Pitt has made it to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, but a couple of starting-caliber players did not make the trip to New York City.
BJ Williams and Karter Johnson are not listed on the Syracuse (New York City edition) travel roster ahead of this afternoon’s matchup against the Orange.
Williams, who has made five starts this season, including each of the last four games, was thrown into the fire as a true freshman and carved out a role as the starting right guard this season. Johnson, who is often listed as a starter alongside Gavin Bartholomew, is a key in-line blocker for the Panthers.
Williams has taken 290 snaps this season, all at right guard, and he will likely be replaced by Blake Zubovic. It’s yet another offensive line configuration for Pitt — in a season that has featured nearly 10 different combinations.
Johnson, who is a key blocker off the end of the line, hasn’t made much of an impact through the air, just four receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown this season, but he’s a big piece in the blocking scheme and offers versatility as a big-bodied receiver off the line. Malcolm Epps and Jake Renda will likely receive heavier workloads behind Bartholomew this week with Johnson out of the lineup.
A number of true freshmen made the trip to NYC, too, including Kenny Johnson, Ty Dieffenbach, Montravius Lloyd, Izzy Polk, Jordan Bass, Zion Fowler-El, Rasheem Biles, Cruce Brookins and Braylan Lovelace.
Pitt and Syracuse will kick off at 3:30 p.m., and for those who didn’t make the trip, it can be watched on the ACC Network.
