Former Pitt Starting LB Receives No Snaps in Texas A&M Debut

The grass isn’t always greener on the other side — or, in this case, College Station, Tx.

Solomon DeShields entered the transfer portal in the spring and transferred to Texas A&M, and while he entered the season opener against Notre Dame as a starting outside linebacker on paper, it didn’t work out that way.

DeShields didn’t receive any snaps in a 23-13 loss to Notre Dame. And Adam Friedman of Rivals picked DeShields as one of the 10 players who may end up regretting his decision to change programs during the offseason. It’s certainly a far cry from his 2023 season at Pitt.

He broke out as a starter in 2023, playing the Star linebacker in the system, and he recorded 58 tackles (27 solo), 8.0 tackles for loss, two sacks and a pass breakup in 12 games — basically 11 games after leaving the Wake Forest loss after the opening kickoff.

He recorded 594 defensive snaps in 2023, the most of any linebacker and fourth-most on the defense, and he graded out as one of the better players on the defensive side of the ball. He was one of the more impactful pass rushers (14 pressures and 10 hurries) and better run defenders — 28 stops and just five missed tackles.

In four seasons at Pitt, redshirting in 2020, DeShields finishes with 85 tackles (40 solo), 13 tackles for loss, six sacks, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.

The Pitt linebacking corps has rebounded well in the wake of DeShields and Bangally Kamara hitting the transfer portal and Shayne Simon graduating. Kyle Louis and Jordan Bass have slotted into the Star spot, and Louis played well in the season-opener against Kent State.

With Louis, Bass, Brandon George, Keye Thompson, Braylan Lovelace and Rasheem Biles in the mix, the linebacking corps is one of the strongest units on the team.