The Pitt defense will be without another important player for the 2020 season, as the program announced on Tuesday that senior cornerback Damarri Mathis will miss the 2020 season due to a non-football related injury.
“We are certainly disappointed for Damarri,” Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said in a press release. “Fortunately, he still has a redshirt season in addition to the eligibility relief the NCAA will provide this year.”
In addition to Mathis, Pitt will also be without All-American candidate defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman, who opted out of playing in the 2020 season and will pursue and NFL career in the spring.
Mathis had been expected to join fellow cornerback Jason Pinnock and safeties Damar Hamlin and Paris Ford as one the most talented and experienced secondaries in the country, but one of those pieces has now been removed.
Mathis started 10 games in 2019, collecting 23 tackles, two tackles for loss, 11 pass breakups and two interceptions. The Florida native has played in 36 games over the past three seasons for Pitt.
Mathis has not used his redshirt year, and will have one season of eligibility remaining, should he return to college in 2021.
Who would you expect to step up on his place?
Replacements ?
He’s played his last game at Pitt
How about telling us WTF happened???
As great as Twyman was last year and was expected to be this year, Pitt has formidable players to step in and contribute on the defensive line. I really thought the defense could overcome his decision to not play. Mathis is no where close to the player that Twyman is but I think his loss may hurt Pitt much more. I’m not sure if they have anybody ready to take his spot.
Just horrible news. I pray he is the last guy that this team has to play without.
Maybe now would be a good time for Lamont wade to commit to Pitt and take over. He would be a great replacement