How Pitt’s Transfers Fared in 2018

Transfers are a factor of life these days in college football, and Pitt already suffered its first loss of the offseason on Friday when wide receiver Darian Street announced his intention to transfer.

There will undoubtedly be more that follow. The Panthers had 13 scholarship players transfer between the end of the 2017 season and the beginning of the 2018 season, and 

Of those players that transferred, seven of them moved down to the FCS level, two to Division II, three to junior college and one that did not land on a team.

Here’s how each of them fared in the 2018 season:

Pitt quarterback Ben DiNucci (3) signals for a block as he rushes against the OK State Cowboys. — Matt Durisko

QB Ben Dinucci • James Madison (FCS) (redshirt junior)

Walked on at the FCS power but earned the starting role and a scholarship in the offseason. Finished with 2,275 yards, 16 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. DiNucci completed 68 percent of his passes. The Bulldogs lost in the second round of the FCS playoffs to No. 9 Colgate.

DL Kam Carter • Duquesne (FCS) (redshirt junior)

Became the starting nose tackle for the Dukes, making 22 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks. Also had three quarterback hurries, five passes defended and a forced fumble. The Dukes won the NEC and made it to the second round of the FCS playoffs.

RB Chawntez Moss • Grand Valley State (Div. II) (junior)

Stepped right into the starting role and rushed for 1,028 yards and 11 touchdowns. Also caught eight passes for 55 yards. The Lakers lost to No. 14 Northwest Missouri State in the first round of the Division II playoffs.

Chris Clark drop pass September 9, 2017 — David Hague

TE Chris Clark • Towson (FCS) (redshirt sophomore)

Made 17 catches for 199 yards and four touchdowns in nine games. Lost to Carter’s Duquesne squad in the first round of the FCS playoffs.

LB/S Henry Miller • Bethune-Cookman (FCS) (redshirt sophomore)

Moved back to cornerback, the position he played in high school, and ended up as a starter for Bethune-Cookman. Finished the season with 20 tackles, one-half of a tackle for loss and nine passes defended.

LB/DE Kaezon Pugh • Howard (FCS) (redshirt sophomore)

Listed on the roster as a linebacker, as he was at Pitt, Pugh also got to play some running back. He finished with 75 yards on 13 carries and one catch for 22 yards on offense and four tackles on defense.

OT Tony Pilato • Slippery Rock (Div. II) (redshirt junior)

Played in 10 games as a reserve tackle for the Rock on the way to the PSAC title game. Made it to the third round of the Division II playoffs.

WR Ruben Flowers III • Independence CC (JUCO) (redshirt sophomore)

Played in 7 of 10 games, making 12 catches for 161 and a touchdown. Assuming he’s able to graduate from Independence this spring, Flowers will be free to transfer back to the Division I level with two more seasons to play.

QB Thomas MacVittie • Mesa CC (JUCO) (redshirt sophomore)

Played in six games and passed for over 1,000 yards and 16 touchdowns compared to eight interceptions. Had a 53.5 completion percentage and averaged 6.2 yards per attempt. Also ran for 252 yards and four touchdowns. Like Flowers, he will be eligible to return to the FBS level upon graduation and have two years to play.

— David Hague/PSN

LB/S Jalen Williams • Rhode Island (FCS) (redshirt senior)

Played six games for the Rams and made four assists in his final season of eligibility.

TE Charles Reeves • Youngstown State (FCS) (redshirt freshman)

Played in the first four games and did not record a reception; did not play after that.

OL Justin Morgan • Independence CC (JUCO) (redshirt sophomore)

Played in six of the final eight games. Will also be eligible to return to Division I.

CB Malik Henderson (out of football)

Reported to be heading to FIU, he never landed on the Panthers roster.

Of course, the exchange of transfers wasn’t one-sided. Pitt got solid production out of all-ACC left tackle Stefano Millin (Kent State), not to mention his touchdown on a lateral and wide receiver Taysir Mack (Indiana) made 21 catches for 489 yards.