Can Pitt CB Rashad Battle Take His Play to the Next Level in 2025? | Pitt All 105

Pitt All 105 is a Pittsburgh Sports Now series profiling each member of the Pitt 2025 training camp roster. In order to prepare for Pitt football’s 2025 season, PSN is breaking down every player on the roster in alphabetical order. Next up is cornerback Rashad Battle.

Rashad Battle will be one of the longest-tenured members of the Pitt football team in 2025. He’s the only remaining scholarship player from the 2020 class as he enters his sixth year with the program and only one player has been on the roster longer than Battle and that’s Nate Temple.

It’s been a long journey for Battle, who has endured some challenges along the way, including injuries that kept him out for a majority of 2022 and the entirety of the 2023 season.

When 2024 rolled around, Battle cemented himself as a starter at cornerback and had his fair share of ups and downs at a position in Pitt’s system that’s ever-so demanding and puts players in one-on-one situations just about every snap.

His season ended once again dealing with an injury and he missed the entirety of spring camp. Battle started working out again towards the end of spring ball and is on track to return for training camp.

Fall camp will be critical for Battle as he recovers from his injury and looks to take his play to another level in his final year with the program.

Pitts Panthers defensive back Rashad Battle (15) with a tackle against California October 12, 2024 — David Hague/PSN

Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 195 pounds
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.

2024 season: For the first time in his career, Battle became a starter with 10 starting assignments in 11 games. He missed the Virginia game and GameAbove Bowl against Toledo due to injury.

Battle had some strong moments throughout the season, including a key pass breakup late in the Backyard Brawl against West Virginia. However, after struggling to finish through a handful of tackles against SMU and also getting banged up, he lost the starting role for two games to Tamon Lynum.

Stats: Battle totaled 36 tackles, one tackle for loss, one fumble recovery and eight pass breakups in 2024.

Camp outlook: Battle will be working back from an injury that kept him out for the entirety of Pitt’s spring camp. He’ll look to re-establish himself as the leader of the cornerback room.

Projected role: Battle is a veteran piece in a Pitt defense looking to make a jump in 2025 after allowing 265.4 passing yards per game last season — 12th-worst in the FBS.  He’ll lock up a starting position once again and look to be a valuable leader.

Battle has the length to be an impact corner. If he can become a consistent in coverage and stay healthy for all 12 regular season games, he could become an All-ACC corner.

A quote about Battle: “He’s been resilient this year,” cornerbacks coach Archie Collins said after the Backyard Brawl. “His career, he’s had a few injuries throughout time. I’ve been pleased where he is. He’s been fighting through and been healthy through fall camp and the spring. It’s been really good to see him at a healthy state.”