Pitt TE Becomes First Panther to Enter Spring Portal

The college football spring transfer portal opens this week and no team is an exception to players hitting the open market, including Pitt.

With the conclusion of the Blue-Gold Pitt Spring Game on Saturday, it was only a matter of time before the first player made their intentions known to hit the portal.

Jake Renda — a 6-foot-4, 240-pound tight end — is entering the transfer portal, he announced via X on Monday. He is a redshirt senior and has two years of eligibility left.

I have officially entered the transfer portal. Film/measurables attached. #h2p pic.twitter.com/r5w4HPckLr

— Jake Renda (@Jake_Renda) April 14, 2025

“My time at the University of Pittsburgh has been unforgettable,” Renda began in a post on X. “After much thought, I’ve decided to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal as a graduate transfer TE with two years of eligibility remaining.

“I want to thank Coach Narduzzi, Coach Bro, Coach Bell, Coach Kline, Coach Stacc, the entire Pitt staff, and every teammate. Pitt will always holds a special place in my heart. H2P.”

Renda has spent his entire collegiate career with the Panthers after joining the program in the 2021 class. His time at Pitt during the last few years has been limited. He missed the entirety of the 2024 season with a preseason injury. He has also been limited during the 2025 spring camp and was inactive for the spring game.

In 2023, he appeared in three games primarily on special team and as a reserve tight end. Registered two catches for 14 yards against Wofford. The year prior as a redshirt freshman, he played in nine game with no recorded stats.

A Princeton, N.J. native, Renda played his final year of high school football at IMG Academy. 247Sports rated Renda as a three-star prospect and the 80th tight end in the class.

Pitt’s tight end room is down to three scholarship players in Jake Overman, Malachi Thomas and Max Hunt.