Lyndon Cooper to be Veteran Centerpiece of OL | 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 center Lyndon Cooper.

Although 2024 was the first season as a Pitt Panther for Lyndon Cooper, he quickly became integrated with the program and eventually won the starting center job.

In his first year with the Panthers and first full year starting, he proved that he is a capable center in the ACC.

As Cooper, a redshirt senior, got back on the field during the spring, his comfortability showed from a leadership standpoint, commanding the offensive line and working with quarterback Eli Holstein.

“My second year in the system different from last year just the way the offense comes to my mind. I really don’t have to think too much. It’s easy for me to get the guys on the line all accord and just playing fast just like how we played last year,” Cooper said in late March.

As the veteran centerpiece of the offensive line, Cooper is embracing the Pitt culture and making sure every transfer and freshman knows what that is.

“Really that aggressive dog mindset,” Cooper said. “Just making sure our quarterback doesn’t get touched. I know we struggled a little bit. I know myself, I struggled a little bit and gave up some sacks on the season, but just make sure we fight. If we got to hold to keep the d-lineman or linebackers away by any means or whatever it takes to keep our quarterback protected. That’s our goal this year.”

Pittsburgh Panthers offensive lineman Lyndon Cooper (56) August 31, 2024 Photo by David Hague/PSN

Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 315 pounds
Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.

2024: Cooper transferred into Pitt after three seasons at N.C. State and was in the midst of a battle for the starting center job. He beat out Terrance Moore for the role and would go on to play in every game except one in which he missed due to injury.

Stats: He started all 12 games in 2024 and totaled 853 snaps at center, according to Pro Football Focus. He allowed 12 pressures, seven hurries and two sacks on the year, while taking three penalties.

Prior to Pitt, he played in 14 games for the Wolfpack with three starts at left guard and two at center.

Camp outlook: It will be a pretty straight forward camp for Cooper: Hold onto the starting job and take the next step in leading Pitt’s offense. His collegiate experience and time spent in the Pitt offense last season bodes well for Cooper as he looks to be a key leader in the middle of the offensive line.

Projected role: Cooper will be Pitt’s starting center once again for 2025 and will start every game for the Panthers barring any injury. He’s turned into a vocal leader and that will be needed for the Pitt offense and line as three veteran transfers will look to be integrated into the unit.

Cooper could very well end up being one of the top centers not only in the ACC, but potentially in the country. He’s physical and has speed to block in the second level.

He has already gathered some preseason recognition as Phil Steele and Athlon Sports named him Second Team All-ACC.

A quote about Cooper: “Lyndon Cooper’s had a great spring. He’s become a leader on offense. Really love where he’s at,” Narduzzi said.