may be Pitt’s starting tight end this season. Yellen is hoping to get a waiver to play this season. Even if he fails, he has a chance to be the starting quarterback in 2021.

The NCAA is considering eliminating the rule that mandates a football or basketball player must sit out a year before joining the team at his new school.

“You just hope it doesn’t open the floodgates,” Narduzzi said.

He also believes transfers have a more difficult time graduating.

“Ultimately, as a head football coach, we talk to our guys about getting degrees all the time,” he said. “If the kids are transferring, you’re probably not going to get your degree because you are going to lose credits with the transfer.”

He said Pitt is doing a better job of talking to student-athletes about the value of staying in school, including those who could be drafted as underclassmen.

Paris Ford, Damar Hamlin, Patrick Jones II and Jaylen Twyman decided to put off their NFL plans to remain at Pitt this year.

“They didn’t listen to the outside influences,” Narduzzi said. “We’ve done a better job since my first couple years of just educating them.

“Let’s keep our head in this thing. It’s not about where you are in six weeks or a month or after Pro Day, it’s where you’re going to be in the future. There’s a lot of money left on the table every year.”

He said he blames himself for what happened to Quadree Henderson, an All-ACC return specialist who left Pitt early and was not drafted in 2018. He’s with the Pittsburgh Steelers now, his third NFL team.

“We can’t let that happen again,” the coach said.

Picking up the pace

Narduzzi noted there was “more juice” at practice Wednesday than on the first day of drills.

“There are always nerves (on the first day),” he said. “Today, they had a little bit more fun, a little bit more enthusiasm.”

After practice, defensive coordinator Randy Bates stood in the middle of his unit’s players and gave a rousing speech. Then, when he ordered everyone to do 25 push-ups, the 59-year-old cancer survivor dropped and did them along with his players.

“Coach Bates is always like that,” Narduzzi said. “He has a motor. If you expect your kids to be enthusiastic, you better have some juice yourself.”

Position fight

There is a battle developing for the starting job at right tackle. With Nolan Ulizio exhausting his eligibility and junior Gabe Houy out this spring with an injury, converted tight ends Grant Carrigan and Carson Van Lynn are in the middle of it. Narduzzi said redshirt freshman Matt Goncalves also could be in the mix.

“We know Gabe can play,” the coach said. “He’s got a season under his belt at right guard and right tackle. (Houy’s injury) gives these other guys a chance to find out where they are on the depth chart.”

Good first impressions

Narduzzi is pleased with many of the freshmen who graduated early from high school and enrolled in January.

He said wide receiver Jordan Addison “has been spectacular, really.”

“He’s opened up a lot of eyes, not only by the coaches, but the players’ eyes are opening up as well.”

Addison made a one-handed grab Wednesday in drills.

Solomon DeShields, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker, has shown off his speed.

“This guy played receiver in high school,” Narduzzi said. “He can’t play receiver. He’s a linebacker, but when you watch him run, you say, ‘This guy can go over and play receiver, as well.’ He’s going to help us. I’m not going to say this year, but he’s special.”

He noted running back Israel Abanikanda “has a different gear to him,” and wide receiver Aydin Henningham is “smart, picking up the offense.”

Then there’s safety Buddy Mack, who has a chance if he puts on the right shirt.

“He came out with his own different shirt on, but if we get him dressed properly, that guy’s going to be really good, too,” Narduzzi said.

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