Two days from the opener and some surprising news out of Pitt this afternoon.
Redshirt freshman running back Mychale Salahuddin has entered the NCAA transfer portal. Head coach Pat Narduzzi confirmed this news at his Thursday press conference.
Salahuddin was finally back to being healthy following surgery last season but wasn’t listed on the teams two-deep running back depth chart. Junior A.J. Davis and redshirt Todd Sibley were listed as the top two backs.
“Mutually, Pitt football and Mychale Salahuddin have decided to part ways. We wish Mychale the best of luck wherever he goes. We’ll help him wherever he wants to go,” said Narduzzi.
Another reason for this decision could be the emergence of freshmen running back Vincent Davis, who’s been the talk of Pitt camp.
Today, Narduzzi said that Davis has moved ahead (of Salahuddin) and that he’ll play some this week.
Regardless of the reason, this is a loss as Salahuddin came to Pitt as a highly rated 4-star recruit from H.D. Woodson High School in Washington DC. In three games last season, Salahuddin rushed four times for 37 yards before injuring his knee.
With this news, Pitt is now at the scholarship limit entering the season.
Another entry in the Snowflake Portal. He knew the situation before he committed, got hurt and expected a different outcome when he got healthy? See ya!
Who knows the back story but you’re right, the team has solid depth at that position and will next year too.
I obviously don’t have a crystal ball but I swear to you that I had a feeling that Salahuddin would transfer out at some point. I can honestly say that I’m not shocked by this news. Pitt will be just fine without him. Sometimes these highly rated recruits have certain expectations of becoming relevant before they’re ready to become relevant and when they don’t end up where they think they should be they look for other options instead of working harder. It’s a lack of vision in their mind on the part of the coaching staff instead of a lack… Read more »
It’s not surprising that someone decided to transfer but I wouldn’t have guessed it would’ve been him.
Israel Abanikanda is the guy I’m looking forward to getting here. I believe he will make people forget all about Salahuddin in the not to distant future. I never got the feeling that Salahuddin was 100% committed. Don’t ask me why but I just never felt he was. You’re always better off with a three star that’s fully committed versus a four or five star that isn’t. I believe Abanikanda will become a great college back.
Similar type backs both with plenty of speed.
Not that it matters but I’m taking a shot at predicting where he will land and I’m thinking possibly Maryland. 100% guess of course. Speaking of where Salahuddin might land of course for the purpose of clarification.
Without a doubt he’ll have a bunch of teams pursuing him.
I think the most likely landing place for 2019 is a junior college.
Pitt had too many young backs, it was only a matter of time…I wish him the best. I really wanted to see him play.