There are just 49 days until the 2023 season kicks off, training camp is just a couple of weeks away now, and that means there will be new jersey numbers unveiled.
It isn’t just for the new guys either. As numbers become available, as guys get older, they move to numbers that they like better.
So, let’s take a look at some of the early announced new jersey numbers.
As Inside the Panthers’ Stephen Thompson reported, it appears that Bub Means and A.J. Woods will be wearing new jersey numbers this season. In Instagram posts, Means repped the No. 0 while Woods was repping the No. 9.
The last No. 0 at Pitt was Johnny Petrishen in the 2020 and 2021 seasons, and it went unworn last season. The No. 9 was worn by Kedon Slovis offensively and Brandon Hill defensively last season. So, take that as you will.
But it does appear that the No. 9 defensive jersey will stay in the secondary though.
The only new transfer to unveil his number is Todd Hill. He transferred in from Duquesne in May, and as he’s posted on Twitter, he will wear No. 53 next season.
The 5-foot-10, 240-pound linebacker was a force for FCS Duquesne last season, and he appears even bigger in recent photos. He arrived as a Money linebacker option, and it appears he will be most used as a situational pass rusher off the edge.
And then there are the summer arrivals from the class of 2023 signees.
Montravius Lloyd will wear the No. 28 in the running backs room, joining fellow true freshman T.J. Harvison, who is wearing No. 25 this season. Lloyd may be hard-pressed to find playing time as a true freshman, but he’s the kind of modern pass-catching running back who will benefit Pitt’s offense in the years to come.
Along the defensive line, Antonio Camon has arrived and will wear No. 40 as a true freshman. The big, stout defensive lineman is someone who will be able to generate a pass rush from the inside and out wide. He’s a nice complement to Isaiah Neal inside and Maverick Gracio outside.
Rasheem Biles is one of the guys who will be lining up behind Camon, Neal and Gracio, and he will be wearing No. 31. Biles is coming off a torn meniscus that derailed a very promising senior season at Pickerington Central High in Ohio, but he is part of the next wave of a strong group of linebackers in the class of 2023.
Braylan Lovelace arrived in the winter, and he was Pitt’s top early enrollee, according to Pat Narduzzi. Jordan Bass is a freak athlete who was ranked as Pitt’s top recruit in the class of 2023. And Biles adds to the group as a strong addition at either outside linebacker spot.
And finally, new kicker Sam Carpenter will take the No. 94 jersey that was vacated by Sam Vander Haar’s exit. With Ben Sauls in place, there isn’t a place for Carpenter now, but he’s a strong-legged option to keep in mind for the future.
New Numbers:
Bub Means — 0
Donovan McMillion — 3
Phil Jurkovec — 5
Konata Mumpfield — 9
A.J. Woods — 9
Christian Veilleux — 11
Ty Dieffenbach — 14
David Lynch — 16
TJ Harvison — 25
Israel Polk — 27
Derrick Davis Jr. — 34
Braylan Lovelace — 35
BJ Williams — 55
Daejon Reynolds — 81
Lamar Seymore — 83
Sam Carpenter — 94
Franco Fernandez-Enjo — 96
Isaiah Neal — 97
Jeff Yurk — 97
