Pitt’s defensive unit was the strength of the team in 2019 and with so many starters returning next year, it should once again be one of the top units in college football.
What could drastically change things is if the Panthers lose one of their top players.
Paris Ford will be a junior next season, but is eligible to enter the 2020 NFL Draft if he chooses to declare and that’s something that he will consider.
Pittsburgh Sports Now has learned that Ford has submitted paperwork to the NFL in order to get a graded evaluation and is expected to get those results in the next two weeks. Those evaluation requests are commonplace for juniors, and Pitt typically submits multiple requests per year for underclassmen. They are less common for draft-eligible sophomores like Ford.
That evaluation could end up being very important for Pitt. PSN has been told that told that if Ford is given a first- or second-round grade, he would then choose to leave for the NFL. If he gets a third-round grade, Ford would consider leaving, but anything beyond that would prompt a return to Pitt.
This season, in his first year as a starter, Ford recorded 53 tackles, three interceptions, nine pass breakups and three forced fumbles as he was named to the first-team All-ACC defense. He finished tied for third in the ACC in forced fumbles, fifth in interceptions, eighth in passes defended and ninth in solo tackles, despite missing nearly an entire game of the season after two targeting ejections.
Pitt is already slated to lose fellow safety Damar Hamlin and cornerback Dane Jackson to graduation in the secondary.
Stay one more year and he’ll be a high pick. If he’s already thinking of leaving but returns, he’ll baby minor injuries – put himself before the team, like Ed Oliver did at Houston in 2018. . Might be better for the team if he just declares and leaves.
If he gets graded as a 1st or 2nd, he has to leave….Not even a consideration.
Hes not a first or second rd talent this year. Post Gazette had an article last week interviewing a scout regarding Pitt’s underclassmen who could leave for the draft and Ford did not get a 1st or 2nd rd grade. If he leaves anyway, hes short-changing his earning potential.
If he returns to improve his draft stock, will he put team first?
He’s good enough. He’s gone. It was fun watching him play this season.
It was obvious from Day 1 that he had NFL talent, probably more so than Jordan Whitehead. Now he’ll just see what grade he receives.
He’s an NFL talent, but he’ll leave millions on the table by going a year early. Whitehead would have been a 1st round pick if he waited another year, but his situation made more sense. I don’t think Paris is in that boat just yet.
Not a knock on Jordan but Paris is better than him and has start potential in the NFL.
In the long run I agree, but he’s far from a finished product. He needs another year at the collegiate level. He could be one of the top 5 safeties in the 2021 draft. Love to see him playing in the same secondary as Avonte.
He gone
One of the reasons I dislike Narduzzi as a HC is how he’s handled Paris. Clearly this kid should have been all over the field for more than one season, but not on Narduzzi’s watch. He had to ‘wait’ his turn, its a joke. There is a ton of talent on this team but Narduzzi would rather play Jazzee Stocker and make Ford wait. He wasted Fords talent. There are dozens of examples of this type of stubborn arrogant coaching. I am glad that Narduzzi is being exposed. This has gone on for five years. HCPN is way overrated. Ton… Read more »
It was actually Dennis Briggs last year but I get and agree with a lot of what you’re saying. When a player is this talented, you live with the mistakes knowing that the good and positive plays will outweigh the mistakes.
If Beville is close to being ready in spring ball then Pickett has to sit next year.
It should be interesting
While I agree with you, Narduzzi will not sit Pickett. He’ll play Pickett to his team’s detriment – he sticks with “his guys” – unless Whipple gives him an ultimatum.