BLACKSBURG, Va. — A couple of key Pitt starters will be inactive against Virginia Tech for the second straight week — as well as a new starter not traveling.
Jake Kradel, Bangally Kamara and Devin Danielson did not make the trip to Blacksburg, Va. for Saturday night’s game against Virginia Tech.
Kradel, who is the most experienced member of the Pitt offensive line, missed last week’s game at North Carolina after not feeling right in practice last week. And his undisclosed injury will keep him out of yet another game.
Terrence Moore made his first start at center last week against UNC, looking like he belonged, as Pitt debuted a new-look offensive line. With Matt Goncalves out for the season, Ryan Baer will once again — and likely for the remainder of the season — start at right tackle.
The offensive line put together perhaps its best performance of the season last week, Wofford notwithstanding, and the young unit will look to build upon its performance.
Kamara, who left in the first half of Pitt’s loss to WVU two weeks ago, also did not dress against North Carolina last weekend — wearing a walking boot on his right foot as he watched from the sideline. And his absence will continue.
He had been a key cog in the Pitt defense this season, recording 14 tackles (six solo), two tackles for loss and a sack in two and a half games this season. He had played every snap against Cincinnati two weeks ago before bowing out early against WVU and missing the entire UNC game.
With Kamara out of the lineup, Pitt reshuffled the linebacking corps a bit, with Shayne Simon sliding back outside to Money and Brandon George stepping in a Mike linebacker. That leaves Solomon DeShields at Star, at least to start, and Kyle Louis and Braylan Lovelace rotating in more often.
Danielson has rotated started all four games for Pitt this season, rotating alongside the likes of David Green and Devin Danielson, and he’s a surprise non-traveler.
He’s recorded six tackles (two solo), 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks this season as a key run-stuffer upfront. And his loss will be supplemented by a heavier workload for Green, Jules and Tyler Bentley.
Sean FitzSimmons and Elliot Donald also made the trip to Blacksburg and could be in lone for a heavier workload than usual.
Jurkovic is making the trip, so forget about it. The good news is that #5 is out of eligibility.