Pitt FB Recruiting
Taking Stock of the Early Pitt Transfer Portal Needs
Pitt has a bowl game left before the offseason truly starts, but in the current college football landscape, but with the transfer portal opening on Dec. 9, there’s no time to waste.
Pitt has holes to fill across the roster, offensively, defensively and even on special teams, but some areas loom larger than others. The play on the offensive and defensive lines was subpar in 2024, and that needs to be addressed.
It won’t be easy considering the money that’s being thrown around, but Alliance 412 has some money to spend. It will come down to talent evaluation and relationships — spending money wisely.
So, here are a few areas that Pitt needs to prioritize in the portal.
Offensive LineÂ
No one should be surprised here.
The play upfront wasn’t nearly good enough this season, and obviously Branson Taylor was lost to injury somewhat early in the season, but even with him in the lineup, it was a leaky front.
Taylor was easily the best lineman on the roster this season though, and with him out of the lineup and Ryan Baer forced to the left side of the line (a tough adjustment, he admitted), it led to Isaiah Montgomery, Terrence Enos Jr. and Jackson Brown struggling mightily.
Lyndon Cooper was steady at center, and BJ Williams was better in his second season. But Pitt needed more. Pitt needs more on the interior and the exterior.
Eli Holstein masked some of the struggles early in the season with his ability to run, but even he wasn’t able to escape the struggles against three- and four-man fronts. Nate Yarnell was sacked 12 times (with 24 quarterback hits) in starts against Clemson and Boston College.
Holstein was pressured on 35% of his 123 dropbacks, and Yarnell was pressured on 40% of his 80 dropbacks (50% against Boston College).
The unit wasn’t good enough, and offensive line coach Jeremy Darveau has his work cut out. But the Panthers need more talent. It’s likely that Baer, Cooper and Williams will be in the starting mix next season, if all three are still on the roster, but the Panthers could use starting talent at tackle and guard — and more depth.
It’s a tall task, considering the cost of offensive linemen in the transfer portal, but the Panthers need a better offensive line. It was horrible in 2024, and that can’t happen again with Holstein under center.
Two or three offensive linemen are likely needed.
Defensive LineÂ
The defensive line wasn’t as bad as the offensive line, but it wasn’t far off. Pitt brought a bunch of transfer defensive linemen in during the offseason (Nate Matlack, Nick James, Chief Borders and David Ojiegbe), but none were true impact players.
Sean FitzSimmons emerged as a standout interior defensive lineman this season upon returning to the lineup, and Nick James was solid in the middle. Francis Brewu (213 snaps) and Jahsear Whittington (43 snaps) look like standout players as they enter their second seasons in the program. Isaiah Neal did a lot of good things this season, too.
It’s less certain on the outside.
Jimmy Scott did some good things (team-high 34 pressures and six sacks), and Sincere Edwards looks like a player who should take a major step forward next season. Chief Borders and David Ojiegbe look like good depth, but it’s likely unwise to expect either player to emerge as an impact player at this point.
Pitt could use a stud pass rusher off the edge, but like with the offensive linemen, that’s going to be incredibly pricy. The going rate for defensive ends is lofty.
But Pitt needs more from its defensive line. There wasn’t a consistent push in run defense, and the linebackers made all the splash plays. It’s unfair to expect another Pat Jones or Rashad Weaver or Calijah Kancey, but a star alongside the young players would be huge — and take stress off the rest of the defense.
Pitt may need to get creative, but it’s a major need.
Wide ReceiverÂ
Konata Mumpfield led Pitt in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns this season, serving as a lead-by-example captain. He’s a talented wideout who should be able to crack the NFL.
And Pitt will be worse off without him.
The Pitt wide receiving corps went from catching everything thrown its way to dropping everything throughout the season. There were a lot of problems offensively, but a lack of focus and discipline really hurt the offense.
Kenny Johnson is set to return, and he showed flashes through a season in which he caught 44 passes for 520 yards and three touchdowns. He should be a focal point in 2025. Poppi Williams, Censere Lee and Daejon Reynolds can also return, but there are question marks surrounding all three.
The younger wideouts (Lamar Seymore and Zion Fowler-El) haven’t been able to see the field much. Tyreek Robinson, one of offensive coordinator Kade Bell’s guys, saw some action. He’s one to watch.
It shouldn’t be too hard for the offensive staff to convince wide receivers to play for Bell, just point to the young star quarterback and a pass-heavy offense that produced big numbers early in the season.
Pitt could use a top-of-the-lineup threat alongside Johnson. It appears to be a good market for wide receivers, and Pitt could use one — or a few.
Honorable MentionsÂ
Running back, defensive back and kicker
