Pitt has been hit hard at linebacker already this season, with Shayne Simon exhausting his eligibility and a couple of transfer portal losses, but the room has received a boost with a key return.
Solomon DeShields, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound redshirt senior linebacker from Millville, N.J., announced via Alliance 412 that he will be returning to Pitt next season and closing off any chance of seeking opportunities outside Pittsburgh.
Pitt will be down two Day 1 linebacker starters in Simon and Bangally Kamara in 2024, but DeShields offers a mix of veteran production and leadership.
Gavin Bartholomew, Rodney Hamond Jr., Dayon Hayes, Branson Taylor and Ryan Baer have also announced that they will be returning to Pitt for another season.
DeShields broke out as a starter in 2023, playing the Star linebacker in the system, and he recorded 58 tackles (27 solo), 8.0 tackles for loss, two sacks and a pass breakup in 12 games — leaving the Wake Forest loss after the opening kickoff.
He recorded 594 defensive snaps in 2023, the most of any linebacker and fourth-most on the defense, and he graded out as one top-rated players on the defense. He was one of the more impactful pass rushers (14 pressures and 10 hurries) and better run defenders — 28 stops and just five missed tackles.
His coverage is still a work in progress, but it does seem like DeShields has another level to his game that could be reached in 2024.
DeShields is the lone Day 1 starter set to return to Pitt next season, but there are a lot of young, talented linebackers who saw the field last season in the form of Jordan Bass, Braylan Lovelace, Kyle Louis and Rasheem Biles. And a talented crop of linebackers is set to sign with Pitt in just under a month.
But it should still be expected that Pitt will look into adding some veteran linebackers from the transfer portal — especially in the middle.
He was easily the best linebacker on the field for Pitt all season. Even when others were getting more hype, he continued to play at a high level. Best tackler on the team.
Thanks to those who intend to honor their commitments.
Pretty telling sign of the times when you get excited upon hearing that a player is returning to your favorite team.
Yes it is a sad reminder of the state of the game (and society) as it is now.
H2P!!!