Pitt Football

Pitt Camp Notes: Spring Game to be Thud

Published

3 weeks ago

April 8, 2025

PITTSBURGH — Pitt football is nearing its Blue-Gold Spring Game for 2025 and it sounds like it will be ‘thud.’

Head coach Pat Narduzzi spoke with the media Tuesday following the start of the fifth and final week of spring camp and he shed light on what this year’s intrasquad spring game will feature, and there won’t be a whole lot of full-on contact.

“Getting ready for the spring game, which will be ‘thud’ this year,” Narduzzi said. “Just want to stay up and stay healthy if we can coming out of that game. Being that it’s not on the ACC Network, I want to make sure that it’s ‘thud.’ If it was ACC Network, I would’ve gone live probably.”

There will still be plenty of contact, especially in the trenches as the offensive and defensive line still typically run at full throttle. However, the quarterbacks will be off limits and players will be mainly tackling above the waist.

Pitt returned to the South Side facility on Tuesday after the team took the field at Acrisure Stadium for a Friday night lights session. It was not a jersey scrimmage as the NCAA only permits three per spring — the defense won the first before the offense responded in scrimmage No. 2. The third comes as the spring game.

One turnover came out of the session with freshman linebacker Justin Thompson securing an interception.

“It was a back-and-forth battle. There was no turnovers except that one, which is good, when you go 90 plays with the 1s and 2s. 3s didn’t get much work Saturday because the numbers get thin,” Narduzzi said.

Here are a few more notes and observations from Tuesday’s spring practice.

Eli Holstein — Holstein has looked sharp and a lot more confident in spring practice as he begins Year 2 in the program and system. He’s been accurate and is building chemistry with the receiver room, especially in WR1 Kenny Johnson. However, Narduzzi pointed out that he is still working back towards 100 percent health: “Work in progress. He’s still not 100 percent. Rick, our P-T guy, still making sure he’s 100 percent. He’s been out there going live, but he’s obviously not getting hit. He’s running like he’s live. We do all kinds of test in the training room to make sure. There’s still a little hesitation, in my opinion, from him. Rick sends me all these numbers. We’re just going to make sure he’s back 100 percent. He’s done well. All of January, February, not throwing a whole bunch, really just really getting healthy mainly.”

Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein. April 8, 2025 / Ed Thompson. PSN.

Julian Dugger — Dugger spoke with the media Tuesday and PSN will have more on him this week, but he continues to show his growth as a redshirt freshman. The bowl game appearance seems to have paid dividends by the way Narduzzi is talking about him and the way he has handled himself in practice thus far. “Julian’s taken it to the next level. He’s a totally different player mentally and physically. I think he’s studied the game more…That bowl game was great for his as far as his confidence going, ‘OK, I got it.’ I think it’s given him the opportunity when January came around to study it more. He’s really dedicated to it,” Narduzzi said.

Pitt quarterbacks Julian Dugger (12) and Mason Heintschel (6) with offensive coordinator Kade Bell. April 8, 2025 / Ed Thompson. PSN.

Bumps and bruises — As Narduzzi noted, the injuries are starting to mount as is typically the case towards the end of a season or camp, while some are still recovering from previous injuries. There are a lot of guys currently working out on the sidelines, while some are starting to return to their units like linebacker Jayden Bonsu and defensive lineman Denim Cook. Receivers Censere Lee and Raphael Williams have not practiced all spring as stated by Narduzzi, along with running back Derrick Davis Jr. Cornerback Rashad Battle is also working back from injury and has been present, but working off to the side as well. When Pitt goes to draft teams for the Blue-Gold Spring Game on Wednesday, we’ll have a better idea of who is banged up and not participating on Saturday.

OL — As some players did not participate in practice on Thursday, we saw a few variations along the offensive line. Most notably, Kendall Stanley received some work at left guard, while Keith Gouveia was snapping at center with the 2s. I don’t think there’s much to take from that other than those two showcasing their versatility by moving around. Gouveia will still be the No. 1 left guard and Stanley will be a nice secondary tackle option. Still, injuries have been a problem over the past few seasons and there’s no doubt Jeremy Darveau will be looking to play the five best guys.