Pitt Transfer Now Listed at New Position

Pitt has had success moving defensive backs to linebacker, most recently with former safety Johnny Petrishen, and it appears Ohio State transfer Jayden Bonsu will have the chance to follow in his footsteps.

Bonsu — a 6-foot-2, 207-pound safety from Hillside, N.J. — served as a safety at Ohio State, but he’s now listed as a linebacker at Pitt. And that’s not a massive surprise considering he was initially listed as a safety and linebacker upon arriving, but it is an interesting development.

Bonsu is a big pick-up despite the fact that he hasn’t played a snap of college football yet. He was in a deep defensive backs room and wasn’t far removed from being one of the most sought-after defensive backs in the class of 2023.

Bonsu initially committed to Ohio State over Miami and Michigan State, with offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Boston College, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Ole Miss, Penn State, Pitt, Tennessee, USC and Wisconsin.

He played with current Pitt wide receiver Zion Fowler-El at St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, N.J., recording 70 tackles (39 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, an interception and five pass breakups as a senior.

In the event that Bonsu ends up at Star linebacker, which seems very likely, he will be behind All-American Kyle Louis on the depth chart. Louis is going to dominate snaps in what will likely be his final season with the Panthers, but there is a lot of young, unproven depth behind him. Bonsu will have a chance to work into the two-deep — and the third down Delta package.

The Star linebacker spot gives those versatile safeties a chance to serve in a sort of hybrid role that better utilizes their talents.

The safety unit will need to replace Donovan McMillon and P.J. O’Brien Jr. next season, and the Panthers have added UC Davis transfer Kavir Bains to the mix.

Javon McIntyre, Cruce Brookins and Jesse Anderson are back next season, and Bonsu figured to factor into the mix. Regardless, he’s a very nice pickup for the Pitt coaching staff, a piece that has the versatility to move around the defensive scheme.