Is Rasheem Biles Pitt’s Next All-American? | 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 linebacker Rasheem Biles.

Is it possible for Pitt football to have two All-American linebackers?

Kyle Louis flashed all over the field to become Pitt’s 100th First-Team All-American in 2024.

Right there alongside him was Biles, who was equally impressive as he showcased his talents and made an impact on his way to earning All-ACC Second Team honors (Associated Press).

At the Money linebacker spot, Biles found himself making plays all over the field, including in coverage with a team-high nine pass breakups. He set the tone for the Pitt defense against Syracuse by jumping in front of a Kyle McCord pass and taking it for a touchdown, which was one of five interceptions and three pick-sixes during the contest.

Pitt Panthers linebacker Rasheem Biles (31) November 16, 2024 David Hague/PSN

“I took a lot away from this season,” Biles said prior to the 2024 regular-season finale in November. “It was a big season for me; my first time actually really playing. There’s a lot of things that I need to clean up, but I feel like I did a good job of understanding how college football works this year. That was really my main goal. Figure things out. I feel like I did that. It was a real good impactful season for me.”

What’s even more important to take into consideration was the fact that Biles was only a sophomore and became a starter for the first time in his young career.

As Biles noted, there’s still a lot to learn from him and there’s another gear that he could reach in 2025.

Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 220 pounds
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

2024 season: Biles broke out in a big way in 2024 and became a key starter for the Panthers — making nine starts in 12 total games. He missed the California game with an injury.

Biles’ speed and physicality was on display as he helped put the ‘Sharks’ on the map in college football.

Stats: Biles compiled 82 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, one pick-six against Syracuse, one fumble recovery and forced fumble. He also tallied a team-best nine pass breakups.

Pro Football Focus gave Biles an overall grade of 82.9.

In 2023 as a true freshman, Biles played in nine games primarily as a special teamer. He tied the Pitt season record with three blocked kicks.

Camp outlook: Biles missed a majority of Pitt’s spring camp was an injury. He should be back healthy for fall camp as he prepares for his third season in the program and the clear-cut starter at Money linebacker.

Projected role: After nine starts in 2024, Biles will become the official every day starter at Money linebacker for 2025. Much like Louis, Biles will be leaned on to make plays in every facet on defense whether that’s wreaking havoc in the backfield, stopping the run and making plays in coverage.

Another year older and one that has natural-flowing energy, Biles will also be looked at as a vocal leader in the defense.

Nothing short of an All-ACC season once again will certainly be expected, while he also looks to stake his claim as an All-American as well. PFF ranks him as the 10th-best returning linebacker entering the 2025 season.

Of note, Biles will change his number from 31 to 3 for the 2025 season.

A quote about Biles: “I’m proud of ‘Heem,” Louis said during the season in November. “I always call him my twin shark. I really see myself in him and I feel like he could see the same. We don’t make no excuses for ourselves whether it’s going to be hard to go up in the ranks to become a starter or in terms of ACC or national, we got to make no excuses no matter how your body felt or anything, you going to put work in.

“There was a lot of times throughout the offseason, me and ‘Heem, it would just be us two. We would just be working on our pass rush doing the same move hundreds of times. To see all that paying off in front of my eyes and his eyes, it’s a by product of the work we do, so we never going to forget that and just keep putting in work this offseason.”