Pitt’s spring camp was stopped by a week-long COVID-related pause, and it’ll continue seven days longer than expected after the spring game was pushed back. But the Panthers have reached the midway point of camp.
Pitt is seven practices into its 15-session spring. The 15th practice is the spring game, so we figured it was time to assess what’s been discovered so far.
Full disclosure, reporters have not been permitted to attend Pitt’s practices, which has been standard operating procedure pretty much across college football during the pandemic. But after Tuesday’s practice, Pat Narduzzi offered insights over Zoom on how Pitt’s position battles are shaking out so far.
Linebacker
In Wendell Davis’ eyes, Pitt’s linebacker room is “probably the most underrated group in the ACC.”
Right now, there’s little to separate Davis, Chase Pine, Cam Bright and Phil Campbell. SirVocea Dennis, who got after it with 14.5 tackles for loss last fall, is out this spring after undergoing postseason surgery for an undisclosed injury.
Davis, a redshirt junior, earned the first-team middle linebacker job out of training camp and started Pitt’s first two games of 2020 only to later suffer a season-ending injury. Pine, who’s now played in 45 games, took over. And on the outside, Bright and Campbell formed a fine partnership, combining for 15.5 tackles for loss.
The key to all this, though, is where Dennis slots in. He’s too talented to keep off the field, and Narduzzi said he’s capable of playing either outside spot or even in the middle. That means waiting for a firm answer until Dennis returns for August training camp.
But with quality players at their disposal — even Central Catholic standout and Penn State transfer John Petrishen has had “a heck of a spring” — Narduzzi and new linebackers coach Ryan Manalac find themselves in an advantageous position.
“It’s going to come down to production and how they practice,” Narduzzi said Tuesday. “We’re going to play the three best players at linebacker. And I think we probably have our best group of linebackers that we’ve had since I’ve been here.”
Offensive tackle
Owen Drexel is poised to be Jimmy Morrissey’s successor at center. Jake Kradel and Maryland transfer Marcus Minor seem settled (for now at least) at right and left guard, respectively. But what about left and right tackle?
“We’ve got a battle going on right now,” Narduzzi said.
Three players — redshirt seniors Carter Warren and Gabe Houy and redshirt sophomore Matt Goncalves — are vying for two spots. This was expected even before spring camp. But if one is standing out, Narduzzi isn’t tipping his hand, saying, “I’m happy with all three of those guys.”
If offensive line coach Dave Borbely based his decision on experience alone, it would be a no-brainer. Houy made eight starts at right tackle last season. Warren, meanwhile, started all 13 games in 2019 and the first eight games of 2020 at left tackle.
But when Carter and Houy missed two games due to COVID-19 protocols, Goncalves starred on a reshaped line. Goncalves was named a freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America after starting Pitt’s final three games, including the Georgia Tech game that Warren played in, but didn’t start.
Goncalves has a lot of potential. But with Kenny Pickett back for one more season, Borbelys’ job isn’t to look to the future; it’s to protect Pickett. So if Goncalves wins out, it’s because Borbely and Narduzzi view him as the best option, both in the short-term and the long-term. Which, in turn, could create waves throughout the line.
Defensive line
Weaver and Jones combined for 27.5 TFLs and 16.5 sacks last season, 24.8% and 35.9% of Pitt’s team totals, respectively. And to fill their shoes, Pitt will look to Deslin Alexandre, John Morgan and Habakkuk Baldonado.
Alexandre is considered a lock to start. The redshirt senior started all 13 games in 2019 with Weaver recovering from a torn ACL. He also got the nod against Austin Peay and Georgia Tech last year, games Weaver didn’t play in. In his 15 career starts, Alexandre has totaled 41 tackles, 12.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks.
Morgan and Baldonado will battle for the other opening, with underclassmen Dayon Hayes and Nahki Johnson fighting for reserve time. Morgan, after logging four sacks last year, should have the upper hand on Baldonado, who was limited to four games last year due to injury.
The defensive tackle situation is a little cloudier.
Keyshon Camp is talented when healthy, Devin Danielson started seven games last year, and Tyler Bentley started three times in 2020. But when asked about the battle at defensive tackle, Narduzzi mentioned only two names: redshirt sophomore Calijah Kancey and redshirt junior David Green.
Green, a Central Catholic grad, started five times last year. Kancey, meanwhile, was a freshman All-American after recording seven TFLs and starting the last four games.
“Calijah’s doing a nice job. He’s had a great spring so far. He’s one of the highlights, in my opinion,” Narduzzi said Tuesday. “David Green has played well, as well. Those would be the two that I’ve seen a lot out of right now. Those are the two I’ll speak of at this point. And we’ll watch practice and see who’s stepped up after that.”
Safety
There’s less ambiguity at safety despite the losses of Hamlin and Ford.
Redshirt sophomore Brandon Hill is expected to start at strong safety after doing so against Florida State and Georgia Tech in the wake of Ford’s decision to opt out midseason. And Erick Hallett should be the guy opposite him at free safety.
Hallett is out this spring due to injury, which gives Judson Tallandier, Kentucky transfer MJ Devonshire and early enrollee P.J. O’Brien the opportunity to make an impression on the staff. But Narduzzi is confident in what Hallett — a redshirt junior with four pass breakups and two interceptions last year — brings to the secondary.
“Those young guys are getting a chance to see if they can step up and beat Hallett out in the fall,” Narduzzi said. “But we know Erick can play already.”
Backup quarterback
You all know the contenders. Joey Yellen and Davis Beville ought to be considered the front-runners, while Nick Patti is still competing, as is early enrollee Nate Yarnell.
But Narduzzi doesn’t think any of them are ready to cement their spot as Pitt’s No. 2, calling Pickett’s return “a blessing in disguise” for the other quarterbacks.
“We didn’t have spring ball last year to develop those younger guys. That’s why this spring is so important. Every position is important. But at that quarterback position, they just didn’t have time,” Narduzzi said. “We would really be under the gun right now if Kenny wasn’t back, trying to get one of these guys to step up.”
That’s not a ringing endorsement by any means. But it’s an understandable stance.
Yellen played fine at Miami last year, but the Notre Dame loss proved he wasn’t ready. Neither was Beville, who fumbled the first snap and lasted only a series. Patti, a veteran with an understanding of the offense but a limited ceiling, was put in the game to calm things down and ensure the blowout didn’t get any uglier than it already was.
Since then, Yellen, Beville and Patti have had seven spring practices, four more than they did in 2020, with eight to go.
Narduzzi said Beville put up better stats in last weekend’s scrimmage than his competitors. But the staff will continue to learn more about its options over the next few weeks. That includes allowing the non-Pickett quarterbacks to get hit at scrimmages.
“Part of this development is finding out who the backup quarterback is going to be as soon as we possibly can,” Narduzzi said. “And I think the only way you can do that is make them live and see if they can make plays with their feet and see how they take pressure. ... We’re happy to have Kenny back. But you never know how long it’ll last, and those guys have to be ready.”
John McGonigal: jmcgonigal@post-gazette.com and Twitter @jmcgonigal9.
First Published: April 7, 2021, 12:14 p.m.
