Pitt football redshirt senior offensive lineman Ryan Jacoby is out for the season, head coach Pat Narduzzi announced Monday afternoon at a press conference.
“Ryan Jacoby is out for the year, so that’s where that “Or” is at right now,” Pat Narduzzi said Monday. “Ryan got hurt mid-camp, I guess, not in a live situation, not in a thud situation, in an individual situation. So, Ryan unfortunately is out. We’re going to miss him. Let me tell you he was having a heck of a fall. Compared to spring ball, he had footwork issues, wasn’t stepping with the right foot fast enough to get where we wanted to be, but that was all gone.
“That’s a big departure, in my opinion, because he was playing at a high level. But we’re going to get him healthy and get him back. But we’re excited about where he’ll be in the future because of what he’s learned from spring ball to now.”
Jacoby has played 16 games for the Panthers over the past two seasons, after transferring from Ohio State after two seasons. He played in the final three games of the 2021 season, which included the regular season finale against Syracuse, the ACC Championship Game against Wake Forest and then the Peach Bowl vs. Michigan State.
He made most of his contributions last season, playing in all 13 games as either as a guard or as an in-line tight end. He made one catch for three yards last season and his push to get running back Rodney Hammond Jr. into the end zone in the Backyard Brawl.
Fellow redshirt senior offensive lineman Jason Collier Jr. will step in and replace Jacoby at left guard and serve as starter. Collier has made 24 appearances the past two seasons, playing as a reserve guard on the field goal/PAT unit. This will be a big opportunity for Collier to demonstrate his ability on the offensive line as a starter, but also a big ask for a player who hasn’t seen much time at the position at the collegiate level.
Ryan Jacoby had two years left of eligibility prior to this season, along with the COVID-19 extra year of eligibility. If he earns a medical redshirt for the season, he will have the ability to play through 2025.
Sad to year for the young man. Hope he recovers and returns better!