Pitt QB Announces Intentions to Enter the Transfer Portal

Pitt has lost its second quarterback to the transfer portal this offseason.

Ty Dieffenbach — a 6-foot-6, 220-pound rising sophomore from Calabasas, Cal. — announced he’s entering the transfer portal after two seasons with the program. It doesn’t come as all that much of a surprise.

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When walk-on David Lynch earned the third-string job over Dieffenbach, it spelled the end for his time in Pittsburgh. While Dieffenbach has a lot of physical tools, he will look to unlock his potential elsewhere.

Thank you Pittsburgh pic.twitter.com/7wqzXkT3fy

— Ty Dieffenbach (@tydieffenbach14) December 12, 2024

Dieffenbach initially committed to Pitt as a three-star quarterback out of Agoura High in the class of 2023, flipping from UNLV close to early National Signing Day.

He didn’t see the field during his two seasons in Pittsburgh, serving as QB4 this season. When Pitt went down Eli Holstein and Nate Yarnell in the second half against Louisville, it was Lynch who entered the game in relief.

“When it just came down to the focus every single day in practice and the details, when you get your snaps, you’ve got to make your snaps worthwhile,” Narduzzi said at his weekly presser. “And it just seemed like we weren’t getting what we wanted out of Ty right now. And again business decisions. I don’t care if you’re a walk-on or scholarship player. I’d, obviously, love to — I don’t care.

“Go back to Sam Scarton starting at kicker instead of Ben Sauls. Which, we knew Ben was a phenomenal kicker back when he was a freshman, but you’ve got to put it through the yellow uprights. We’re playing the best players. We’re trying to win football games. We felt David gave us the best chance of winning right now.”

Dieffenbach, who said he has four seasons of eligibility remaining, will look to find a home where he’ll be able to fight for more consistent playing time.

Pitt has now lost Yarnell and Dieffenbach this offseason, and while neither comes as a surprise, it does leave the Panthers with just three scholarship quarterbacks entering the 2025 season.

The Pitt coaching staff will certainly look to add a veteran backup for Holstein through the portal.