In the modern age of college football, when NIL and the transfer portal have changed the sport forever, the recruiting never ends — not even when a Pitt player is signed with a program.
Gavin Bartholomew, a rising senior tight end from Schuylkill Haven, Pa., announced that he’s returning to Pitt for his final season of college eligibility amid interest from a number of major college football programs.
It’s a massive return for perhaps the best offensive playmaker on the Pitt roster — a player to build around in the 2024 season.
“After thoughtful consideration, I’ve made the decision to return to the University of Pittsburgh for my last year of eligibility. Excited to be an @Alliance_412 athlete for another year,” Bartholomew wrote on Twitter.
It wasn’t the easiest season for Bartholomew, who did not receive a target in two of the final three games he played in 2023 — missing the final two games of the season after picking up a lower-body injury against Syracuse at Yankee Stadium in November.
Bartholomew recorded 18 receptions for 326 yards (18.1 yards per catch) with a touchdown in 2023 on the way to All-ACC honorable mention honors. He had the highest reception percentage (66.7%), and he made 3-of-4 contested catches with just a single drop.
In three seasons at Pitt, Bartholomew has recorded 67 receptions for 935 yards (14.0 yards per reception) and seven touchdowns — thriving despite a serious disconnect between Bartholomew and the assortment of quarterbacks throwing the ball his way.
Bartholomew’s return, along with Karter Johnson, paves the way for what should be a productive tight ends room for the new offensive coordinator and whoever is playing quarterback at Pitt next season.
After a season in which many thought Bartholomew would not return to Pitt for his final season, his return is a massive win for the coaching staff and for the Panthers’ NIL efforts.
Love this! Loyalty and honor to the school that has invested years into helping a player become a better player and person…not to mention a free top-notch education for his efforts. This is what college football is really about! Hope you have an awesome senior season Bart with a shiny, new OC that propels you into the NFL!
Paying him to play at a Pitt sure does help.
He could’ve gotten just as much if not more somewhere else.
No, it was duzz spending all their 412 money on one player to keep him. Why else would he stay on a team that doesn’t throw the ball to him.
Great news.
Now get this guy the ball!
Great news. He’s the best player on the offense.
After the last 2 years where they really failed to use him much, I completely expected him to transfer. But that is really good news for the offense. Now hopefully they don’t whiff on an OC and find someone who can use him to his full ability.
Gotta wonder where his head is making a commitment to return without even knowing who the offensive coordinator is going to be. Not to mention the fact that Pitt has no QB. Surely there’s a better opportunity somewhere for him.
Maybe, as someone who is actually on the Pitt team, GB has some information on these topics that the rest of us don’t.
Well, he must really love playing for Pitt and wants to finish his career here.