2018 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

2018 Pittsburgh Panthers football
Conference Atlantic Coast Conference
Division Coastal Division
2018 record 3–3 (2–1 ACC)
Head coach Pat Narduzzi (4th season)
Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator Randy Bates (1st season)
Home stadium Heinz Field
(Capacity: 68,400)
2018 ACC football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
Atlantic Division
No. 3 Clemson  3 –0     6 –0  
No. 16 NC State  2 –0     5 –0  
Boston College  2 –1     5 –2  
Syracuse  1 –2     4 –2  
Florida State  1 –3     3 –3  
Wake Forest  0 –2     3 –3  
Louisville  0 –4     2 –5  
Coastal Division
Virginia Tech  3 –0     4 –2  
Miami  2 –1     5 –2  
Virginia  2 –1     4 –2  
Pittsburgh  2 –1     3 –4  
Duke  1 –1     5 –1  
North Carolina  1 –2     1 –4  
Georgia Tech  1 –3     3 –4  
Championship: December 1, 2018
As of October 16, 2018; Rankings from AP Poll

The 2018 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represents the University of Pittsburgh in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Panthers are led by fourth-year head coach Pat Narduzzi and play their home games at Heinz Field. They are a member of the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). This is Pitt's sixth season as a member of the ACC.

Previous season

The Panthers finished the 2017 season 5–7, 3–5 in ACC play to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Coastal Division.[1]

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Award Player Position Year
Doak Walker Award[2] Darrin Hall RB SR
Butkus Award[3] Oluwaseun Idowu LB RS SR[4]
Wuerffel Trophy[5] Darrin Hall RB SR

ACC media poll

The ACC media poll was released on July 24, 2018 with the Panthers predcited to finish in fifth place in the Coastal Division.

Media poll (Coastal)
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1Miami998 (122)
2Virginia Tech838 (16)
3Georgia Tech654 (8)
4Duke607 (1)
5Pittsburgh420
6North Carolina370 (1)
7Virginia257

Coaching staff

2018 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff
Coaching Staff
  • Pat Narduzzi – Head Coach
  • Charlie Partridge – Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line
  • Shawn Watson – Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
  • Randy Bates – Defensive Coordinator
  • Andre Powell – Running Backs/Special Teams
  • Rob Harley – Linebackers/Recruiting Coordinator
  • Dave Borbely – Offensive Line
  • Archie Collins – Secondary
  • Tim Salem – Tight Ends
  • Cory Sanders – Safeties
  • Kevin Sherman – Wide Receivers
   Support Staff
  • Chris LaSala – Associate Athletic Director/Football Operations
  • Bob Junko – Director of Player Development and High School Relations
  • Ben Mathers – Director of Football Operations
  • Reed Case – Director of Recruiting
  • Ben Cotton – Offensive Graduate Assistant
  • Mike Caprara – Defensive Graduate Assistant
  • Mike Perish – Offensive Graduate Assistant
  • Josh Lott – Defensive Graduate Assistant
   Strength and Conditioning Staff
  • Dave Andrews – Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
  • Freddie Walker – Associate Strength and Conditioning Coach
  • Austin Addington-Strapp – Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach

[6]

Roster

2018 Pittsburgh Panthers football roster

Quarterbacks

  •  3 Jeff George Jr. - Junior (6'3, 220)
  •  4 Nick Patti - Freshman (6'1, 185)
  •  8 Kenny Pickett - Sophomore (6'2, 220)
  • 12 Ricky Town - Junior (6'3, 215)
  • 14 Tyler Zelinski - Sophomore (6'4, 210)
  • 15 Justin Sliwoski - Freshman (6'1, 190)
  • 16 Jake Cortes - Freshman (6'5, 240)

Tailbacks

  • 7 Mychale Salahuddin - Freshman (5'11, 190)
  • 21 A.J. Davis - Sophomore (6'0, 215)
  • 22 Darrin Hall - Senior (5'11, 225)
  • 23 Todd Sibley Jr. - Freshman (5'9, 215)
  • 30 Qadree Ollison - Senior (6'2, 225)
  • 37 Cole Blake - Senior (5'11, 210)
  • 39 Kyle Vreen - Sophomore (5'10, 190)

