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Last week, Pitt earned its best preseason ranking in the USA Today coaches poll since 2010. Now the Associated Press poll has followed suit with its own glowing early appraisal of coach Pat Narduzzi's squad. The Panthers will start the season at No. 17 in the poll. That's down slightly from their high of No. 13 in at the end of last season. But it's still easily their best starting position in more than a decade. Pitt was No. 15 in the preseason poll back in 2010. No. 17 is also the program's highest appearance in the poll in any season other than 2021 since 2010. The Panthers peaked at No. 21 for a spell in 2020 before falling out of the rankings by season's end. Pitt is fourth among ACC teams in the poll, slotting in behind Clemson (No. 4), N.C. State (No. 13) and Coastal division rival Miami (No. 16.) Wake Forest is the other conference team in the rankings at No. 22. - Pittsburgh Post Gazette

(DS#24 DE) rSr/2023

DE Habakkuk Baldonado, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh Post Gazette
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08/16/22 - Deslin Alexandre, rSr/2023, Pittsburgh, 6-4, 264 (DS#41 DE) + More +

2022 PRESEASON WUERFFEL TROPHY (COMMUNITY SERVICE) WATCHLIST: Deslin Alexandre, Pittsburgh, Sr., DL,...Alexandre has regularly been among the leaders in community service hours volunteered by all Pitt student-athletes - not just football players. His outreach has included serving food at local homeless shelters, visiting hospitalized veterans, donating his per diem to local youth football teams and raising funds for those in need in his native Haiti. - Pittsburgh Football

(DS#41 DE) rSr/2023

DE Deslin Alexandre, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh Football
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08/15/22 - Gavin Bartholomew, Sr/2025, Pittsburgh, 6-5, 246 (DS#16 TE) + More +

As a second-team freshman tight end All-American in 2021, Pitt's Gavin Bartholomew already has his fair share of accolades going into his sophomore season. According to Panthers coach Pat Narduzzi, Bartholomew added another honor to his resume during a team gathering on Thursday night. "Gavin won the cornhole championship last night, so I saw he kicked the heck out of Matt Altzman and Nick Patti. Him and Dylan Bennett," Narduzzi said before Pitt's Friday morning practice. "But on the field, he's done a great job." He may have a knack for cornhole, but Bartholomew's specialty lies in his soft hands and smooth route-running ability as a 6-foot-5, 255-pound tight end. Bartholomew caught 28 passes for 326 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman while splitting time with the since-graduated Lucas Krull, who signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent.

Now viewed as the leader of a deep position group that features a pair of transfers in Karter Johnson (TCU, Butler Community College) and Dylan Deveney (Georgia Tech) as well as redshirt junior Kyi Wright, Bartholomew has had no choice but to grow up fast. He seems to be embracing his new role so far, even sporting a nifty mustache for preseason camp. "I watched Lucas [Krull[ very diligently. Everything he did, everything he taught me - I'm just trying to transfer that over to the guys we have now," Bartholomew said. "You've got to bring the juice and the energy and get the guys going." - Pittsburgh Post Gazette

(DS#16 TE) Sr/2025

TE Gavin Bartholomew, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh Post Gazette
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08/15/22 - Konata Mumpfield, rSr/2025, Pittsburgh, 5-11, 186 (DS#38 WR) + More +

The scouting reports on Akron wide receiver Konata Mumpfield were glowing. His speed, hands and route-running ability had placed him among the best pass catchers in the Mid-American Conference and earned him Freshman All-American status. When his name appeared in the NCAA transfer portal after last season, he was recruited seriously by Pat Narduzzi, the coach of a Power 5 conference champion. Finally, Mumpfield no longer was unappreciated as he had been when he left Dacula (Ga.) High School with no Power 5 offers, according to Rivals.com. Pitt wanted him now, and not just for depth. Narduzzi needed him to help maintain a strong passing game. Had Mumpfield finally arrived? In his mind, not quite.

