As player movement heats up across the nation, including at Pitt with players off to the next level and transfer departures, the Panthers received its first public confirmation of a player who intends on returning next season.
Defensive back Rashad Battle took to X today to announce that he is returning to Pitt for one more season stating, ‘Excited to continue my career at Pitt. I’m Back.’
In today’s era of college football, recruiting at the high school level and portal is paramount, but it is just as important to recruit players to stay within your program and Pitt, along with Alliance 412 has done that with Battle.
Battle — a 6-foot-3, 200-pound cornerback — will enter his sixth and final season with the Panthers in 2025. It has a been quite the journey for Battle, who dealt with injuries in 2022 and 2023 before becoming a starting this season for the Panthers.
As a redshirt senior, Battle started in 10 games and appeared in 11 overall contests, recording 36 tackles and a team-high eight pass breakups. He also tallied one tackle for loss and one fumble recovery. He registered a season-high two pass breakups against West Virginia and Syracuse.
“He’s been resilient this year,” cornerbacks coach Archie Collins said after the Backyard Brawl. “His career, he’s had a few injuries throughout time. I’ve been pleased where he is. He’s been fighting through and been healthy through fall camp and the spring. It’s been really good to see him at a healthy state.”
Before becoming a key starter for the Panthers, Battle missed the entirety of the 2023 season with injury and only played in three games the year prior as he would receive a medical redshirt.
In the ACC Championship season, Battle appeared in seven games, mostly on special teams and as a reserve safety. He compiled nine tackles on the year.
The Atlanta, Ga. native’s first season saw him play in all 11 games in 2020, where he made seven tackles.
Pitt is in a good position with its cornerbacks room heading into the offseason as the Panthers are set to return their top four corners from 2024 with Rashad Battle, Ryland Gandy, Tamon Lynum and Tamarion Crumpley, barring any more transfer portal entrants.
So far, Pitt has lost three players in the secondary this offseason with the graduation of Donovan McMillon and transfers of Noah Biglow and Jeremiah Anglin Jr.
Follow the offseason movement by the Pitt Panthers all winter long with Pittsburgh Sports Now here.