Fullbacks

  • 34 Jason Edwards - Freshman (5'10, 230)
  • 35 George Aston - Senior (6'0, 240)
  • 47 Ryan Sliwoski - Junior (5'11, 225)
  • 48 Peyton Deri - Sophomore (6'1, 225)

Wide Receivers

  •  2 Maurice Ffrench - Junior (5'11, 190)
  •  5 Tre Tipton - Junior (6'0, 190)
  •  6 Aaron Mathews - Junior (6'4, 215)
  •  9 Michael Smith - Freshman (6'1, 215)
  • 11 Taysir Mack - Sophomore (6'2, 195))
  • 17 Darian Street - Freshman (6'1, 185)
  • 18 Shocky Jacques−Louis - Freshman (6'0, 180)
  • 40 Charles Chustckie - Freshman (6'2, 190)
  • 46 Michael Vardzel - Sophomore (5'11, 190)
  • 48 Kellen McAlone - Senior (6'2, 210)
  • 49 Alex Capstick - Freshman (6'1, 205)
  • 80 Cameron O'Neil - Freshman (6'1, 185)
  • 82 Rafael Araujo-Lopes - Senior (5'9, 190)
  • 83 John Vardzel - Freshman (5'10, 175)
  • 85 Garrett Bickhart - Freshman (6'5, 210)
  • 88 Dontavius Butler−Jenkins - Freshman (6'0, 210)

Tight Ends

  • 10 Will Gragg - Junior (6'4, 250)
  • 45 Jake Zilinskas - Sophomore (6'2, 230)
  • 81 Jim Medure - Junior (6'2, 235)
  • 84 Grant Carrigan - Freshman (6'7, 280)
  • 86 Tyler Sear - Sophomore (6'4, 250)
  • 98 Kaymar Mimes - Freshman (6'5, 235)
  

Offensive Linemen

  • 52 Devon Davis - Junior (6’4, 325)
  • 53 Jake Kradel - Freshman (6'3, 290)
  • 55 Chase Brown - Junior (6’5, 305)
  • 56 Brandon Ford - Sophomore (6’5, 305)
  • 57 Gabe Houy - Freshman (6'6, 310)
  • 59 Carson Van Lynn - Freshman (6’5, 290)
  • 60 Owen Drexel - Freshman (6'3, 290)
  • 63 Nick Stazer - Freshman (6’3, 295)
  • 66 Mike Herndon - Senior (6’4, 310)
  • 67 Jimmy Morrissey - Sophomore (6’3, 300)
  • 68 Blake Zubovic - Freshman (6’4, 300)
  • 69 Kenny Rainey III - Freshman (6'3, 320)
  • 70 Stefano Millin - Senior (6’5, 300)
  • 71 Bryce Hargrove - Sophomore (6’4, 310)
  • 74 Jerry Drake Jr. - Freshman (6’5, 305)
  • 76 Connor Dintino - Senior (6’3, 315)
  • 77 Carter Warren - Freshman (6'5, 320)
  • 78 Alex Bookser - Senior (6’6, 315)

Defensive Linemen

  •  2 David Green - Freshman (6'0, 255)
  •  5 Deslin Alexandre - Freshman (6'4, 270)
  •  6 John Morgan - Freshman (6'2, 250)
  •  8 Dewayne Hendrix - Senior (6’4, 265)
  • 10 Keyshon Camp - Sophomore (6’4, 285)
  • 17 Rashad Weaver - Sophomore (6’5, 260)
  • 34 Amir Watts - Junior (6’3, 290)
  • 36 Chase Pine - Sophomore (6’2, 250)
  • 40 James Folston Jr. - Senior (6’4, 250)
  • 45 Noah Palmer - Freshman (6'3, 215)
  • 50 Tyler Bentley - Freshman (6'2, 300)
  • 55 Jaylen Twyman - Freshman (6'2, 300)
  • 68 Brian Burgess - Freshman (6’2, 290)
  • 87 Habakkuk Baldonado - Freshman (6’5, 230)
  • 90 Rashad Wheeler - Sophomore (6’3, 285)
  • 91 Patrick Jones II - Sophomore (6’5, 265)
  • 93 Shane Roy - Senior (6’4, 280)
  • 95 Devin Danielson - Freshman (6'1, 290)
  • 96 Chris Maloney - Freshman (6’2, 235)

