It took a team effort to knock off No. 14 Louisville Saturday night, but the stifling defensive performance in the second half was a huge reason for the Pitt upset win.
So, it only makes sense that a couple of Pitt’s top defensive performers have earned ACC Player of the Week honors. M.J. Devonshire has been named the ACC Defensive Back of the Week, and Samuel Okunlola has been named the ACC Rookie of the Week.
After getting back in the win column, it appears Pitt’s stars are picking it up, too.
Devonshire was, once again, extremely impactful in a huge win at Acrisure Stadium.
His pick-six, coming off a nearly flawless touchdown drive to take the lead in the third quarter, stretched the Pitt lead to 10 points and really felt like a turning point in the win over the Cardinals.
“You know, Devonshire was outstanding,” Narduzzi said after the win. “We had a couple holding or PIs, whatever, back there, but M.J. was outstanding. That pick-six, to do that in front of Tony Dorsett and Darrelle Revis up there, that’s big time.
“I think I told him right before that series, hey, you’re going to take one to the house, and sure enough, he did. It was time — turnovers were timely and really good.”
Louisville quarterback Jack Plummer targeted Devonshire 14 times, completing just four passes for 34 yards, and Devonshire was even more impactful — breaking up five passes and returning his pick for a touchdown.
It was a pretty good game for Devonshire. It was a pretty good game for Okunlola, too.
“He keeps getting better,” Narduzzi said after the win. “Coach Partridge has been impressed with him in practice the last few weeks. He just keeps getting better. He’s just got to keep getting more reps. Him and Dayon (Hayes) and Nate Temple had a good day, and Sammy O is just going to continue to get more and more.”
Okunlola didn’t start against Louisville, but he did receive a career-high 43 snaps, and he turned it into three pressures, two hurries and a strip sack (and recovery).
Okunlola, who has received overwhelming praise since arriving as an early enrollee in January of 2022, has only received 78 defensive snaps this season (43 in pass rush opportunities), but he’s tied for the team lead in sacks. And it should be expected that the increase in snaps continues going forward.
Pitt is back in action this weekend in Winston-Salem, N.C. to take on Wake Forest. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium.
