Former Pitt defensive end Deslin Alexandre may have some company soon.
Brandon George has been named to the watchlist for the 2024 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year, which is awarded to a player who has demonstrated a record of leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field. Alexandre was awarded the honor after the 2022 season.
George has already earned a Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Pitt and is currently enrolled in the Katz Graduate School of Business. He’s also working with UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, launching a fundraising campaign to support children fighting adolescent cancer.
He also completes community services with the Special Olympics, Pittsburgh’s Veterans community, Shadyside Boys & Girls Club, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Children’s Home of Pittsburgh.
George has been a force on the field for the Panthers this season, racking up 28 tackles (five solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a recovery.
George has played in 51 games during his time at Pitt. If you take out the 2022 season, in which he only played three games, he’s been a mainstay in the lineup. Every game in 2020, 2021 and 2023. He missed the first two games of his true freshman season in 2019 and then dressed for the final 11. But it’s his first season as a starter — and he’s making it count.
In a backup role for Pitt last season, playing in all 12 games, he racked up 49 tackles (24 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one interception in 296 defensive snaps — rated as a top Pitt defender. And he has recorded 146 tackles (66 solo), 15 tackles for loss, three sacks, one interception, a forced fumble, a recovery and two pass breakups in his Pitt career.
The finalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award will be announced later this year.
He has done a lot of great things in his young life. I’m just having a bit of a hard time getting past the Syracuse game last year when he tried to rip the eyeballs out of the RBs face after a tackle.
In his defense Sam, we did not see what the RB did to George, before that Tackle.
May I also mention that it was George that scooped – Up the Blocked Punt, and ran it
in for a TD, in the Brawl!!