Leslie Smith saw some time, too, but he played fewer than four games and redshirted. But there are players waiting in the wings, and they’ll get an opportunity in 2020.I can’t help it. The cornerbacks, on the other hand, do not.In fact, only three corners on Pitt’s returning roster for 2020 have taken snaps at cornerback in a college game. But it’s one thing for a recruit to have some hype before he gets to campus; it’s another thing altogether for a recruit to be on campus for eight months and a couple weeks of training camp and not only maintain that hype, but seemingly exceed it.That’s what Addison seems to have done. It seems like every day, I hear more positive things about how the freshmen are looking, both in on-the-record and off-the-record conversations.Starting with the press conference setting, there was Pat Narduzzi this week, offering just about the most effusive praise he could muster for freshman receiver Jordan Addison.
Sorry, you've reached a page that's been retired. Yes, the defensive line does, especially the depth portion.
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- from the NCAA that lets everybody get this year back, but also due to the fact that Mathis never redshirted, so he could still play a year after this even without COVID-19.Whether Mathis wants to return remains to be seen; that’s a decision I’m guessing he will make after the season, although I get the impression that it’s likely he’ll return.
Williams is the veteran of the reserves as a redshirt sophomore, but I don’t know if he’s a lock to start. Even if Carter or Tallandier had stuck at cornerback (in the case of Tallandier) or stayed at Pitt (in the case of Carter), it’s unlikely either would have logged a ton of meaningful snaps last season since the Panthers had Pinnock, Mathis and Dane Jackson.Regardless of recruiting, a key injury in 2020 was going to test the depth at cornerback, and 2021 was always going to be a transition year at the position.But what about other places on the roster? Please update it here.Pitt announces no fans at games in September,Warren ready to make a jump in second year as a starter,PODCAST: Mathis is out, Austin Peay is in and more. All Activity; Home; Language There are some very knowledgable Panther fans hanging out here. If Dennis or DeShields or Kamara or Smith can take some meaningful snaps, that should keep guys like Bright and Campbell fresh later into games. High Schools; Home; Forums.
V’Lique Carter moved to offense and then transferred to Albany and Judson Tallandier switched to safety this summer, leaving just Marquis Williams at cornerback from the class.And the class of 2019 was small; AJ Woods looks like he can be good, but he was the only corner in the class. So when I posted a rumor on the message board this week about a team Pitt could be adding to its 2020 schedule, I knew what could be coming. Just looking at the outside linebacker positions, Bright and Campbell will be backed up by some combination of players with little to no experience. Now we all just have to wait and see what he does in the games.I mentioned the freshman cornerbacks earlier, and I’ll mention them again because I’ve heard some good things about Jahvante Royal and Rashad Battle. He was asked if there is another receiver Addison reminds him of, and this is what he came up with:That’s lofty praise, I’d say. All rights reserved. That doesn’t help the depth.Really, the biggest issue was that 2018 class. Certain data provided by STATS, LLC. Never mind what Brown did against Michigan State - he had 10 catches for 71 yards and a touchdown in Central Michigan’s 29-27 win over the Spartans in 2009 - but you’re talking about a guy who was considered the Best Receiver in the NFL over multiple years, a player who was inarguably the No.
But that’s especially true at cornerback where, as we said, Pitt just doesn’t have much in the way of experience behind Pinnock and Mathis.The circumstances are different now. Campbell will probably be gone after this season (although I suppose that’s up the air for any senior, since the NCAA is giving them another year of eligibility) so the Panthers will need a new starter to replace him, and Bright has one more year left after 2020 (again, he could have two), so the coaches would probably like to start planting some seeds for the coming transitions at outside linebacker.Plus, getting some rotational reps for those younger linebackers this year could help in avoiding a year like the cornerbacks were facing, when all the starters graduate and none of the reserves have any experience.There’s also the simple value in rotating linebackers. I understand that Pitt fans are gun-shy when they see a talented FCS opponent. Whereas the coaches probably would have tried to get Williams or Woods or Royal or Battle on the field but likely would have given a vast majority of the snaps to Pinnock and Mathis, now they will be forced to use one of those younger players a lot more.That’s going to mean some growing pains in 2020, but the upside for 2021 is considerable.
Certain data provided by STATS, LLC.
Fortunately for Mathis, that doesn’t mean his college career is over, partially due to the pandemic exemption - pandemption? Whether it's football, basketball, or recruiting, Panthe-rLair.com has non-sto … p coverage of everything Pitt, with daily recruiting updates and the best team coverage you'll find on the internet, including exclusive video and photo features. 1 receiver in the NFL for the decade of the 2010’s and arguably one of that decade’s best overall players.And Narduzzi just invoked his name when drawing a comparison for Pitt freshman Jordan Addison.We’ve all been hearing the Addison buzz since he committed last summer, and I know the coaches have been really excited about him for at least that long.