Pitt has an opening its backfield over the last two games of the season.
Desmond Reid has commanded the majority of carries this season, for good reason, but the loss of Daniel Carter has opened up an opportunity.
Carter had 22 carries for 208 yards (9.5 yards per carry) and four touchdowns, which are the second most for a Pitt running back this season. He received most of those carries against Youngstown State, but it’s clear he was No. 2 behind Reid.
It’s more open now that he’s out with a lower-body injury, ending his Pitt career.
Derrick Davis Jr. has 21 carries of his own (including four against Clemson), and a young, up-and-coming option may receive the first snaps of his collegiate career.
“You look at Derrick Davis, Rodney Hammond could be available, watch out for that and then Juelz Goff,” Narduzzi said Thursday at his weekly press conference. “He’s had a great week again, pulled him up off the scout team a couple weeks ago and that guy is going to be a talented football player. I hope he gets 5-10 snaps against Saturday as well, but we’d like to get him going. … He’s still a baby and I don’t expect him to be perfect either, but we can do some thing that he can do, too.”
Goff — a three-star running back out of York, Pa. — was a standout at Central York, setting the school record for career rushing yards.
He was the top priority for the coaching staff last season, largely because of the home run hitting ability that he possesses.
“You know, at one point we had two, but there’s no question (Goff) was the guy,” Narduzzi said on National Signing Day last year. “His dad will tell you, he’ll tell you, I’ll tell you, if we were going to lose one, this is the one we did not want to lose. He’s a 10.8 100-meter guy, he’s the all-time leading rusher in that school district there.
“He’s got that breakaway speed, you talk 10.8 and he’s only a senior in high school. He’s explosive, and it’s one of those guys if you give him a crack, he’s gonna take more than you blocking, and that’s what we need.”
Goff missed time during the offseason with an injury, forced to wear a cast on his hand, so he wasn’t able to spend much time acclimating himself to special teams work. But with two games left, he could be in line for a cameo — or more.
It seems unlikely that Hammond, who has played in four games this season after returning for suspension, will play over the last two games of the season and burn his redshirt. It may not matter, but he didn’t walk on Senior Day.
That leaves Davis, Goff and Montravius Lloyd waiting in the wings.
Reid, on the other hand, is likely going to see a lot of action. He’s been — easily — the best player on offense this season. He’s fifth in college football with 157.67 all-purpose yards per game. He’s carried the ball 132 times for 738 yards (5.6 yards per carry) and four touchdowns, hauled in a team-high 43 receptions for 536 yards (12.5 yards per reception) and four touchdowns. And added a 78-yard punt return touchdown.
But the wear and tear on his body, listed at just 5-foot-8, 175 pounds, adds up.
“He’s been banged up all year, really,” Narduzzi said Monday. “He’s just a tough son of a gun. Him diving for the touchdown — it wasn’t a touchdown — but him diving for that thing, he’s just a football player. He’s persevered. He’s tough as well.”
Sad how Daniel Carters PITT career went especially this year. Hard to compete against a coaches favorite… if Daniel and Reid were on the field together they would have complemented each other… Cade Bell must not know if “2 back sets” and QB under center football. I tire of this “ frisbee ball” as I call it……
Yes. It’s obvious to anyone, even a casual fan, that Cade Bell plays favorites. That may be immaturity.
I like the vast improvement over Cignetti, but you’re right. Daniel Carter, Kenny Johnson and Nate Yarnell should have had much more playing time. Just going with the spread on every play doesn’t work on this level. #5, one of Bell’s minions, has terrible hands.
Yeah, let’s bring back Cignetti…