PITTSBURGH — Pitt will be without a long-term veteran on the defensive line this season.
Bam Brima is no longer with the Pitt football team, Pat Narduzzi announced Monday morning before practice.
It’s an unexpected turn of events for the Panthers, who lose one of the more experienced members of the defensive line and additional versatility across the unit. But it’s not as if it’s a crushing blow to the program as there are a handful of young defensive ends rising the ranks.
Brima — a 6-foot-5, 275-pound defensive end from Worcester, Mass. — initially committed to Pitt as a three-star recruit in the class of 2019, choosing the Panthers over Cincinnati, Syracuse, Rutgers and Temple.
Brima played sparingly over his first three seasons in Pittsburgh, redshirting as a freshman in 2019 before playing in nine games as a reserve defensive lineman between 2020-21. But he emerged as a legitimate rotation piece over the last two seasons — especially in 2023.
He recorded 31 tackles (14 solo), four tackles for loss, three sacks, two fumble recoveries and a pass breakup last season, filling in admirably on the edge.
Brima gave Pitt a solid rotational piece who was very familiar with the defensive scheme, and his loss will require the younger defensive ends to contribute immediately. But that may actually be better for the long-term future of the unit.
Nate Matlack has emerged as a leader among the defensive ends, and he’s joined by Jimmy Scott, Sincere Edwards, Chief Borders and David Ojiegbe in trying to regain the heights achieved in recent seasons.
you never want to lose that experience even thou others get more reps… depth on both lines is so important during a season..
Perhaps that means that he was being outplayed by younger talent. And that’s OK.
Doubtful he’s was expected to play a key role off a solid season. Things just get worse for Coach Flinstone he’s got more holes on this roster than just about any of his teams he’s had here besides maybe the first couple teams which really lacked depth. The end is near for him coaching here too bad this bonehead might cost Pitt a spot in conference realignment we couldn’t afford to suck right as the acc is about to collapse and that’s exactly what looks to be happening.
Key word in your response…”expected”. He’s an ok player at best.
And, the ACC about to collapse might be an overstatement. FSU and Clemson leaving? Maybe if anyone would have them. They haven’t been great.
My guess is the ACC has weathered the storm for now regardless of what middling FSU and Clemson do. Bye to them. H2P!
so UNC is about to go also
Never good loosing an experienced player, even if he was being pushed down by younger players. Depth is vital down the stretch.
H2P!!!
Begs the question – What law did he break ?
More like…they won’t play me, so what the Hell am I doing here…
Didn’t seem to be much of “ disruptor” in the times I watched him last year. Hopefully, Pitt is upgrading at this position.