Pitt FB Recruiting
UConn Transfer LS Receives Offer From Pitt
Pitt extended an offer to a transfer long snapper just a few hours before former starter Byron Floyd committed to Buffalo to finish his career.
Nilay Upadhyuyula — a 5-foot-11, 230-pound redshirt junior long snapper from UConn — picked up an offer from the Pitt coaching staff Sunday, his first since entering the transfer portal last month.
Upadhyuyula played in 18 games during his four seasons at UConn, emerging as a starter in 2023, and he will have two seasons of eligibility at his next location.
Blessed to receive an offer from The University of Pittsburgh! pic.twitter.com/QVJpCAoZS4
— Upa (@_nilayu) December 10, 2023
As it currently stands, James Fineran is the only long snapper on the roster, but Upadhyuyula is just one of a handful of transfer long snappers that the Panthers have offered this offseason.
Pitt transitioned seamlessly between Cal Adomitis and Byron Floyd ahead of the 2022 season, and after two seasons, there will once again be a new long snapper in Pittsburgh. Upadhyuyula — as the most recent offeree — is now an option to continue the growing line of successful long snappers in Pittsburgh.
Upadhyuyula is coming off his first season as a full-time starter and there’s a chance he’s part of the changes to a special teams unit that needed to be upgraded.
The special teams unit was a mixed bag in 2023, primarily at punter where Caleb Junko struggled mightily down the stretch, but the entire operation — outside of Ben Sauls — never seemed to be clicking. And changes were necessary.
Floyd will have large shoes to fill though as he started all 25 games between 2022 and 2023, earning mid-season All-American honors from PFF for his work at the point of the special teams operation.
“So, if you’re thinking this Heisman race is just going to be down to Michael Penix Jr. and Caleb Williams, count Byron Floyd in that as well because he has been the best long snapper in the college football,” PFF’s Max Chadwick wrote in October.
For all your college football transfer portal needs, check out the Portal Report and their Transfer Portal Tracker.
