The transfer portal, for better or worse, is here to stay. There will be additional regulations (especially when it comes to NIL after the UNLV fiasco), but it is what it is. And Pat Narduzzi recognizes that — even if he doesn’t like it.
Pitt was perhaps the first school to suffer from the ill effects of the transfer portal, losing star wideout Jordan Addison to USC the spring after the ACC title-winning season. And it’s that type of loss, which has become more prevalent since, that Narduzzi doesn’t like.
“I don’t like it,” Narduzzi said last week during his weekly presser. “I don’t like it for guys you don’t want to lose. I don’t like it for the first one that went out with Jordan Addison. Those are the ones you don’t like when someone can come tamper with — it’s one thing having a deep-down conversation with the player about playing time and what’s the best option for him.
“Those guys got it. But it’s important for these kids to get what they need, what they want. And a guy that wants to play, that, to me, is important. And I’m gonna help those guys get those opportunities wherever they are.”
Narduzzi doesn’t get too involved in the NIL discussion, or at least he’s said that he doesn’t, but Pitt has continued to ramp up its transfer portal involvement in recent seasons. There have been some misses (most notably the misses at quarterback before Eli Holstein), but the Panthers have used the portal well. Narduzzi said the portal has been good to the Panthers.
“We’ve gotten rid of things that, maybe guys that — we’ve been able to replenish our roster the right way,” Narduzzi said. “So, when guys leave, we’re able to bring better ones in. And there’s a little strategy that goes to that. And I think we’ve done a good job of evaluating and not bringing in the same thing we lost or less. And you can do that very easily.
“I mean, we’re not 100% in the portal, but I’d say we’re in the 80s, and that’s a pretty good hit. You better win those wars in the portal. You better be getting the right guys.”
2022
QB Kedon Slovis — bad
RB C’Bo Flemister — pretty good
WR Konata Mumpfield — great
WR Bub Means — great
TE Karter Johnson — okay
TE Dylan Deveney — not good
LB Shayne Simon — great
LB Tylar Wiltz — great
2023
QB Phil Jurkovec — really bad
QB Christian Veilleux — bad
RB Derrick Davis Jr. — TBD
WR Daejon Reynolds — pretty good
TE Malcolm Epps — okay
OL Jackson Brown — TBD
S Donovan McMillon — great
2024 (through four games)
QB Eli Holstein — incredible
RB Desmond Reid — incredible
WR Poppi Williams — great
WR Censere Lee — great
TE Jake Overman — solid
OL Lyndon Cooper — good
DT Anthony Johnson — TBD
DT Nick James — good
DE Chief Borders — TBD
DE Nate Matlack — great
DE David Ojiegbe — TBD
LB Keye Thompson — TBD
CB Jaremiah Anglin Jr. — TBD
CB Tamon Lynum — good
S Josh McCarty — good
LS Nilay Upadhyayula — good
That’s a lot of hits, but outside of the three quarterbacks, the players that Pitt has brought in have largely fulfilled their jobs. Some of the hits have been way bigger than others, but the only serious misses (so far) have come at quarterbacks. And that’s the very worst place to miss.
But in the “what have you done for me lately” world of college football, Holstein is a radical success. Desmond Reid, Censere Lee and Poppi Williams have been difference-makers. Lyndon Cooper is the starting center, and Jake Overman has received a steady workload behind Gavin Bartholomew.
Nick James and Nate Matlack are consistent starters on the defensive line, and Tamon Lynum and Keye Thompson (before his recent injury) have been key rotational players. Nilay Upadhyayula and Josh McCarty are special teams starters.
Pitt likes to build through the high school ranks, but the portal has been utilized more and more — especially this season. The recent success wouldn’t be possible otherwise.
Pitt will never be a school to just throw money at the top-ranked recruits, but Narduzzi and the coaching staff have shown that talent evaluation — largely — isn’t a problem.
I wouldn’t say Slovis was “Bad”. He was very accurate, but had a terrible OL and worse OC calling the plays. In this current offense he would be “good”. He ran a 4.5sec 40yd, so he had speed too.
H2P!!!
A great article. An informative opinion piece. I think you nailed it on your individual assessments. H2P!
The transfer portal and NIL have been great for the players. Previously, the school’s attitude was “use ‘em, abuse ‘em and lose ‘em. The federal government balanced the playing field. Good for the players. It’s a job, education be damned.