Way-Too-Early Pitt Depth Chart: Transfer Portal Moves

We’re barely a week into the new year, with the season opener against Kent State on Aug. 31 still very far off, but it’s never too early to check in just what Pitt has at its disposal.

Pitt has already been busy this offseason, adding 19 high school recruits and 12 transfer portal players to the roster, and the current scholarship count is well over the limit. That isn’t a problem at this point, and it won’t be until summer camp in August. There will be more additions, more exits and a lot of maneuvering to eventually hit that 85 scholarship cap.

Pitt is seven over the scholarship limit at this point, so the roster will have to change as the winter turns to spring (and eventually to the summer), but here’s where we stand when it comes to the current depth chart.

And, obviously, this is a preliminary depth chart. A lot can — and will — change over the next couple of weeks, let alone a couple of months. So, this is just to check in on how the roster is currently shaping up.

Most position groups have some very interchangeable projections as it stands.

Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Nate Yarnell (19) November 16, 2023 David Hague/PSN

Quarterback

I think we’ve got another quarterback battle that will extend into the summer.

Kedon Slovis was named the starter in 2022 just a week before the season opener against West Virginia, in a decision that many expected, and Phil Jurkovec was named the starter in 2023 months before the season opener against Wofford.

There isn’t a sure-fire candidate at this point, not like Slovis or Jurkovec, but I do think Nate Yarnell should be considered the favorite at this point in time. When it came to actual in-game performance last season, Yarnell was better than either Jurkovec or Christian Veilleux. I don’t think Veilleux is out of the equation, but his play wasn’t encouraging.

Eli Holstein is the wild card. He hasn’t played a single snap of college football, but he was the clear top target for the Pitt coaching staff this offseason. He will be given an opportunity to win the starting job, too.

The quarterback competition will be fun to follow.

Pittsburgh Panthers running back Rodney Hammond Jr. (6) November 16, 2023 David Hague/PSN

Running Back 

Desmond Reid was the top dog at Western Carolina last season, commanding the lion’s share of touches when healthy, and I think Rodney Hammond Jr. can be the top dog this season.

But it will be an interesting dynamic when considering the way a Kade Bell offense operates. It’s about speed. Daniel Carter is suited for goal line work, but he’s received a lot of random touches over the last two seasons. Reid is an explosive back who Bell brought in, so I know he’ll be used. Derrick Davis Jr. has gone through an entire season and will go through a full offseason, as a running back.

I  think Hammond will lead a rotation of running backs that caters more towards the speed and pass-catching ability that Bell likes from his running backs.

Pitt wideout Konata Mumpfield catches a pass against Virginia Tech on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Mitchell Northam / Pittsburgh Sports Now.)

Wide Receiver 

This is a tentative depth chart here. I feel good about Konata Mumpfield and Raphael Williams in the slot, with Izzy Polk able to play inside and outside, and the outside receivers will fall into place.

Daejon Reynolds and Kenny Johnson were co-starters opposite of Bub Means last season, and I think Johnson — with a full offseason of preparation for the first time in his college career — can step into that Means role. C.J. Lee is a solid rotational wideout on the outside, offering more speed, and the trio of Zion Fowler-El, Lamar Seymore and Che Nwabuko will compete for playing time.

Nwabuko is an interesting player in the new offense, considering his track star speed, and it will be interesting to see how Bell is able to utilize that speed outside of jet sweeps — the same going for Johnson.

I think the starting trio of Johnson, Mumpfield and Reynolds is solid, and there’s a lot of potential waiting in the wings. This is another position group that will be very interesting to follow. There’s a lot of interchangeability in the rotation.

I envision there will be a few shakeups even by the time that spring rolls around — let alone the season opener.

Pittsburgh Panthers tight end Gavin Bartholomew (86) September 9, 2023 David Hague/PSN

Tight End 

This one is fairly simple. Gavin Bartholomew decided to return to Pittsburgh for his final season, and he should be a legitimate weapon in the new offense. He flashed last season in an offense that used him almost solely as an H-back taking off up the seam — and it usually worked.

Bartholomew should be able to feast off quick hitters and mismatches off the line.

The addition of Jake Overman as another blocking tight end could free up Karter Johnson as more of a receiver, or it could lead to sets in which they’re both used as blockers for whoever is in the backfield. There’s a lot of speed in the new offense, but Bell is able to slow it down and take advantage on the ground, too.

Pitt offensive lineman Ryan Baer listens to his coaches as the Panthers play Virginia Tech on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Mitchell Northam / Pittsburgh Sports Now.)

Offensive Line 

Pitt has already added Lyndon Cooper this offseason, and I don’t think the additions will stop there, but the foundation of the line is in place.

