Pitt TE Gavin Bartholomew Will Shine This Season

Gavin Bartholomew hasn’t been a major part of the Pitt offense through four weeks, with just 16 targets, but it isn’t likely to last long.

There was an expectation that Bartholomew would be a major part of the offense, and after a 5-catch, 59-yard performance in Week 1 against Kent State, a breakout was expected. But it hasn’t happened yet.

But the opportunity is there — or it will be.

Bartholomew received 27 targets through 10 games last season; he’s received 16 targets through four games this season. It’s only amounted to 12 receptions for 106 yards (8.8 yards per reception), but the best is yet to come.

Bartholomew has fulfilled his role so far. Pat Narduzzi knows exactly what Bartholomew is capable of down the stretch.

“Maybe the one guy that hasn’t (had a major receiving role) that’s done a great job blocking for us is Gavin Bartholomew,” Narduzzi said during an appearance on the Kings of the North podcast. “Everybody thinks about him as a pass catcher, as a tight end, he’s dynamic. We haven’t got him the ball down the field for whatever reason, but that’s coming. Maybe Gavin is the unsung hero, but he’s the dude before the season starts.”

Bartholomew has spent three seasons at Pitt, and while it’s been an up-and-down time, he decided to come back for one more season.

Bartholomew met with Pat Narduzzi and the coaching staff following the end of last season and tried to express that he wanted to be able to help the team out. He wasn’t trying to be selfish, but he felt he could help the Panthers out more — get more involved and move around more. And how was that request met?

“They said they would, so yeah,” Bartholomew said in March at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. 

Offensive coordinator Kade Bell and tight ends coach Jacob Bronowski spent all offseason working to get Bartholomew to a higher level — and increase his usage. It’s not as if Bartholomew is a secret, but it’s almost as if there was a secret way to utilize him that former offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. never figured out.

Bronowski watched all of Bartholomew’s film upon arriving. He saw the talent — the ball skills, the athleticism and the game-breaking ability. And he challenged Bartholomew to be the same dude day in and day out. And he certainly was.

Bartholomew recorded 18 receptions for 326 yards (18.1 yards per catch) with a touchdown in 2023 on the way to All-ACC honorable mention honors. He had the highest reception percentage (66.7%) and made 3-of-4 contested catches with just a single drop.

In three seasons at Pitt, Bartholomew has recorded 67 receptions for 935 yards (14.0 yards per reception) and seven touchdowns — thriving despite a serious disconnect between Bartholomew and the assortment of quarterbacks throwing the ball his way.

Bartholomew is receiving his widest variety of lineups, but his average depth of target is just 3.6 yards. He’s always been good at hauling in contested catches (4-of-5 over the last two seasons), but the opportunity hasn’t quite been there.

Pitt has six pass catchers who have crossed the 100-yard mark this season, including three different 100-yard pass catchers, but Bartholomew is at the bottom. He’s sixth on the roster in receiving yards, and there’s a talented wide receiving corps, but Bartholomew will have his role.

It doesn’t seem likely that Bartholomew will reach the 1,000-yard mark, but it’s certainly a possibility with the talent he’s shown at the college level.