Punters

  • 97 Ethan Van Buskirk - Freshman (5'10, 220)
  • 98 Kirk Christodoulou - Freshman (6'1, 210)
  

Linebackers

  • 9 Saleem Brightwell - Junior (6’0, 225)
  • 23 Oluwaseun Idowu - Senior (6’0, 230)
  • 25 Elijah Zeise - Senior (6’2, 240)
  • 28 Anthony McKee Jr. - Junior (6’2, 220)
  • 29 Albert Tucker - Freshman (6'1, 225)
  • 35 Chase Villani - Freshman (6’1, 220)
  • 37 Jackson Henry - Freshman (6’2, 225)
  • 38 Cam Bright - Freshman (6'0, 220)
  • 39 Wendell Davis - Freshman (6’2, 235)
  • 44 Elias Reynolds - Sophomore (6’2, 235)
  • 47 Kyle Nunn - Freshman (6'3, 225)
  • 52 Jack Hansberry - Freshman (6’1, 210)
  • 58 Quintin Wirginis - Senior (6'2, 250)

Defensive Backs

  •  3 Damar Hamlin - Junior (6’1, 195)
  •  4 Therran Coleman - Sophomore (6’0, 200)
  •  7 Jazzee Stocker - Junior (6’2, 190)
  • 11 Dane Jackson - Junior (6’0, 185)
  • 12 Paris Ford - Freshman (6'0, 195)
  • 14 Marquis Williams - Freshman (5’8, 160)
  • 15 Jason Pinnock - Sophomore (6'0, 195)
  • 16 Damarri Mathis - Sophomore (5'11, 190)
  • 20 Dennis Briggs - Senior (5’10, 195)
  • 21 V'Lique Carter - Freshman (5’9, 170)
  • 22 Kollin Smith - Freshman (5'10, 180)
  • 24 Phil Campbell III - Sophomore (6’1, 200)
  • 26 Judson Tallandier - Freshman (6'0, 180)
  • 27 Bricen Garner - Sophomore (6’1, 190)
  • 31 Erick Hallett - Freshman (5'11, 175)
  • 32 Phillipie Motley - Senior (5’10, 180)
  • 41 Colin Jonov - Senior (5’9, 195)
  • 46 Rimoni Dorsey - Junior (6’0, 205)

Placekickers

  • 92 Jake Scarton - Freshman (6'3, 195)
  • 97 Alex Kessman - Sophomore (6'3, 195)

Long Snappers

  • 51 Grey Brancifort - Freshman (6'1, 225)
  • 94 Cal Adomitis - Sophomore (6'1, 225)

Schedule

The Panthers schedule was released on January 17, 2018.[7]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
Sat. Sep. 13:30 p.m.Albany*
ACCN ExtraW 33–734,486
Sat. Sep. 88:00 p.m.No. 13 Penn State*
  • Heinz Field
  • Pittsburgh, PA (rivalry)
ABCL 6–5168,400
Sat. Sep. 1512:30 p.m.Georgia Tech
  • Heinz Field
  • Pittsburgh, PA
ACCRSNW 24–1934,284
Sat. Sep. 2212:20 p.m.at North Carolina
RaycomL 35–3844,168
Sat. Sep. 293:30 p.m.at No. 13 UCF*
ESPNUL 14–4544,904
Sat. Oct. 612:20 p.m.Syracusedagger
  • Heinz Field
  • Pittsburgh, PA (rivalry)
RaycomW 44–37 OT37,100
Sat. Oct. 132:30 p.m.at No. 5 Notre Dame*
NBCL 14–1977,622
Sat. Oct. 27Duke
  • Heinz Field
  • Pittsburgh, PA
Fri. Nov. 27:30 p.m.at Virginia
ESPN2
Sat. Nov. 10Virginia Tech
  • Heinz Field
  • Pittsburgh, PA
Sat. Nov. 17at Wake Forest
Sat. Nov. 24at Miami (FL)
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

