Ludwig: Lots of Young, Exciting Pitt Defenders Emerging This Spring

What constitutes a young Pitt player? A true freshman? A second-year freshman who played two games and redshirted? A player who hasn’t played a lot of snaps? I mean, relatively speaking, they’re all pretty young.

Well, aside from maybe someone like Miami tight end Cam McCormick. No shade here either. If I had the chance to just keep playing college football, I’d do it, too. But he is 26. If you’re approaching your late 20s, you cannot be considered a “young” player. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was in his sixth season in the NFL as a 26-year-old last season.

Francis Brewu and Sincere Edwards are young players. Nigel Maynard isn’t even 18 yet; he’s young, too. The true freshmen are young players. I’d say that the freshmen and sophomores are young players. If you’re an experienced third-year player, I cannot consider you young for this particular exercise.

Why am I talking to myself about what makes a young player a young player? Well, Pitt has a ton of young players who have a chance to be difference-makers.

There are a few on offense, too, but this is more so aimed at the young defensive players who have racked praise each time a Pitt coach has spoken this spring. The future is bright, but honestly, the future may be now.

This does not account for players like Nahki Johnson (who appears to be transitioning to defensive tackle very well), Tamarion Crumpley, Noah Biglow or Elliot Donald. As juniors, fourth-year juniors at that, I cannot count them either. However, Pat Narduzzi likely still considers them young players.

Young Players:

DL Francis Brewu — freshman

DL Antonio Camon — redshirt freshman

DT Isaiah Neal — redshirt freshman

DT Sean FitzSimmons — redshirt sophomore

DT Nick James — redshirt sophomore

DE Zach Crothers — freshman

DE Sincere Edwards — freshman

DE David Ojiegbe — redshirt freshman

DE Maverick Gracio — redshirt freshman

DE Jimmy Scott — redshirt sophomore

LB Jeremiah Marcelin — freshman

LB Jordan Bass — sophomore

LB Rasheem Biles — sophomore

LB Braylan Lovelace — sophomore

LB Kyle Louis — redshirt sophomore

CB Nigel Maynard — freshman

CB Shadarian Harrison — redshirt freshman

CB Ryland Gandy — redshirt sophomore

S Jesse Anderson — redshirt freshman

S Cruce Brookins — redshirt freshman

There’s a lot of young talent on the Pitt roster — especially on the defensive side of the ball. The praise from the coaching staff, from Narduzzi on down through the coordinators and position coaches, has been a constant at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.

Let’s start up front. The defensive line is in good hands. If we’re going by impact this season, I’m looking at Sean FitzSimmons. He was hampered by some injuries last season, the first real injuries of his football career, and he’s excited to be healthy this spring. If I had to guess a starting tackle duo right now, I’d say FitzSimmons and Nahki Johnson. That’s intriguing.

Isaiah Neal is someone I could see being a captain in the future. He might be a year away from making a legitimate impact, but he’s going to look good inside.

Francis Brewu (inside) and Sincere Edwards (outside) have made an impact through just a couple of months — at least, Dayon Hayes would say so. I’d agree. Brewu and Edwards is an exciting duo to build around. Brewu and Whittington should have an opportunity to compete for playing time immediately. The lack of depth on the interior of the defensive line is going to create opportunities for early impact.

It’s easy to forget that Nick James (inside) and David Ojiegbe (outside) are still young players in their own right. James should play quite a bit inside, and I like Ojiegbe’s potential as another pass rusher off the edge. Jimmy Scott shouldn’t be forgotten either.

I love the potential when it comes to the linebackers. I think that potential is going to translate to success this season — and for many seasons to come. Some veteran guys are going to play, but I think it’s better to embrace the youth movement.

Kyle Louis is looking like a perfect fit at Star. Braylan Lovelace, much like SirVocea Dennis, may be best suited as an outside linebacker, but his impact inside could be much greater. Rasheem Biles was a special teams star last season, and while he didn’t play as much as Lovelace and Jordan Bass (who I expect big things from), he’s the prototype of a Pitt outside linebacker.

Cruce Brookins and Jesse Anderson have been stars this spring, with each boasting four takeaway stickers on their helmet, and it’s not out of the realm of possibility that their time will come sooner rather than later. I see a long-term duo there, a la Ford-Hamlin, Hallett-Hill. Lofty praise but the potential is there.

Nigel Maynard has adapted to the college level pretty quickly since arriving this winter, and Shadarian Harrison is a talented, young corner in his own right, but it’s Ryland Gandy who has the chance to emerge as a star this fall. He was another special teams ace last season, but with the losses in the room, it’s his job to lose. And he’s certainly earned it.

This is all without mentioning the non-early Pitt enrollees, particularly guys like Cameron Lindsey and Jahsear Whittington, who are expected to make an impact.