(RB Rodney Hammond Jr. – USA Today Sports)
Key Players Returning:
QB Nate Yarnell, RB Rodney Hammond Jr., WR Konata Mumpfield, WR Daejon Reynolds, TE Gavin Bartholomew, OC Terrence Moore, OG Ryan Jacoby, OT Branson Taylor, DE Bam Brima, LB Brandon George, FS Javon McIntyre, FS PJ O’Brien Jr., SS Donovan McMillan, KR Kenny Johnson, PK Ben Sauls and PT Caleb Junko.
Key Players Departing:
QB Christian Veilleux (Georgia State transfer), WR Bub Means (Saints R5), OG Jake Kradel, OT Matt Goncalves (Colts R3), DE Dayon Hayes (Colorado transfer), DE Samuel Okunlola (Colorado transfer), DE Nate Temple, DT David Green, DT Deandre Jules (South Carolina transfer), LB Bangally Kamara (South Carolina transfer), LB Shayne Simon, CB/PR MJ Devonshire (Raiders R7), CB AJ Woods, NB Soloman DeShields (Texas A&M transfer), and NB Marquis Williams.
(EDGE David Ojiegbe – 247Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: OL Caleb Holmes (Fairburn, Georgia).
3 Star Recruits: WR Raphael Williams Jr. (San Diego State transfer), EDGE David Ojiegbe (Clemson transfer), DL Francis Brewu (Columbus, Ohio), LB Keye Thompson (Ohio transfer), QB Ell Holstein (Alabama transfer), DL Sincere Edwards (Apopka, Florida), ATH Tyreek Robinson (Shreveport, Louisiana), LB Cameron Lindsey (Aliquippa, Pennsylvania), and DL Jahsear Whittington (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).
2023 Results:
G01 WOFFORD W 45-7
G02 CINCINNATI L 21-27
G03 @ West Virginia L 6-17
G04 #17 NORTH CAROLINA L 24-41
G05 @ Virginia Tech L 21-38
G06 #14 LOUISVILLE W 38-21
G07 @ Wake Forest L 17-21
G08 @ #14 Notre Dame L 7-56
G09 #4 FSU L 7-24
G10 vs. Syracuse L 13-28
G11 BOSTON COLLEGE W 24-16
G12 @ Duke L 19-30
Misc. Team Information:
2023 Record: 3-9 (12th in ACC)
Home: 3-3
Away: 0-5
Neutral: 0-1
ACC: 2-6
Non-AAC: 1-3
Head Coach: Pat Narduzzi
Pittsburgh: 65-50
Career: 65-50
Bowls: 2-4
(WR Konata Mumpfield – USA Today Sports)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Nate Yarnell (41-62, 595 yards, 66.1%, 9.6 avg., 4 TD, 1 INT)
Rushing: Rodney Hammond Jr. (118 car., 547 yards, 4.6 avg., 4 TD)
Receiving: Konata Mumpfield (44 rec., 576 yards, 13.1 avg., 5 TD)
TDs Scored: Konata Mumpfield (5)
Sacks: Bam Brima (3)
Tackles: Donovan McMillon (105)
Tackles For Loss: Soloman DeShields (8)
Interceptions: PJ O’Brien (3)
Pass Deflections: Javon McIntyre (7)
Forced Fumbles: Donovan McMillon/PJ O’Brien (1)
Kick Returns: Kenny Johnson (15 ret., 347 yards, 23.1 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: Ben Sauls (11-16 fg/fga., 69%, 28-28 xp/xpa., 61 pts.)
Punting: Caleb Junko (63 punts, 2623 yards, 41.6 avg., 15 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 19 Nate Yarnell (RS JR)
RB: 6 Rodney Hammond Jr. (SR)
WR: 2 Kenny Johnson (SO)
WR: 9 Konata Mumpfield (SR/TR)
WR: 3 Daejon Reynolds (RS JR/TR)
TE: 86 Gavin Bartholomew (SR)
LT: 78 Branson Taylor (RS SR)
LG: 61 Ryan Jacoby (RS SR/TR)
OC: 58 Terrence Moore (RS JR)
RG: 55 BJ Williams (SO)
RT: 70 Ryan Baer (RS SO)
KR: 2 Kenny Johnson (SO)
PK: 90 Ben Sauls (RS SR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 6 Nate Temple (RS SR)
DT: 55 Sean FitzSimmons (RS SO)
DT: 4 Nahki Johnson (RS JR)
DE: 98 Nate Matlack (RS SR/TR)
LB: 31 Rasheem Biles (SO)
LB: 30 Brandon George (RS SR)
NB: 38 Kyle Louis RS SO)
CB: 10 Ryland Gandy (RS SO)
CB: 0 Jeremiah Anglin Jr. (RS FR/TR)
FS: 7 Javon McIntyre (RS JR)
SS: 3 Donovan McMillon (SR/TR)
PR: 21 Che Nwabuko (RS SO)
PT: 95 Caleb Junko (RS JR)
(QB Nate Yarnell – USA Today Sports)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: C
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/31 KENT STATE GOLDEN FLASHES | PITT leads the series 7-0. The Panthers won (43-3) the last meeting between schools in 2003.
09/07 @ Cincinnati Bearcats | PITT leads the series 8-5. Last season’s 21-27 loss was the first meeting between schools since 2012, and their last series win (28-10) dates back to 2010.
09/14 WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS | PITT leads the series 62-41-3. The Panthers lost (6-17) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series win (38-31) was at the prior meeting in 2022.
09/21 YOUNGSTOWN STATE PENGUINS | PITT leads the series 4-1. The Panthers won (28-21 OT) the last meeting between schools in 2017.
10/05 @ North Carolina Tar Heels | PITT trails the series 5-12. The Panthers are 2-7 since 2014, and their last series win (30-23) was in 2021.
10/12 CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS | PITT leads the series 3-2. The Panthers lost (15-30) the last meeting between schools in 1966.
10/24 SYRACUSE ORANGE | PITT leads the series 43-32-3. The Panthers are 8-2 since 2014, and their last series win (19-9) was in 2022.
11/02 @ SMU Mustangs | PITT trails the series 2-3. The Panthers lost (6-28) the last meeting between schools in 2012.
11/09 VIRGINIA CAVALIERS | PITT leads the series 10-4. The Panthers won (37-7) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
11/16 CEMSON TIGERS | PITT leads the series 3-2. The Panthers are 2-2 since restarting the series in 2016, and their last series loss (17-52) was in 2020.
11/23 @ Louisville Cardinals | PITT leads the series 11-9. The Panthers are 3-1 since restarting the series in 2015, and their last series loss (10-24) was in 2022.
11/30 @ Boston College Eagles | PITT leads the series 18-15. The Panthers won (24-16) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series loss (30-31) was at the prior meeting in 2020.
Predictions:
Home: 3-4
Road: 1-4
Neutral: 0-0
ACC: 1-7
Non-ACC: 3-1
Overall: 4-8 (15th in ACC)
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