Pitt DT Sean FitzSimmons Primed for Breakout 2024 Season

It’s safe to say Sean FitzSimmons isn’t pleased with how his second season at Pitt unfolded. He played just 39 defensive snaps last season, battling injuries the entire way, and it was perhaps the biggest challenge of his life.

FitzSimmons — a 6-foot-3, 285-pound redshirt sophomore defensive tackle from Monaca, Pa. — was frustrated. To put it lightly. It’s hard to go from a potential difference-maker to an afterthought. He wasn’t able to play, confined to the sidelines for just about half of the season, and he had to rely upon his teammates. He had no other choice. He’s certainly thankful to be back now.

“I’m feeling great, blessed to finally be 100% again from the injuries,” FitzSimmons said last month. “I feel incredible out there now.”

Pitt lost its entire defensive line rotation this offseason, over 1,500 defensive snaps, and — as bad as it might sound — it may have been for the best. The interior of the defensive line, without Calijah Kancey to anchor the unit, wasn’t up to its usual standard. It was a heavy-handed unit that lacked twitch and agility — and production.

It’s not a coincidence that tackles for loss and sacks were down last season. The defense wasn’t bad, but it lacked a certain something upfront. If everything goes according to plan, that will change this season. FitzSimmons is helping lead the way.

“Sean’s had a great spring so far,” Pat Narduzzi said Tuesday. “Coming out of 10, he’s made all 10. He’s been healthy. That was kind of one of his issues last year, he could never get healthy with that ankle. But Sean’s had a good camp. Did he talk last week? Yeah. I put him in here for a reason. Sean’s been productive; he’s sound, he’s coachable and he does everything the way you’re supposed to do it.”

Pittsburgh Panthers defensive lineman Sean FitzSimmons (55) October 8, 2022 David Hague/PSN

FitzSimmons is approaching this season with a renewed sense of purpose, healthy and blessed with an opportunity he hasn’t had since his time at Central Valley — starting football games.

The expectation was that FitzSimmons would work his way into the rotation last season, but nagging injuries and a veteran unit limited his impact. He’s in a different position now. If the season started today, he’d likely be a starter on the line — alongside a fellow WPIAL product in Nahki Johnson.

Johnson, who is moving from defensive end to defensive tackle this offseason, gives Pitt a boost inside. He’s 280 pounds now. FitzSimmons is slightly bigger, 285 pounds. But unlike last season, when the interior of the line was big and plodding, there’s twitch. There’s quickness off the line and some explosion.

FitzSimmons feels like the unit as a whole, a revamped unit featuring himself, Johnson, Elliot Donald and Nick James, is going to be explosive.

“It’s just time for all the young guys last year to step up,” FitzSimmons said. “Me, Elliot, Dayon (Hayes) is always there, Nahki, we’re trying to get great leadership in there, set the tone and keep the standard how it was.”

The standard wasn’t quite upheld last season (just 31 sacks, which is a sharp decline after leading the FBS in sacks between 2019-2022), and it wasn’t from a lack of desire. The on-field personnel just wasn’t up to snuff. It was a surprise to lose former defensive line coach Charlie Partridge to the NFL, but Tim Daoust immediately hit the ground running upon being hired as Partridge’s replacement.

Daoust, who has been hands-on in his approach this spring, is a motivator. He’s well aware of the standard and just what his unit wants to accomplish. It’s always about sacks with the Pitt defensive line.

“I don’t know if there’s pressure (to get more sacks), but that’s one of our goals: to get those sacks,” FitzSimmons said. “Just go to work every day, day in and day out and try to get all the success.”

FitzSimmons is excited about the opportunity before him and the entire defensive line. For the first time in quite some time, there’s an air of uncertainty around the unit. The defensive ends appear to be reloaded, but there are still questions about the depth and experience of the tackles. FitzSimmons is looking forward to putting those questions to rest.

It’s a different unit under Doaust, but it’s still the same defense. The goal is still the same. Cause havoc in the backfield and stop the run. There’s a little less reading and a little more feeling. FitzSimmons is looking forward to just attacking on every single snap.

“We’re able to go full speed off the ball, we don’t have to do any reading, nothing, we’re just attacking,” FitzSimmons said. “And I feel like we’re gonna cause a lot of disruption this year.”