Believe it or not, the NFL isn’t the only way to make it at the professional level upon leaving Pitt. Pitt alumni Chase Pine and Shakir Soto found that out Sunday night.
While Kenny Pickett stole the headlines by leading a game-winning drive against the Baltimore Ravens Sunday night, Pine and Soto were selected in the XFL’s supplemental draft earlier in the day.
The XFL, which was purchased and revived by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Dany Garcia in 2020, will begin again in February. And Pine and Soto were among the 90 players drafted Sunday who will report to Arlington, Texas for training camp.
Soto, who played defensive tackle at Pitt from 2013-16 and went undrafted in 2017, was selected by the St. Louis Battlehawks in the sixth round — 48th overall.
In four seasons at Pitt, Soto racked up 120 tackles (74 solo), 18 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, a pass breakup and a blocked kick. He played in 52 games over his career, all 13 games in each of his four seasons.
A breakout senior campaign saw Soto record 46 tackles (30 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and a pass breakup.
After going undrafted in 2017, he bounced around NFL practice squads and wound up on rosters in the AAF (San Diego Fleet), CFL (BC Lions) and USFL (New Orleans Breakers).
Pine, who played linebacker at Pitt from 2016-21 and went undrafted in 2022, was selected by the San Antonio Brahmas in the 11th round — 73rd overall.
In five seasons at Pitt, Pine recorded 118 tackles (70 solo), 16 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and four pass breakups. He emerged as a key reserve linebacker on Pitt’s ACC championship squad in 2021 — racking up 31 tackles (11 solo), three tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks.
Pine wasn’t drafted in 2022, although he did receive a tryout from the Pittsburgh Steelers following the draft, but he will receive his first chance at professional football with the Brahmas in 2023.
The XFL kicks off on Feb. 18, 2023, and Pine and Soto will fight for roster spots to be a part of opening day rosters.
