Three Strengths for Pitt Football Entering 2024 Season

Not much went right a season ago for the Pitt Panthers, but Saturday brings a new chapter for the program.

A lot of work has gone into the offseason for Pitt — from an entirely new offensive coaching staff to a reconstructed roster.

In hopes of returning to winning football, the Panthers are going to need help from across the roster. However, there are a few areas on the team that will stand out more than others during the 2024 season.

Here are three strengths of the Pitt football roster:

Pittsburgh Panthers tight end Gavin Bartholomew (86) September 2, 2023 David Hague/PSN

Tight Ends

If Gavin Bartholomew is a part of any tight ends room, consider it a strength. Bartholomew is a talented athlete who can be one of the top tight ends in the country this season if things go accordingly.

We’ve all seen what he can do from a strong freshman season to hurdling over a Tennessee defender. As long as you give him the ball, he can do damage, but that’s exactly what was missing the past two seasons. He has been substantially underutilized and in his senior year, there has to be a heightened importance to get the ball in his hands.

He hauled in just 18 receptions last year for 326 yards and a touchdown. The 18.1 yards per catch was the best clip he has posted in his career, showcasing that he can be a big-time receiving option.

Bartholomew decided to stick around Pitt this season after a 3-9 season and opportunities to go elsewhere, so it would be another disservice if he doesn’t get the targets he deserves because he is an All-ACC candidate.

Along with Bartholomew, Oregon State transfer Jake Overman provides a nice secondary option for Pitt’s quarterbacks. He has played in 37 games and made 10 starts throughout his career, but his numbers have not necessarily come to fruition.

During fall camp, there have been clips surfacing of some acrobatic catches from Overman, making for a nice one-two punch out of the tight end room. He has the makings to replicate what Lucas Krull did when he came in from Florida.

True freshman Malachi Thomas is another option for the Panthers, who has had an excellent camp in the eyes of the Pitt staff. He was recently voted as a 247Sports Freshman All-American.

Thomas, who stands at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds has a lot of raw talent and could factor into this offense this season.

Pitt’s tight ends room has a lot of talent and potential, making them one of the top strengths of this football team.

Safeties

One of the deepest units on this team happens to be the safeties. In years past, it was usually the two starters that logged a majority of the snaps and were relied upon. Now, this unit has four dependable safeties in Donovan McMillon, Javon McIntyre, PJ O’Brien and Cruce Brookins.

With the cornerbacks bound to experience growing pains, this unit will provide some security in the secondary.

McMillon and McIntyre have been projected starters since spring and played well last year, especially McMillon, who recorded a team-high 105 tackles.

O’Brien has become a piece that can make splash plays, snatching three interceptions last season. However, its Brookins that might be the takeaway machine this season as he has shown that throughout spring and fall camp.

Having this type of safety depth will also benefit Pitt’s third-down delta package, whenever they roll out three safeties.

The safeties are an undeniable strength for the Panthers this year between experience, depth and what it should be able to do when it comes to shutting down the passing game.

Brandon George (30) – November 11, 2021 David Hague/PSN

Linebackers

This might come as a surprise to many, but Pitt’s linebacker unit is one of the deepest it has been since Pat Narduzzi started his tenure with the program.

There are two viable options at all three positions. Here’s a look at how the two-deep shakes out heading into Week 1.

Pitt is veteran-led down the middle with Brandon George returning for his super senior season. Despite not making many starts in his career, he has been a reliable backup for years and is expected to thrive as the lone captain on defense.

Keye Thompson provides a strong No. 2 at Mike after transferring in from Ohio. He comes in with 32 career starts. Last season, he earned All-Mid-American Conference first team honors after registering 94 tackles, 10 TFLs, 1.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries.

At the Star position. Kyle Louis has become a trusted piece for the Panthers, receiving praise throughout camp. The redshirt sophomore got valuable playing experience a year ago and should step into a starting role nicely.

The remaining three linebackers in Rasheem Biles, Braylon Lovelace and Jordan Bass are all talented and were thrown immediately into the fire last season as true freshmen. That experience will show its benefits this season as they will be leaned upon heavily.

Although a majority of the linebacking unit is still young, it’s a group that can make plays and is deep with plenty of other candidates waiting in the wings.