Pat Narduzzi is infamous for his usage of “OR” on the weekly Pitt depth chart.
If you count just the starting spots of the Week 1 two-deep depth chart, Pitt has nine “OR” designations across offense, defense and special teams. The most notable “OR” is at quarterback, but as Narduzzi likes to say, there’s competition all across the roster.
“You see there’s a lot of guys that you would think are starters on that football team,” Narduzzi said Monday at his weekly presser. “We’ve got a lot of guys that are going to get an opportunity to go out there and either start or be considered a starter, so we feel like we’ve got a lot of guys.”
So, let’s take a look at some of those “OR” decisions, what Narduzzi said about them and the long-term implications for the 2024-25 season.
Pitt Quarterback
Nate Yarnell OR Eli Holstein
“I don’t know who it is, but we feel like Nate (Yarnell) and Eli (Holstein) both are guys that we consider starters, so those two have competed their tails off all camp, and we’ll go out there and go,” Narduzzi said. “I think the starter will be determined how we practice this week. We got practice in yesterday, so we’ll see how they practice, how they pick up the game plan, but the plan right now is to play both those guys on Saturday and let the competition begin on the field.
“It’s one of those [things] that I think is just too close to say, hey, this is what it is, let’s take a chance at it. I think both of them are very capable. I think they both are guys that can win football games for us, and I’m excited to watch both of them play.”
The quarterback competition between Yarnell and Holstein is continuing into the regular season. Narduzzi will determine who will actually start against Kent State this weekend based on practice performance this week, but both quarterbacks will receive a significant amount of reps.
So, the most notable position battle is undecided — which can be taken a couple of ways. Narduzzi says it’s because he has two very good quarterbacks.
Pitt Running Back
Rodney Hammond Jr. OR Desmond Reid
“Desmond, and I’ve probably said this pre-practice, just Desmond has got a little gear, and he’s tough,” Narduzzi said. “Like I said, I think he sits behind the podium and is kind of like this looking at the guys when he’s got a chance sitting up here and talking. I think the guys have messed with him a little bit and said, ‘Hey, stand up,’ because we have a lot of fun in here. Desmond is a tough son of a gun, let me just tell you. He’s fast, and he’s got burst. He’s not as big as Izzy (Israel Abanikanda) was in the past, but he’s got one of those — he’s got that breakaway speed that if you give him a hole, he can take it to the house. Again, he can catch the ball out of the backfield. He’s very versatile.”
This is an interesting one. Hammond was listed as a joint starter with C’Bo Flemister at times last season, with Daniel Carter firmly in the mix at times, and the unit was a disaster. It feels different this year.
Reid is an under-sized FCS transfer, but he’s a candidate to make a legitimate impact this season. I don’t know how the split will eventually work out, but I know we’re going to see a lot of Hammond and Reid. Hammond and Reid complement each other well.
Pitt Wide Receiver
Kenny Johnson OR Daejon Reynolds
“Kenny has had an up-and-down, I would say, fall camp,” Narduzzi said. “As a lot of the guys, especially at the receiver position, were banged up during the summer, Kenny is back and feeling good and has been for the last several days. So we’re excited to see him back at full speed and playing Kenny ball.
“But Kenny is mature, the offense fits him, and he’s an explosive guy that can make plays.”
The only “OR” in the wide receiving corps was Kenny Johnson and Daejon Reynolds. They each started games last season.
Konata Mumpfield is the No. 1 wideout, Poppi Williams has cemented himself as the slot wide receiver and Johnson and Reynolds are going to play a lot of football, too. Johnson on the outside, and Reynolds as a versatile inside-outside piece. I think this is just an instance of having a unit that has run deeper than three assigned starters.
I expect a good season from Johnson.
Pitt Defensive Tackle
Nahki Johnson OR Francis Brewu OR Anthony Johnson
Nick James OR Isaiah Neal
A lot to break down here — a lot of names in the mix.
“We’re going to need six or seven of them,” Narduzzi said. “I’d like to play them all. Again, practice is practice. It’s hard. I’m sure it’s the same way next door. It’s hard to tell who those guys are. That’s why I wish we had scrimmages. I could give you — there may be less “OR” on there if you get in a game and you don’t get it done. Maybe there’s less “OR” Week 2. But until you have that opportunity to do it in a real game and not in a scrimmage and in front of people when the lights go on, I think it’s critical.”
So, that leaves five defensive tackles firmly in the mix. There’s a nice mix of talent, too. Anthony Johnson is a vet from Youngstown State who has impressed since arriving, Nick James and Nahki Johnson are former top prospects who have an opportunity to shine and Isaiah Neal has some of the highest upside on the defensive line.
Francis Brewu is an interesting one, considering he’s a true freshman who cracked the initial two-deep.
“Francis started off a little bit robotic, but he’s a pleaser,” Narduzzi said. “When you talk about a 4-3 — he’s a guy that’s just trying to do exactly what Coach Daoust or we want him to do every play, and if you tell him to stay in his A-gap, stay in his A-gap. He’s really consistent with his footwork and doing what he’s supposed to do. Probably the hardest transition was just trying to teach him how to run to the ball. He’d play the run and turn around and look like this for a while and see where the ball is going, but he’s improved there.”
This is another unit that has a lot of talent, a ton of potential in the younger defensive tackles, but it likely still needs to be worked out on the field. It’s a question mark still but looks better by the day.
A surprising omission from the two-deep was Sean FitzSimmons, but there’s a reason for that.
“He is not out,” Narduzzi said. “Maybe a little bit banged up, but Sean would be on the depth chart. But I probably should have put “or” next to him. Thanks for letting me know about that one.”
Pitt LinebackerÂ
Braylan Lovelace OR Rasheem Biles
“We feel good with those six linebackers right there, and Jordan would be the youngest of the ones in there,” Narduzzi said. “Kyle Louis has played a lot of football. He’s aggressive. He’s physical. Biles is a dude — we know (Braylan) Lovelace. All those guys can play.”
Kyle Louis and Brandon George have established themselves at Star and Mike, respectively, but there’s less certainty at Money. It is a certainty that Rasheem Biles and Braylan Lovelace are going to play a lot of football.
The rising sophomores got their fair share of snaps last season, but their blend of playmaking off the edge will make a difference this season.
The linebackers are perhaps the best overall unit on the roster, with the veteran Mike linebackers in the middle and the young, high-upside outside linebackers on the verge of a breakout. Biles and Lovelace may not cemented solo starting status, but the co-starters are primed for breakouts.
Pitt Defensive BackÂ
Javon McIntyre OR P.J. O’Brien Jr.
This is an instance of the coaching staff having its pick of what fits the defense best on any individual play. P.J. O’Brien Jr. has been one of the biggest offseason risers, showcasing an increased ability to make plays — after nabbing three interceptions last season. But McIntyre is one of the surest tacklers on the squad and started all last season.
Donovan McMillon and Cruce Brookins form another excellent pairing at free safety — all four are going to play quite a bit this season.
If it isn’t the linebackers, it’s the safeties. And I’d venture to say the safeties are the strongest position group on the roster.
Pitt Kickoff Returner
Kenny Johnson OR Desmond Reid
Johnson was an All-ACC kick returner as a true freshman last season, so it’s a good bet that he’s back for kicks this season. He should be joined by Reid, who is a home run hitter with the ball in his hands.
