(Photo Credit: Pitt Athletics)
Key Players Returning:
QB Eli Holstein, RB/PR Desmond Reid, WR Kenny Johnson, WR Raphael Williams Jr., OG BJ Williams, OT Ryan Baer, DE Nate Temple, DE Jimmy Scott, DT Sean FitzSimmons, LB Rasheem Biles, LB Braylan Lovelace, CB Rashad Battle, CB Tamon Lynum, NB Kyle Louis, SS Javon McIntyre, KR Kenny Johnson, and PT Caleb Junko.
Key Players Departing:
QB Nate Yarnell, RB Rodney Hammond Jr., WR Konata Mumpfield, TE Gavin Bartholomew, OC Terrence Moore, OG Ryan Jacoby, OT Branson Taylor, DE Sincere Edwards, DE Nate Matlack, LB Brandon George, CB Ryland Gandy, NB Jordan Bass, FS PJ O’Brien, SS Donovan McMillan, and PK Ben Sauls.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: ATH Josh Guerrier (Ocoee, Florida).
3 Star Recruits: RB Synkwan Smith (Roswell, Georgia), OT Shep Turk (Clairton, Pennsylvania), ATH Joshua Guerrier (Ocoee, Florida), WR Bryce Yates (Chesterfield, Virginia), QB Mason Heintschel (Oregon, Ohio), DS Cole Woodson (Haymarket, Virginia), WR Cataurus Hicks (Louisville transfer), EDGE Blaine Spires (Utah State transfer), and WR Deuce Spann (FSU transfer).
2024 Results:
G01 KENT STATE W 55-24
G02 @ Cincinnati W 28-27
G03 WEST VIRGINIA W 38-34
G04 YOUNSTOWN STATE W 73-17
G05 @ North Carolina W 34-24
G06 CALIFORNIA W 17-15
G07 SYRACUSE W 41-13
G08 @ #20 SMU L 25-48
G09 VIRGINIA L 19-24
G10 #20 CLEMSON L 20-24
G11 @ Louisville L 9-37
G12 @ Boston College L 23-34
BOWL vs. Toledo L/6OT 46-48
Misc. Team Information:
2024 Record: 7-6 (10th in ACC)
Home: 5-2
Away: 2-3
Neutral: 0-1
ACC: 3-5
Non-AAC: 4-1
Head Coach: Pat Narduzzi
Pittsburgh: 72-56
Bowls: 2-5
Career: 72-56
(Photo Credit: Associated Press)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Eli Holstein (180-291, 2228 yards, 61.9%, 7.7 avg., 17 TD, 7 INT)
Rushing: Desmond Reid (184 car., 966 yards, 5.3 avg., 5 TD)
Receiving: Desmond Reid (52 rec., 579 yards, 11.1 avg., 4 TD)
TDs Scored: Desmond Reid (10)
Sacks: Kyle Louis (7)
Tackles: Kyle Louis (101)
Tackles For Loss: Kyle Louis (16)
Interceptions: Kyle Louis (4)
Pass Deflections: Rasheem Biles (9)
Forced Fumbles: Rasheem Biles/Kyle Louis (1)
Kick Returns: Kenny Johnson (22 ret., 459 yards, 20.9 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Desmond Reid (13 ret., 159 yards, 12.2 avg., 1 TD)
Kicking: Sam Carpernter (0-0 fg/fga., 0%, 11-11 xp/xpa., 1 pts.)
Punting: Caleb Junko (58 punts, 2534 yards, 43.7 avg., 16 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 10 Eli Holstein (RS SO/TR)
RB: 0 Desmond Reid (SR/TR)
WR: 2 Kenny Johnson (JR)
WR: 11 Censere Lee (SR/TR)
WR: 5 Raphael Williams Jr. (SR/TR)
TE: 87 Jake Overman (RS SR/TR)
LT: 78 Jeff Persi (RS SR/TR)
LG: 66 Keith Gouveia (RS SR/TR)
OC: 56 Lyndon Cooper (RS SR/TR)
RG: 55 BJ Williams (JR)
RT: 70 Ryan Baer (RS JR)
KR: 24 Tyreek Robinson (RS FR)
PK: 83 James London (JR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 10 Blaine Spires (GR/TR)
DT: 55 Sean FitzSimmons (RS JR)
DT: 11 Nick James (RS JR/TR)
DE: 44 Jimmy Scott (RS JR)
LB: 31 Rasheem Biles (JR)
LB: 0 Braylan Lovelace (JR)
NB: 9 Kyle Louis (RS SO)
CB: 8 Tamon Lynum (RS SR/TR)
CB: 15 Rashad Battle (RS SR)
FS: 12 Cruce Brookins (RS SO)
SS: 7 Javon McIntyre (RS SR)
PR: 0 Desmond Reid (SR/TR)
PT: 95 Caleb Junko (RS SR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: A
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: A
Kickers: C
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/30 DUQUESNE DUKES | PITT leads the series 4-2. The Panthers lost (13-21) the last meeting in 1939, and they won (27-0) the prior meeting in 1938.
09/06 CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS | First meeting.
09/13 @ West Virginia Mountaineers | PITT leads the series 63-41-3. The Panthers are 2-1 since 2022, and their last series loss (6-17) was in 2023.
09/27 LOUISVILLE CARDINALS | PITT leads the series 11-10. The Panthers are 3-2 since 2015, and their lasts series win (38-21) was in 2023.
10/04 BOSTON COLLEGE EAGLES | PITT leads the series 18-16. The Panthers are 1-3 since 2019, and their last series win (24-16) was in 2023.
10/11 @ Florida State Seminoles | PITT leads the series 6-5 The Panthers lost (7-24) the last meeting in 2023, and they won (41-17) the prior meeting in 2020.
10/18 @ Syracuse Orange | PITT leads the series 44-32-3. The Panthers are 8-2 since 2015, and their last series loss (13-28) was in 2023.
10/25 NC STATE WOLFPACK | The series is 5-5-1. The Panthers lost (29-30) the last meeting in 2020, and they lost (17-35) the prior meeting in 2017.
11/01 @ Stanford Cardinal | The series is tied 2-2. The Panthers lost (13-14) the last meeting in 2018, and they won (7-0) the prior meeting in 1932.
11/15 NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH | PITT trails the series 21-50-1. The Panthers are 0-4 since 2015, and their last series win (28-21) was in 2013.
11/22 @ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | PITT leads the series 11-6. The Panthers are 5-3 since 2015, and they lost (21-26) the prior meeting in 2022.
11/29 MIAMI (FL) HURRICANES | PITT trails the series 12-29-1. The Panthers are 2-6 since 2015, and they won (42-16) the last meeting in 2022.
Predictions:
Home: 6-1
Road: 4-1
Neutral: 0-1
ACC: 7-1
Non-ACC: 3-2
Overall: 10-3 (2nd in ACC – Bowl Eligible)
gridironpredictions.net 