Playing next to elite fellow LBs, Pitt's Braylan Lovelace proves he can play with the best

Braylan Lovelace entered this season already having proven himself as a valuable contributor at Pitt.

In 2024, the Leechburg grad thrived as a rotational member of the Panthers’ linebacking corps, posting 53 tackles and 10.5 for loss.

But this season, Lovelace assumed a starting role at middle linebacker next to returning All-ACC selection Rasheem Biles and All-American Kyle Louis.

As No. 24 Pitt (8-3, 6-1 ACC) enters its regular-season finale with a league title game appearance on the line, Lovelace has made a name for himself beside his two standout position mates.

“I know we’ve got three dudes playing linebacker,” coach Pat Narduzzi said. “And they’re all good. It’s a matter of just making your plays when they come to you. And that’s all you can do as a linebacker or defensive end, make the plays that come to you. But Braylan has been great all year. In my opinion, he’s an all-conference linebacker.”

Lovelace opened eyes across the college football world last weekend, as he returned a pick-6 100 yards against Georgia Tech, helping the Panthers hang on for a 42-28 win over the No. 15 team in the nation.

It was Lovelace’s second interception of the season (he, Biles and Louis have six of Pitt’s 14 to date), and he earned ACC Linebacker of the Week honors in large part for the play.

Saturday’s Play of the Day

Braylan Lovelace takes an interception 99 yards for the Pitt touchdown. pic.twitter.com/GgSdpzuiA1

— The Get Back Coach (@TheGBCoach) November 23, 2025

Aside from its situational significance and overall impact on the game, Narduzzi was pleased to see Lovelace return it for a touchdown, as the coach is known to needle his defenders who record interceptions but get tackled before they can score six points.

“It was a special play,” Narduzzi said. “It was an explosive play. That guy can run. He’s got great hands and should have had another pick against Stanford. … But he’s a great player.”

Pitt challenged Lovelace entering the season, shifting him from outside to inside linebacker.

He has risen to the occasion, posting 65 tackles (trailing only Biles and Louis) with two picks, two pass breakups and five quarterback hurries.

Lovelace’s pick-6 saw him drop into coverage at the goal line, with Georgia Tech facing third-and-goal from the 5-yard line.

When Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King let it rip toward Brett Seither for a pass that would have trimmed Pitt’s lead to 28-21, Lovelace made the perfect read.

“I saw the hook and curl coming behind me, and I just read the quarterback’s eyes,” Lovelace said. “Saw the ball in the air, went and made a play on it.”

A former two-way player who rushed for 4,170 yards in a storied WPIAL career, Lovelace had no intention of being dragged down short of six points.

“Keep your head forward, keep running and don’t get caught from behind,” he said. “If you get caught from behind, you’re going out sad.”

Of Pitt’s primary trio at linebacker, Lovelace has remained the sole constant this season, as Biles missed three games due to injury, with Louis absent for the better part of two.

Over that span — against Syracuse, N.C. State and Stanford — Lovelace helped steady those who took the spots of Biles and Louis, such as Cameron Lindsey, Nick Lapi and Abe Ibrahim.

Biles and Louis — who combined for 27 tackles against Georgia Tech — continue to cast large shadows as elite defenders.

But Lovelace, from WPIAL Class A football to the ACC, has established himself as a respected peer.

“Braylan’s been a huge presence and leader of stability in the middle there,” linebackers coach Ryan Manalac said. “Even when we pushed him to the outside, he’s that calming presence. Everybody knows he knows exactly what we’re doing, he gets everybody lined up and he provides that stability within.”