Pitt will now have to replace its entire starting linebacking corps for the 2024 season.
Solomon DeShields — a 6-foot-3, 225-pound fifth-year linebacker from Millville, N.J. — is planning to enter the transfer portal, he told Hayes Fawcett of On3 Sports. He’s the second Pitt starter to enter the transfer portal since it reopened at midnight Tuesday, following Dayon Hayes.
DeShields was expected to serve as the leader of the linebacking corps in 2024, playing either Star or Money in the defense.
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 — basically 11 games after 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 of the 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.
In four seasons at Pitt, redshirting in 2020, DeShields finishes with 85 tackles (40 solo), 13 tackles for loss, six sacks, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.
Pitt is reasonably well equipped to deal with the loss of DeShields, considering Kyle Louis, Rasheem Biles, Braylan Lovelace and Jordan Bass are all returning (we assume) at outside linebacker, but it’s still a tough blow for what was expected to be a defensive strength.
DeShields is the second Pitt athlete who had announced a deal with Alliance 412, the preferred NIL collective, but as is the case in the new age of college football, nothing is ever a sure thing — especially when NIL is involved.
DeShields is the third Panther to enter the transfer portal, following Hayes and Christian Veilleux. And he certainly won’t be the last. Pitt is still over the 85 scholarship limit.
Holy sh!t, I hate the current structure of college athletics!
so you buy season tickets to watch a team that isnt the team you paid to watch…gotta be tough to coach college football. the transfer portal should be open from the end of the season till christmas then commit
I hope these guys aren’t getting paid up front from NIL. And then leaving. Ridiculous
Exactly what I was wondering…
College football is now “show me the money” and the highest bidder wins. So much for playing for school pride.
It is hard to maintain interest in players when there is no loyalty and they leave when they get paid more.
This has become absurd.
The problem is its only going to get worse
Money has even become more important than playing time. You would think that playing time is the primary opportunity to transition into an NFL career. I guess things have to get worse before they get better. H2P.
How can it get any worse ?
I think this hurts more than Hayes. More proven depth on the DL, the LB room has potential, but not experience
They better score tons of points on Offense ! Front 7 of the D other than the kid from K-State has little to no experience. Could be like that defense that Nodoz had when Peterman was QB. Which was no Defense.
They should have to sit a season if they transfer. This is insane. Like the country as a whole.
Definitely should have to sit a season and that would slow this craziness down a bit.
The NIL and unlimited transferring has turned college players into prostitutes. It has to stop.
everyone jumping ship. gonna be a very long year…3 wins
Stfu hater. Kick rocks
Who’s Solomon DeShields?
I don’t think it is all about the money. I think Pitt could afford to pay these players equal to the other schools. I believe these transfers realize that with Narduzzi, they will never win big. They need a head coach who will bring in great players and be a coach who will draw lots of attention and crowds from his experience. Not playing smaller division schools at home to a more than half empty stadium. With Narduzzi, they won’t beat the top teams. It will always be a rebuilding year. While other schools are bringing in assistant coaches with… Read more »
Easy fix.They want money.They need to sign contracts.Obviously the NCAA dont have the balls to do it.If they renege on the NIL contracts then they get sued…Also I thought this 412 collective was going to work wonders for Pitt athletics?
Farewell Delino DeShields.
The linebacking room ever since they hired the current linebacking coach has had very large turnover. This is not the only year. I wonder more about the position coaching and defensive concepts that make this group leave so readily.
Kids were getting paid for years. Now it’s out in the open. Think if a Big Ten school called, Heather would say “no thanks” or if Duke called Capal would decline.