Three Offensive Storylines to Follow During Pitt Spring Camp

Spring camp might not shed light every answer as to what the 2025 Pitt depth chart will look like, but it will provide some clarity as we await for the season to arrive over the summer months.

Last year, the talk of spring was first-year offensive coordinator Kade Bell’s new system and if it would work for the Panthers. There were a lot of questions exiting the spring, but the offense came together in fall camp and saw an immediate improvement on the field with the up-tempo, spread approach in 2024.

As Bell and the rest of the offensive staff enter Year 2, there is not as much concern as what the offense can do, but more focalized on who can fill out the roster. Some of those queries will not be fully answered, while new ones may form.

With that said, here are some top storylines to follow on the offensive side of the ball for Pitt during spring camp:

Which Transfer WR Can Solidify a Top Spot?

Kenny Johnson has the No. 1 receiver job all but locked up entering the upcoming season — it’s his to lose. However, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will start on the opposite side.

Censere Lee ended last season with with an injury, which could slow his impact during spring ball and make it difficult to secure the No. 2 receiver job. Last season, he totaled 19 catches for 254 yards and three touchdowns.

Pittsburgh Panthers wide receiver Censere Lee (11) August 31, 2024 David Hague/PSN

Pitt brought in plenty of competition during the offseason with transfers Cataurus Hicks (Louisville), Deuce Spann (Florida State) and Andy Jean (Florida).

Hicks, who played primarily as a slot guy in his two seasons with the Cardinals, will be assessed on the outside to start camp for the Panthers. 5-foot-10, 180-pound receiver has a lot of natural talent and speed that can take the top off the defense, which is what the Pitt staff is looking for and why he was moved to the perimeter.

As a redshirt freshman, Hicks showcased his skill level in spurts, especially when Pitt came to town and the wide out hauled in a career-high six receptions for 63 yards. He totaled 12 receptions on the year for 149 yards.

When it comes to Jean and Spann, both do not bring a ton of production from their previous schools, but there is a lot of potential to work with.

Jean stands at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds and looks the part of Konata Mumpfield. He is a smooth route runner and will be better suited to work the inside of the field.

In two seasons at Florida, he appeared in five games with just six catches for 97 yards and spent the end of his freshman season banged up. He is young and has promising upside as he looks to push for more time with the Panthers. And for whatever the case may be, Florida transfers have had some pretty nice success in Pittsburgh.

As for Spann, he is a much larger target and one that has reached his final season of eligibility. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound wide out has speed that can challenge the secondary of opposing teams and with his frame, he can be a useful red-zone threat.

At Florida State, Spann collected 15 catches for 216 yards and 2 touchdowns, along with 10 carries for 46 yards in 27 games. He also compiled 348 yards on 13 kickoff returns, averaging 26.8 yards per return. He can be utilized in a lot of different areas.

Pitt has a lot of options at receiver, but the Panthers need one or two of these weapons to become highly-effective receivers that can be another layer in addition to the run game and what Johnson and Rapheal “Poppi” Williams can do.

Lee, Hicks, Jean and Spann have the opportunity right there for the taking and also cannot discount the possibility of other younger talent making an impact in Zion Fowler-El and Cameron Monteiro.

Heated Battle at Tackle?

Pitt started five different tackles last fall after starting left tackle Branson Taylor suffered a season-ending injury. It was the third-consecutive year that the Panthers lost their starting veteran left tackle to injury with Matt Goncalves (2023) and Carter Warren (2022).

Stability on the offensive line has been very rare to find in recent years for Pitt with injuries and inconsistent play, especially on the ends. Therefore, Pitt made it a prime focus to go out and secure offensive line talent from the portal and they did that with Jeffrey Persi (Michigan), Kendall Stanley (Charlotte) and Keith Gouveia (Richmond), who will play at guard.

Persi and Stanley will compete for the top tackle jobs, along with returner Ryan Baer. Baer started eight games at right tackle before sliding to left for the final five games of the year. The 6-7, 325-pounder will look to reinsert himself back at right tackle and should have the returning edge, but Stanley may have a word or two about that.

Pittsburgh Panthers offensive lineman Ryan Baer (70) August 31, 2024 Photo by David Hague/PSN

Stanley was an All-AAC Honorable mention after appearing in 12 games this season, recording 706 offensive snaps — all at right tackle. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed just 14 pressures and two sacks. He is a bit smaller than Baer at 6-5, 290 pounds, but he has plenty of playing experience as he also enters his redshirt junior season along with Baer.

Persi — a former four-star recruit standing at 6-foot-8, 310 pounds — is in line to become the starter at left tackle, but it is not a forgone conclusion depending how Baer and Stanley, who does feel more comfortable on the left side, compete in spring camp.

A graduate transfer, Persi has a boatload of experience that will be crucial for the Panthers no matter his role. In 2024, he played 156 snaps at left tackle, according to PFF. He allowed 10 pressures and two sacks during the season and has logged a total of 404 offensive snaps across his career.

It is a three-man race with two positions up for grabs at tackle. Also, not far behind them are Jackson Brown and Isaiah Montgomery, who both started at least one game at right tackle last season.

Pitt is in a good spot at tackle with the amount of competition and potential depth. As recent history indicates, Pitt will need all the help it can get at tackle.

Who Emerges as RB2 for Pitt?

All-American Desmond Reid has a bye when it comes to camp. Not much can change his grasp on the No. 1 running back spot. True freshman Juelz Goff came on late last season to cement himself at RB2, but that does not mean he has it locked up entering spring camp.

Goff, a 5-foot-9, 190-pound back, showed some flashes last season as he totaled 18 carries for 46 yards, along with six receptions for 53 yards while still preserving a redshirt. He is a versatile threat out of the backfield for the Panthers making him a high consideration for the second option behind Reid.

Pittsburgh Panthers running back Juelz Goff (26) December 26, 2024 David Hague/ PSN

Derrick Davis Jr. has to be in the mix for the second option, right? He left the regular-season finale against Boston College with an injury and missed the bowl game. However, leading up to that stretch, Davis was seldomly used after a promising start to the campaign, including arguably the biggest touchdown of the season to seal a victory over West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl.

Once Rodney Hammond Jr. returned, Davis just about disappeared as he did not record a single carry in four of his final eight games of the season.

The 6-foot, 205-pound Davis can be a nice change of pace back much like Daniel Carter offered last season, but it will depend on how he competes in spring and fall camp.

Che Nwabuko is also a name to keep an eye on as he transitioned from wide receiver to running back last season. He has excellent speed and will be used in the return game, but it will be intriguing to see if Pitt utilizes him in the run game, especially because he has a similar game to Reid and Goff as a smaller, but speedier back.

While Goff, Davis and Nwabuko challenge for RB2, freshman Ja’Kyrian Turner is a name that is already turning heads on the South Side. He has high-end speed and is putting on muscle in the weight room. As an early enrollee, Turner could be a true freshman worthy enough to see the field on the fall, of course depending on what he does during camp season.