CINCINNATI — Ryan Jacoby made the trip to Cincinnati, Ohio, but it appears as though he will not be receiving an in-game action.
Jason Collier Jr. — a 6-foot-6, 320-pound sixth-year senior from West Deptford, N.J. — took first team-reps in warmups and is line to start his first game of the 2024-25 season in place of Jacoby at left guard.
Collier played in all 12 games last season, making seven starts (four at right guard and three at guard), and he’s appeared in 37 games during his career in Pittsburgh.
Collier served primarily on the special teams during the early portion of his Pitt career, before emerging during fall camp last year. With an injury to Ryan Jacoby and some losses to graduation and professional football, Collier was called upon to start.
“Again, those two (Jacoby and Collier) were battling it out, and Jason was having a good camp, as well,” Narduzzi said last summer. “But Jason has been here for a long time. He knows the system. He’s smart. He’s played right guard. He’s played left guard.”
It wasn’t the smoothest season for Collier as he gave way to true freshman BJ Williams at times, but he’s a seasoned vet who has worked in the offense all summer. And with another injury to Jacoby, Collier is getting another opportunity.
The Week 1 starting lineup, aside from Jacoby, is in tact. Branson Taylor and Ryan Baer at the tackle spots, BJ Williams at the other guard spot, and Lyndon Cooper at center.
