Pitt had to deal with a transfer quarterback when facing off against Cincinnati last season, and the Panthers will have to do so again this season.
Cincinnati intends to name Indiana transfer Brendan Sorsby as its starting quarterback, according to a report by Matt Zenitz of 247Sports.
Sorsby — a 6-foot-3, 220-pounder from Denton, Tx. — appeared in 10 games (making seven starts) at Indiana last season. He completed 135-of-237 pass attempts for 1,587 yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. He added 276 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Sorsby received more action down the stretch for Indiana last season, throwing 12 of his 15 touchdowns in the final five games of the season. He put together his strongest performance of the season against Illinois last November, completing 22 passes for 289 yards and three touchdowns — adding 53 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
He fended off fellow Cincinnati quarterback Brady Lichtenberg for the starting job.
Sorsby was an under-the-radar recruit out of Lake Dallas in Texas, committing to Indiana over a handful of Group of Five and FCS programs. He entered the portal last November after two seasons with the Hoosiers.
Cincinnati is coming off a 3-9 season in its first year in the Big 12, but a new quarterback and a reloaded roster will certainly have the Bearcats aiming higher.
Pitt is entering the 2024 season with a “Prove It” mantra. The Panthers, the coaching staff, the players and everyone in the building, know that last season will not be forgotten unless a better result is put in.
The season will largely hinge upon whether or not there’s solid quarterback play. Nate Yarnell is entering the summer as the starting quarterback. Still, as Pat Narduzzi has emphasized, there will be competition all the way up until kickoff against Kent State on Aug. 31. But whoever is at quarterback, he will have Rodney Hammond Jr., Desmond Reid, Konata Mumpfield, Kenny Johnson and Gavin Bartholomew, among others, at this disposal.
It remains to be seen whether new offensive coordinator Kade Bell’s offense will immediately translate, but if Yarnell or Eli Holstein can play serviceable football, it will go a long way in 2024.
“There’s a different attitude, without a doubt,” Narduzzi said last week. “There’s got to be — we went through spring ball, there was a different attitude. We went through winter conditioning, there was a different attitude. They went through summer conditioning, there was a different attitude, and there has to be. There’s got to be an attitude adjustment. I think that has occurred and I think they got it.”
The defense did suffer significant losses, but the positions of need have been bolstered through the transfer portal and a few areas defensively are entering the summer with a significant amount of depth. The defensive line and cornerback are still areas of concern, but the portal arrivals will likely be key members of both units. And the linebackers and safeties are clear areas of strength.
It will come down to whether or not the offense can take a step up from where it was last season.
Pitt will travel to Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Sept. 7 to take on the Bearcats. The game will be on either ESPN or ESPN2 at noon.
