Being a program that consistently is able to produce NFL talent is one of the signs of a successful football program and Pat Narduzzi has gotten the Panthers program to that point.
For the eighth consecutive season, a Pitt football player was selected in the NFL Draft as defensive end Patrick Jones was drafted in the 3rd round by the Minnesota Vikings.
When the draft resumes this morning, it’s expected that more Panthers will hear their name called by an NFL franchise.
Before the start of the Draft at Noon, here are some ‘Did You Know?’ facts for you to think about:
Pitt Football/NFL Draft Facts
*Jones was the first Pitt defensive end drafted since Greg Romeus went in the 7th round of the 2011 NFL Draft to New Orleans.
*When Rashad Weaver is selected today, it will be the first time ever that two Pitt defensive ends get selected in the same draft.
*When Rashad Weaver is selected today, it will be the first time since 1992 that multiple Pitt defensive lineman get drafted (Sean Gilbert/1st Round and Keith Hamilton/5th Round).
*If both Rashad Weaver and Jaylen Twyman get drafted, it’ll be the first time since 1990 that more than three Pitt defensive lineman get selected (Marc Spindler/3rd Round, Tom Sims/6th Round, Carnell Smith/11 Round).
*If Jaylen Twyman gets drafted, he’ll be the first Pitt defensive tackle drafted since Aaron Donald in the 2014 NFL Draft.
*If Jimmy Morrisey gets drafted, he’ll be the first Pitt center to get drafted since Tom Barndt went in the 5th round of the 1995 NFL Draft to Kansas City.
*If both Damar Hamlin and Paris Ford get drafted, it’ll be the first time since 2018 that multiple Pitt defensive backs get drafted (Jordan Whitehead/4th Round, Avonte Maddox/4th Round).
*If both Damar Hamlin and Paris Ford get drafted, it’ll be the first time multiple Pitt players from the WPIAL get selected since 2017 (Dorian Johnson/4th Round, Adam Bisnowaty/6th Round, Ejuan Price/7th Round).
*The last time Pitt had six players selected in the same draft was 2004: Larry Fitzgerald/1st round, Shawntae Spencer/2nd round, Kris Wilson/2nd round, Claude Harriott/5th round, Andy Lee/6th Round, Brandon Miree/7th Round.
*The last time Pitt had five players drafted was 2017: James Conner/3rd Round, Dorian Johnson/4th Round, Nathan Peterman/5th Round, Adam Bisnowaty/6th Round, Ejaun Price/7th Round. Also happened in 2011: Jon Baldwin/1st Round, Jabaal Sheard/2nd Round, Dion Lewis/5th Round, Jason Pinkston/5th Round, Greg Romeus/7th Round.
Looks to me that everyone except Jones should’ve done what pickett’s done is come back ,what a mistake both twyman and Ford did by opting out and quitting like Ford did
So true!!! Pitt players really need to STOP believing the BS hype! Most players forget it’s big country, and A LOT of really good players out there. H2P!!!
Exactly