PITTSBURGH — An emotional Pat Narduzzi accompanied the Pitt seniors who walked on Senior Day.
19 Pitt seniors walked, five didn’t and it was a proper send-off for the senior class.
“I forgot about that,” Pat Narduzzi said Monday at his weekly presser. “I’m glad you brought that up. Senior Day every year matters. I talked to our team last night just about playing for our seniors again, going out there and being — all these seniors.
“All these guys that sit in the front row, love each and every one of them. I don’t care if they’ve been here for just six months, three months. You build a relationship with these guys every day, see them every morning, good morning every morning.”
It’s a senior class that has a variety of players. Some have spent six years in Pittsburgh, some have won an ACC championship together, some arrived in the spring and a little bit of everything in between.
It’s a senior class that started the season 7-0 for the first time since 1981, and while the last two losses have been disappointing, Narduzzi appreciates the relationships he’s built with each and every member.
“The relationship we’ve got with our players is primary,” Narduzzi said. “I want to see them all go out on top, number one. We’ll have a nice senior evening Friday night before the game and have all the parents in there. So it’s a special night, it’s a special day.
“I can’t say enough about these seniors and their leadership and just need to finish the season strong, need their leadership.”
Rodney Hammond Jr., Jake Overman, Anthony Johnson, Tamon Lynum and Rashad Battle are the five seniors who decided not to walk — and all five will be able to return (if Johnson uses a medical redshirt).
And as a reminder, just because a player decides to walk, or vice versa, doesn’t mean a decision has been made. And just because a player can return next season doesn’t mean he will either.
Pitt Seniors
RB Daniel Carter — walked
RB Rodney Hammond Jr. — didn’t walk
WR Konata Mumpfield — walked
WR Jake McConnachie — didn’t walk
TE Gavin Bartholomew — walked
TE Jake Overman — didn’t walk
OL Branson Taylor — walked
OL Ryan Jacoby — walked
OL Jason Collier Jr. — walked
DT Anthony Johnson — didn’t walk
DE Nate Matlack — walked
DE Nate Temple — didn’t walk
LB Keye Thompson — walked
LB Brandon George — walked
CB Tamon Lynum — didn’t walk
CB Rashad Battle — didn’t walk
S P.J. O’Brien — walked
S Josh McCarty — walked
S Donovan McMillon — walked
K Ben Sauls — walked
Wish Branson could get another year
Would love for Sauls to come back again but highly doubtful. Likely drafted as a kicker