Pitt DT Earns Exclusive Honor After True Freshman Season

Francis Brewu arrived at Pitt just about a year ago, eager to make an impact as a first-year player, and a year later, he’s the highest-graded true freshman defensive lineman in college football.

According to Pro Football Focus, Brewu — a 6-foot-1, 280-pound rising sophomore from Westerville, Ohio — earned a 75.0 defensive grade last season. It’s the highest rating for any true freshman defensive tackle — and it shouldn’t come as a surprise having watched him play.

Brewu dealt with an early injury but bounced back and emerged as one of the more impactful defensive linemen on the roster.

Highest Graded True Freshman DT from the 2024 Season:

🔵 Francis Brewu, Pitt: 75.0@Pitt_FB pic.twitter.com/sgaufai7TM

— PFF College (@PFF_College) February 20, 2025

Brewu initially committed to Pitt as a four-star recruit out of Thomas Worthington High in Ohio (fighting off serious late interest to secure his signing), enrolling early. He made an immediate impression on his teammates and the coaching staff — emerging as the strongest player on the team.

Brewu recorded 214 snaps last season, picking up more and more playing time as the season unfolded. He racked up six pressures, three hurries and two quarterback hits, according to PFF.

He racked up 13 tackles (two solo), 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack in the process.

“Francis started off a little bit robotic, but he’s a pleaser,” Pat Narduzzi said last season. “When you talk about a 4-3 and — he’s a guy that’s just trying to do exactly what Coach Daoust or we want him to do every play, and if you tell him to stay in his A-gap, stay in his A-gap. He’s really consistent with his footwork and doing what he’s supposed to do.

“Probably the hardest transition was just trying to teach him how to run to the ball. He’d play the run and turn around and look like this for a while and see where the ball is going, but he’s improved there.”

Pitt is set to return a nice group of defensive linemen with Sean FitzSimmons, Nick James and Isaiah Neal (with FitzSimmons and James announcing their returns), and Brewu and Jahsear Whittington are in line for a major increase in snaps. The defensive line wasn’t perfect last season, but there are reasons for optimism.

Brewu is one of the biggest reasons the interior of the Pitt defensive line is in line for a bounce back in 2025.