Albany

Albany at Pittsburgh
1 234Total
Great Danes 7 000 7
• Panthers 19 1400 33
Overall record Last meeting Result
First meeting

Penn State

Penn State at Pittsburgh
1 234Total
• No. 13 Nittany Lions 7 71621 51
Panthers 6 000 6
Overall record Last meeting Result
43–51–4 2017 L, 14–33

Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech at Pittsburgh
1 234Total
Yellow Jackets 0 0613 19
• Panthers 14 730 24
  • Date: September 15
  • Location:
    Heinz Field
    Pittsburgh, PA
  • Game start: 12:34 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:03
  • Game attendance: 34,284
  • Game weather: 79°F • E 8 • Mostly Cloudy
  • Referee: Jerry Magallanes
  • TV announcers (ACCRSN):
    Play-by-Play: Wes Durham
    Analyst: James Bates
Overall record Last meeting Result
7–5 2017 L, 17–35

at North Carolina

Pittsburgh at North Carolina
1 234Total
Panthers 7 2107 35
• Tar Heels 7 14170 38
Overall record Last meeting Result
3–9 2017 L, 31–34

at UCF

Pittsburgh at UCF
1 234Total
Panthers 7 007 14
• No. 13 Knights 14 1777 45
  • Date: September 29
  • Location:
    Spectrum Stadium
    Orlando, FL
  • Game start: 3:32 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:20
  • Game attendance: 44,904
  • Game weather: 91°F • E 11 • Hot
  • Referee: Jerry Magallanes
  • TV announcers (ESPNU):
    Play-by-Play: Mike Corey
    Analyst: Rene Ingoglia
Overall record Last meeting Result
1–0 2006 W, 52–7

Syracuse

Syracuse at Pittsburgh
1 234OTTotal
Orange 14 31460 37
• Panthers 14 67107 44
  • Date: October 6
  • Location:
    Heinz Field
    Pittsburgh, PA
  • Game start: 12:21 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 4:31
  • Game attendance: 37,100
  • Game weather: 82°F • SW 8 • Mostly Sunny
  • Referee: David Epperley
  • TV announcers (Raycom):
    Play-by-Play: Tom Werme
    Analyst: Dave Archer
    Sideline: Lericia Harris
Overall record Last meeting Result
38–31–3 2017 L, 24–27

at Notre Dame

Pittsburgh at Notre Dame
1 234Total
Panthers 7 070 14
• No. 5 Fighting Irish 0 667 19
Overall record Last meeting Result
21–48–1 2015 L, 30–42

Duke

Duke at Pittsburgh
1 234Total
Blue Devils 0 000 0
Panthers 0 000 0
Overall record Last meeting Result
13–9 2017 W, 24–17

at Virginia

Pittsburgh at Virginia
1 234Total
Panthers 0 000 0
Cavaliers 0 000 0
Overall record Last meeting Result
7–3 2017 W, 31–14

Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh
1 234Total
Hokies 0 000 0
Panthers 0 000 0
Overall record Last meeting Result
7–10 2017 L, 14–20

at Wake Forest

Pittsburgh at Wake Forest
1 234Total
Panthers 0 000 0
Demon Deacons 0 000 0
Overall record Last meeting Result
First meeting

at Miami (FL)

Pittsburgh at Miami (FL)
1 234Total
Panthers 0 000 0
Hurricanes 0 000 0
Overall record Last meeting Result
11–25–1 2017 W, 24–14

Team players drafted into the NFL

PlayerPositionRoundPickNFL Club

References

  1. ↑ https://armchairallamericans.com/pitt-football-season-books-recap-2017/
  2. ↑ "2018 Doak Walker Award Candidates". July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Butkus Award - 2018 Collegiate Watchlist". The Butkus Award. July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Oluwaseun Idowu - Pitt 2018 Football Roster". July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List". July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  6. ↑ https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/pittsburghpanthers.com/documents/2018/3/6/PITT_FB_Prospectus_18_COMPLETE_1_88_.pdf
  7. ↑ http://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2018/1/17/pitt-announces-2018-football-schedule.aspx
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