After transferring from Akron to Pitt, he believed he still had something to prove. So, he started training camp hoping to make a good first impression by diving for wayward passes. "It's one of those things where you come out, new team, fall camp," he said, "you have to prove yourself." Narduzzi knows this about practice fields: The ground is unforgiving. After watching Mumpfield hit the ground with a thud too many times, the coach had flashbacks to the shoulder injury quarterback Nick Patti suffered diving for the pylon in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. "He needs to stop diving for passes," Narduzzi said of Mumpfield. "We know he's going to make plays. I grabbed him a couple days ago and just said, 'Listen, you have to stop doing that.' We need to get you to Sept. 1 and the rest of the season (healthy). "Slow down. You've made the point." - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

(DS#38 WR) rSr/2025

WR Konata Mumpfield, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
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08/14/22 - *Calijah Kancey, Jr/2023, Pittsburgh, 6-1, 281 (DS#3 DT) + More +

2022 PRESEASON ROTARY LOMBARDI AWARD WATCHLIST: Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh, Rs Jr DT,...Kancey started all 14 games at defensive tackle...first team All-ACC...third team Associated Press All-American…paced Pitt in tackles for loss (13) and ranked second in sacks (seven)...had 35 total tackles and added a forced fumble on the year. - Pittsburgh Football

(DS#3 DT) Jr/2023

DT *Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh Football
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08/13/22 - Deslin Alexandre, rSr/2023, Pittsburgh, 6-4, 264 (DS#41 DE) + More +

2022 PRESEASON ALLSTATE AFCA GOOD WORKS TEAM NOMINEE: Deslin Alexandre, University of Pittsburgh,...Alexandre (Pompano Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach) will play his sixth season with Pitt's program and has been active in the Pittsburgh area community since he stepped on campus in 2017. A 6-foot-4, 275-pound defensive linemen with 11 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss across 49 games in his impactful collegiate career, Alexandre's leadership as a team captain last season helped the Panthers win their first outright conference championship in program history. For several years, Alexandre has regularly been among the leaders in community service hours volunteered by all Pitt student-athletes - not just football players. His outreach has included serving food at local homeless shelters, visiting hospitalized veterans, donating his per diem to local youth football teams and raising funds for those in need in his native Haiti. - Pittsburgh Football

(DS#41 DE) rSr/2023

DE Deslin Alexandre, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh Football
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08/11/22 - SirVocea Dennis, Sr/2023, Pittsburgh, 6-1, 226 (DS#9 ILB) + More +

2022 PRESEASON ROTARY LOMBARDI AWARD WATCHLIST: SirVocea Dennis, Pittsburgh, Sr LB,...Dennis (Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy/The Peddie School (N.J.)) returns as the veteran leader of Pitt's linebacker corps, with 145 career tackles and 24 TFLs in his career. Capable of playing every linebacker position for the Panthers and accomplished as both a blitzing run stuffer and very capable cover man, Dennis has been named All-ACC in each of the last two seasons and also provides valuable leadership to Pitt's defensive unit. Last season, Dennis was twice named ACC Linebacker of the Week and made some of the biggest plays of the season for the Panthers, returning an interception 50 yards for a touchdown against Clemson, posting three tackles for loss and a sack against North Carolina and tallying a career-best 12 tackles with two sacks in the ACC Championship Game win over Wake Forest. - Pitt Football

(DS#9 ILB) Sr/2023

ILB SirVocea Dennis, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pitt Football
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08/11/22 - Habakkuk Baldonado, rSr/2023, Pittsburgh, 6-4, 251 (DS#24 DE) + More +

Pitt's inclusion in the USA Today Sports/American Football Coaches Association Preseason Top 25 poll is not surprising. The Panthers are No. 16 - their highest preseason ranking in that poll since 2010 - after returning a plethora of starters from a team that finished 11-3 and was ranked No. 13 in the final 2021 poll. What is more significant is how the ACC is represented by five schools, second only to the SEC's six. Three of the SEC's group are ranked lower than all five ACC teams.

