Pitt has lost its second cornerback of the day to the transfer portal, and this one hurts a whole lot more than the first.
Ryland Gandy — a 6-foot, 180-pound cornerback from Buford, Ga. — entered the transfer portal on Monday, he announced on social media. Gandy spent three seasons with the program, emerging as the No. 1 corner this season.
Gandy followed reserve cornerback Tamarion Crumpley in joining the transfer portal, and that makes four Pitt corners to exit the program this offseason.
It’s a tough break for Pitt, losing a cornerback who was expected to be a leader in the secondary next season.
Gandy initially committed to Pitt as a top three-star recruit in the class of 2022, choosing the Panthers over Arkansas, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Michigan State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Penn State, USC, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.
He earned praise all throughout his early years with the program, serving as a special teams aces before stepping out as the No. 1 corner this season.
He recorded 40 tackles (23 solo), a tackle for loss and a pass breakup this season. According to PFF, he played 766 defensive snaps (the most among Pitt cornerbacks) and limited opposing quarterbacks to just a 51.9% completion percentage.
He finished his Pitt career with 47 tackles (28 solo), a tackle for loss and two pass breakups.
Pitt is set to return Rashad Battle and Tamon Lynum next season, and Shadarian Harrison is in line for a major increase in playing time, but the unit is suddenly very thin. It’s likely that the coaching staff will add a cornerback or two from the portal.