Branson Taylor and Ryan Baer are in place as the starting tackles as it stands, but Pitt is clearly looking to add a veteran tackle. That doesn’t mean that there’s going to be a change when it comes to starting tackle, as you always need more starting-level linemen, but the pair wasn’t exactly elite last season. A full offseason working at those tackle spots should help.

The interior of the line was a mess last season. Terrence Moore stepped in at center against North Carolina, and he looked good. He appears to be setting the foundation of a multi-year starter, but there are certainly question marks on either side of him.

Ryan Jacoby missed the entire 2023 season, but he was in line to start at one of the interior spots last season. He should once again slot into one of the interior spots. As should Cooper, who has experience at all three interior spots, and BJ Williams is in the mix, too.

The offensive line, especially with a new position coach coming in, is one of the most fluid groups. But the bulk of the unit is currently in the two-deep.

Pittsburgh Panthers defensive lineman Dayon Hayes (50) September 23, 2023 David Hague/Pittsburgh Sports Now

Defensive Line 

The defensive line wasn’t good enough last season, not nearly up to Charlie Partridge’s lofty standards, and there was an emphasis to improve quickly over the offseason.

There’s still a need at defensive tackle, but Partridge completely revamped the room in the early days of the offseason. Dayon Hayes returns as the leader of the edge rushers, on the precipice of a true breakout, and he’s now joined by Nate Matlack and David Ojiegbe — two high-upside edge rushers. Nate Temple and Bam Brima add a couple of veteran presences, and Jimmy Scott has a lot of upside to unlock still.

But it’s still a little thin inside. The addition of Nick James was huge, a potential Day 1 starter on the inside, but even he isn’t exactly super experienced. Sean FitzSimmons appears primed for a bigger role in the defense, his second season in the program hampered by early injuries, and Nahki Johnson and Elliot Donald are both inside now.

Isaiah Neal earned a lot of praise last offseason as an early enrollee, and with the inexperience inside, he’s poised to earn additional playing time — as are Francis Brewu and Jahsear Whittington.

The offseason will be key in determining just how the Pitt defensive line room shakes out — and if there are any other additions.

Pitt linebacker Solomon DeShields jogs off the field after a defensive series against Virginia Tech on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Mitchell Northam / Pittsburgh Sports Now.)

Linebacker 

There was plenty of turnover in the linebacking corps, in terms of exhausting eligibility and transfer portal moves, but Pitt has the foundation of a very solid corps in place.

The Panthers are very solid outside, led by Solomon DeShields at either Star or Money, and he’s joined by a plethora of young, talented linebackers in Kyle Louis, Jordan Bass, Braylan Lovelace and Rasheem Biles. Louis is the early favorite to earn a starting spot on the outside, but Bass is one of the most athletic linebackers to come through the program under Narduzzi.

Lovelace is ready to compete for a starting spot at either outside spot, and Biles has shown that he can offer a lot more than stud special teams work. I guess this is all to say that Pitt has a lot of options when it comes to starting configurations next season.

And that’s without factoring in new arrivals Cam Lindsey, Jeremiah Marcelin and Davin Brewton. I think there are still some decisions to be made, but the unit is very solid.

Pittsburgh Panthers defensive back Donovan McMillon (3) October 5, 2023 David Hague/PSN

Defensive Back

It’s a good thing the safeties will be so experienced in 2024 because it will basically be an all-new cornerback group.

M.J. Devonshire, Marquis Williams and A.J. Woods played just about every cornerback snap over the last two seasons, and all three are gone now. Ryland Gandy, a key special teamer and top recruit in the class of 2022, will be the top dog in the room next season. And newcomer Tamon Lynum will likely be starting across from him.

Rashad Battle, who has missed all but three games over the last two seasons, should be healthy entering the 2024 season. Noah Biglow, Tamarion Crumpley and Shadarian Harrison will all compete for playing time, and there’s certainly room for another transfer portal addition.

An experienced safety trio of Javon McIntyre, Donovan McMillon and P.J. O’Brien Jr. will return next season, with McIntyre able to hold down either the field or the boundary role, and McMillon able to offer a stud runner stopper and O’Brien able to offer his coverage counterpart. It’s a very solid room.

Pittsburgh Panthers place kicker Ben Sauls (90) September 9, 2023 David Hague/PSN

Special Teams 

Ben Sauls is firmly entrenched as the Pitt kicker, and he’s been the lone constant over the last couple of seasons. He’s converted 31-of-40 field goal attempts over the last two seasons, winning a couple of games in the process.

Caleb Junko is currently in line to start the 2024 season as the starting punter, but Pitt will likely add some competition in the room. Junko wasn’t nearly good enough last season. And whoever punts will have a new long snapper in the form of Nilay Upadhyuyula.

Johnson should once again serve as the starting kick returner, unless the coaching staff determines he’s too valuable to use as a returner, and it appears that Nwabuko is ready to emerge as the punt returner.