Pitt sophomore tight end Gavin Bartholomew scored an acrobatic touchdown in the second quarter of Pitt’s Saturday night game at Acrisure Stadium to push the Panthers’ lead to 10 points.
On the play, Panthers senior quarterback Kedon Slovis completed a pass to a wide-open Bartholomew, before taking a big hit from Volunteers senior defensive back Jaylen McCollough. Bartholomew found himself with space and used his speed to move down the right sideline.
Volunteers redshirt senior linebacker Jeremy Banks went to tackle him low, but Bartholomew hurdled him just in time and ran all the way for a 57-yard touchdown.
On the touchdown, Bartholomew said that he never hurdled anyone before in a game, other than at some point earlier in the game, but said no one noticed him. His hurdle over Banks was certainly notice at Acrisure Stadium and around the college football world.
“I mean it happened so fast,” Bartholomew said Saturday after the game. “I just knew he was going to tackle me, so I just said, “Screw it. I’m jumping him,” and then I was in the end zone.”
Bartholomew said he never hurdled in high school, and that on the play no other defender was near him, so he just had to make the play.
In the loss against Tennessee, he caught five passes on six targets for 84 yards and the touchdown. Those 84 yards led the team and the five receptions finished second.
No where in this article is mentioned photo credit! Ridiculous. Photographer captures great moment. Gets no credit.
David Hague, our photographer.
That was a very exciting play. What an incredible ‘diamond in the rough’ Bartholomew is. No major FBS team pursued him and I believe he was only a 2-Star recruit. Kudos to the Pitt coaching staff.