Pitt kicks off the 2023 season against Wofford this afternoon, and a former Pitt star is back to serve as the honorary captain.
Darrin Hall — who played at Pitt from 2015-18 out of Austintown-Fitch High in Youngstown, Ohio — will serve as Pitt’s honorary captain against Wofford. It’s a return to Pittsburgh for a key player in the late 2010s.
“Excited to announce our first honorary captain of the 2023 season – legendary Pitt man Darrin Hall,” Pat Narduzzi posted on Twitter.
In four seasons at Pitt, Hall racked up 2,189 rushing yards (5.7 yards per attempt) and 21 touchdowns on 381 carries — adding 267 yards (seven yards per reception) and another touchdown on 38 receptions.
Hall played immediately at Pitt, racking up 100 carries over his first two seasons in a depth role, before he broke out in 2017 with a team-high 628 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. And he was even better as a senior.
He didn’t lead the squad in rushing yards in 2018, but he did form a powerful 1,00-yard duo with Qadree Ollison. Hall racked up 153 carries for 1,144 yards (7.5 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns, adding 15 receptions for 66 yards.
As a senior, his 7.5 yards per carry average was seventh in the country and broke Pitt’s single season record which had been held by Tony Dorsett. He was named to the third-team All-ACC squad for his performance.
Hall was not drafted out of Pitt, but he did spend time with the Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers as he attempted to crack an NFL roster.
Pitt is scheduled to kick off against Wofford at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, starting the 2023 season off against an FCS opponent for the first time since UMass in 2021.
