Pitt Camp Notes: Indoors Before First Spring Scrimmage

PITTSBURGH — The first two weeks of Pitt spring practices have been all about getting back to full speed and intensity, while incorporating new players and different concepts.

Saturday’s upcoming scrimmage will provide an opportunity for head coach Pat Narduzzi to get a true gauge of where this year’s team is through six sessions.

“I think you find out where you are. Go from that scrimmage to the next scrimmage you find out what improvement we make. This sets the bar for where we are. Where are we? What do we still need to work on? Where’s our strengths, where our weaknesses are? That’s our job as coaches to find out where our strengths and weaknesses are and we will find out a lot about this ’25 team this year,” Narduzzi said Thursday.

Before Pitt hits the grass at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday, the Panthers held spring practice No. 5 indoors at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.

Here are a few observations and notes from Thursday.

• Limited live periods — Narduzzi noted that Pitt has only completed 18 live periods through five practices, much less than they typically would. Part of it stems from trying to keep players safe while infusing new transfers and freshmen into the program. The lack of live periods does not have anything to do with the health of them team as Narduzzi says they have been running full 1s, 2s and 3s, which hasn’t always been the case in years past.

Pitt tight ends Jake Renda (88) and Jake Overman (87). March 11, 2025 / Ed Thompson. PSN

• Rashad Battle — Speaking of health, one player that has been absent through the beginning of spring camp is cornerback Rashad Battle. Narduzzi stated Thursday that, “Rashad Battle’s not probably going to go this spring.” He did not give anymore clarity on Battle’s status. The sixth-year senior made 10 starts at corner last season before missing both the Virginia game and the season-finale against Toledo in the GameAbove Bowl. Battle has struggled with injuries during his Pitt career, keeping him out the entirety of the 2023 season and end of the 2022 campaign, earning a medical redshirt.

• Safeties — The secondary was the positional group I focused on today and I can’t help but notice the size, physicality and speed of Cruce Brookins, who is the biggest safety by far at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds. It seems like we non-stop talk about the redshirt sophomore, but it is for good reason as he’s slated to take over the boundary safety starting job. He just looks the part. Javon McIntyre is carrying himself as a leader out on the field. He will look to improve on an inconsistent 2024 season. Jesse Anderson is another young guy that will push for playing time and he has some speed to be a sideline-to-sideline guy. UC Davis transfer Kavir Bains-Marquez is a smaller guy at 5-10, 175 pounds. He hasn’t stood out as much as maybe Pitt would like. He has a ways to go.

Pitt safety transfer Kavir Bains-Marquez from UC Davis. March 11, 2025 / Ed Thompson. PSN.

• Corners — I really thought Tamon Lynum did a nice job last year for the Panthers after he transferred in from Nebraska. He has length to him at 6-2, 190 pounds. Pitt has sent many lengthy DBs to the league and Lynum could be the next one up. I really like his game and where he is right now as a projected Day 1 starter, especially with his coverage skills and footwork. Shadarian Harrison is another guys with long arms at 6-foot-1. He was on the two-deep to end last year and there’s no reason he should not be there again. The Pittsburgh native Rashan Murray has made some plays early in camp and has received the praise of Narduzzi: “Rashan Murray’s been fun to watch out there, looking forward to seeing him out there on Saturday.” Freshman Shawn Lee Jr., who is an undersized corner, is also making a name for himself with a pair of “takeaway” stickers so far.

Pitt cornerback Tamon Lynum at spring practice on March 11, 2025 / Ed Thompson. PSN

• Caleb Junko — For the first time this spring, we had an up-close look at the punters with Junko kicking balls off the roof in the indoor facility (the outdoor fields they usually kick on are being re-sodded). The start of Junko’s punting career at Pitt was not all that great, but he saw improvement for the most part in 2024. Pitt is going to need Junko to be even better this coming season and if Thursday was any indication of that, it seems like he will take another step. He had a lot of hang time on his kicks and his progress will be something to monitor as the spring goes when they move back outside.