The five ACC schools are No. 4 Clemson, No. 13 N.C. State, No. 16 Pitt, No. 17 Miami and No. 19 Wake Forest. The SEC's ranked teams are No. 1 Alabama, No. 4 Georgia, No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 21 Kentucky, No. 23 Arkansas and No. 24 Ole Miss. The conference breakdown: After the SEC and ACC compose 44% of the rankings, there are four each from the Big Ten and Big 12, three from the Pac-12 and two from the AAC. Independent Notre Dame is ranked No. 5. - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

(DS#24 DE) rSr/2023

DE Habakkuk Baldonado, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
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08/10/22 - CBo Flemister, rSr/2024, Pittsburgh, 5-11, 205 (DS#66 RB) + More +

Pitt returns all three of its leading rushers from last season in Israel Abanikanda, Vincent Davis and Rodney Hammond Jr. - each rushed for at least 500 yards in 2021 and combined to score 20 touchdowns - as well as short-yardage thumper Daniel Carter, who is battling for an increased role this season. Such a crowded backfield might deter most running backs from joining the team, but Notre Dame grad transfer C'Bo Flemister said it only enticed him even more.

"As far as the backs, I watched their film and I saw how good they were, and I'll be honest, that made me happier," said Flemister, who spoke to the media on Monday for the first time since joining the Panthers just before the start of camp. "I feel like I'm a good back, and I need to be around good backs. That's going to push me to be even better, so that was big." Flemister played in 25 games as a reserve back for the Fighting Irish, rushing for 471 yards and 10 touchdowns on 110 carries. He had his best season in 2020, when he helped Notre Dame finish 10-2 and reach the College Football Playoff with 299 yards and five TDs on 58 carries (6.4 yards per carry). - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

(DS#66 RB) rSr/2024

RB CBo Flemister, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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08/10/22 - Deuce Spann, rSr/2026, Pittsburgh, 6-3, 208 (DS#999 WR) + More +

Deuce Spann wasn't concerned about whether he could switch from quarterback to wide receiver. A gifted athlete, Spann had the size (6-foot-4) and speed to accommodate his move to a new position, something he displayed last season while at Illinois. That has continued since transferring to Florida State. "I didn't think it would be easy, but I knew I could do it because I feel like I'm a great athlete," Spann said of the position change. Spann, a Florida native, was a 3-star prospect out of Lakewood High before signing as part of the Illini's 2020 recruiting class. After redshirting his freshman season, he switched to receiver, finishing with 5 catches for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns in nine games last season.

He entered the transfer portal on Dec. 22 and transferred to FSU less than a week later. "Coach [Mike] Norvell said he was going to develop me - he wanted me to be a complete receiver," Spann said. Said Norvell: "Deuce was so young in playing receiver. He played last year and you saw the flashes and that's what I believed in. Then you talk to the young man and his willingness to work - he's got a great work ethic and is a special human. It carries over to everything." Spann was one of four transfer receivers to join the Seminoles this offseason, along with Johnny Wilson (Arizona State), Winston Wright (West Virginia) and Mycah Pittman (Oregon). And while he may be the least experienced of the group, he's been making up for the lost time. - Orlando Sentinel

(DS#999 WR) rSr/2026

WR Deuce Spann, Pittsburgh
News Source: Orlando Sentinel
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08/09/22 - *Brandon Hill, Jr/2023, Pittsburgh, 5-10, 193 (DS#7 SS) + More +

When strong safety Brandon Hill was told there's a rumor floating around the practice facility that his 4.34 40-yard dash time is the best on the team, he didn't disagree. "Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I can honestly say that," said Hill, whose speed and play in two seasons make him at least the equal of former Pitt safety Damar Hamlin as an NFL prospect. Hamlin was a sixth-round choice of the Buffalo Bills in the 2020 draft. "But we have a lot of fast guys on the team, a lot of depth, a lot of guys who can run, offensively and defensively," Hill said. "If we put all that together, we're going to be a great team."

Across the field, free safety Erick Hallett said he runs a 4.45 and remarked that every defensive back on the team runs a sub-4.5. "We can line up, though, and see who's fastest," he said, aware it's a race unlikely to get Narduzzi's blessing. Who needs a strained hamstring, right? Narduzzi likes Pitt's team speed, but he knows there's more to defense than athleticism. "If you go really fast in the wrong direction, you have problems," he said. "Speed is great. Athletic ability is great. But knowledge and technique you use out there (is also important). "The great thing about Brandon Hill is he's not a track guy. He's a football player. More than his speed, I love how he plays, the attitude he plays with and his knowledge of the game." - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

(DS#7 SS) Jr/2023

SS *Brandon Hill, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
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08/06/22 - SirVocea Dennis, Sr/2023, Pittsburgh, 6-1, 226 (DS#9 ILB) + More +

Yes, Pitt's linebackers coach knows what was lost. Phil Campbell, Johnny Petrishen and Chase Pine ran out of eligibility. Cam Bright transferred to Washington. After the Peach Bowl, Pitt saw 601 tackles walk out the door. The reality is linebacker is Pitt's biggest question mark outside of quarterback Kenny Pickett's replacement. So this is an opportunity for SirVocea Dennis. He was Pitt's leading tackler with 87 stops last season, is an all-ACC player. He had 14.5 tackles for loss as an outside linebacker in 2020 before making the move inside last fall. He slid in as a playmaker and a natural leader. There are six candidates for two starting inside spots. Brandon George, Bangally Kamara, Solomon DeShields and Aydin Henningham return, while two transfers - Notre Dame's Shayne Simon and Missouri State's Tylar Wiltz - have been added to the mix. - Pittsburgh Post Gazette

(DS#9 ILB) Sr/2023

ILB SirVocea Dennis, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh Post Gazette
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08/05/22 - Todd Hill, rSr/2024, Pittsburgh, 5-10, 240 (DS#999 ILB) + More +

2022 PRESEASON ALL-NORTHEAST CONFERENCE FOOTBALL TEAM: LB Todd Hill, Duquesne, Jr.,...Second Team All-NEC in 2021...Started all 10 games at middle linebacker and ranked fourth on the team with 38 tackles (21 solo)...Tied for third on the Dukes with 6.5 tackles for loss and added 1.5 sacks. - Duquesne Football

(DS#999 ILB) rSr/2024

ILB Todd Hill, Pittsburgh
News Source: Duquesne Football
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08/05/22 - *Calijah Kancey, Jr/2023, Pittsburgh, 6-1, 281 (DS#3 DT) + More +

Even if you put the statistics aside and just watch Pitt's film from last year, it's obvious that No. 8 - the other No. 8 - was Pitt's most impactful defensive player. Calijah Kancey made a routine of speeding past linemen, barreling over running backs in pass protection and sending quarterbacks into a new dimension. "The guy is magical. No matter what position he's in, no matter the call, he always wants to make a play. And he usually does," middle linebacker SirVocea Dennis said. "Being behind him, it's like I'm watching greatness right in front of my eyes. It's fun." "His quickness, man, sometimes I can't catch him," Pitt offensive tackle Carter Warren said on their reps in practice. "Sometimes I'm asking (left guard) Marcus (Minor) for help. Calijah is the real deal. He puts in the work, day in and day out. He's the last one in the weight room and the last one on the field. He does the little things you need to do to be where he wants to be in life." That was the common thread speaking to players and coaches on both sides of the ball on Monday: Kancey's work ethic and focus is among the best in the building.

That approach has made his attention-filled summer easier to manage. Partridge acknowledged there's a delicate balance between confidence and cockiness after the type of year Kancey had. The coaching staff emphasizes that preseason accolades don't mean anything unless you work to make them a postseason reality. Kancey has taken that message to heart. "The watch lists don't mean nothing to me," the fourth-year player said. "It's all about getting better and getting ready for the first game. It's really not that important if you're not on the watch lists at the end of the season." - Pittsburgh Post Gazette

(DS#3 DT) Jr/2023

DT *Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh Post Gazette
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08/05/22 - Raphael Williams Jr., rSr/2026, Pittsburgh, 5-10, 165 (DS#89 WR) + More +

2022 PRESEASON ALL-SOUTHERN CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM (COACHES): WR Raphael Williams, R-So., Western Carolina,...A first-team All-SoCon selection and two-time Freshman All-America selection in 2021, Raphael Williams adds the preseason first-team honor to his ever-growing resume. The redshirt sophomore from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Williams led the Catamounts with 73 catches for 959 yards last season, finding the endzone nine times, ninth in the league by registering an average of 4.9 points per game. He paced the SoCon with both a 6.6 reception per game and 87.2 receiving yards per game average. Williams, who posted five, 100-yard receiving games and double-digit receptions three times including a school-record 16 at Wofford, was additionally named preseason All-SoCon by The Bluebloods online publication. - Western Carolina Football

(DS#89 WR) rSr/2026

WR Raphael Williams Jr., Pittsburgh
News Source: Western Carolina Football
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