2018 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

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

2018 Pittsburgh Panthers football
ACC Coastal Division champion
Sun Bowl, L 13–14 vs. Stanford
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
DivisionCoastal Division
2018 record7–7 (6–2 ACC)
Head coachPat Narduzzi (4th season)
Offensive coordinatorShawn Watson (2nd season)
Offensive schemePro-style
Defensive coordinatorRandy Bates (1st season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumHeinz Field
(Capacity: 68,400)
2018 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
Atlantic Division
No. 1 Clemson x$#^  8 –0     15 –0  
No. 15 Syracuse  6 –2     10 –3  
NC State  5 –3     9 –4  
Boston College  4 –4     7 –5  
Wake Forest  3 –5     7 –6  
Florida State  3 –5     5 –7  
Louisville  0 –8     2 –10  
Coastal Division
Pittsburgh x  6 –2     7 –7  
Georgia Tech  5 –3     7 –6  
Miami  4 –4     7 –6  
Virginia  4 –4     8 –5  
Virginia Tech  4 –4     6 –7  
Duke  3 –5     8 –5  
North Carolina  1 –7     2 –9  
Championship: Clemson 42, Pittsburgh 10
    1. – College Football Playoff champion
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

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 predicted 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

Schedule

The Panthers schedule was released on January 17, 2018.[6]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 13:30 p.m.Albany*
ACCN ExtraW 33–734,486
September 88:00 p.m.No. 13 Penn State*
  • Heinz Field
  • Pittsburgh, PA (rivalry)
ABCL 6–5168,400
September 1512:30 p.m.Georgia Tech
  • Heinz Field
  • Pittsburgh, PA
ACCRSNW 24–1934,284
September 2212:20 p.m.at North Carolina
RaycomL 35–3844,168
September 293:30 p.m.at No. 13 UCF*
ESPNUL 14–4544,904
October 612:20 p.m.Syracuse
  • Heinz Field
  • Pittsburgh, PA (rivalry)
RaycomW 44–37 OT37,100
October 132:30 p.m.at No. 5 Notre Dame*
NBCL 14–1977,622
October 273:30 p.m.Duke
  • Heinz Field
  • Pittsburgh, PA
ACCRSNW 54–4531,510
November 27:30 p.m.at No. 23 Virginia
ESPN2W 23–1336,256
November 103:30 p.m.Virginia Tech
  • Heinz Field
  • Pittsburgh, PA
ESPNUW 52–2244,398
November 1712:00 p.m.at Wake Forest
ACCRSNW 34–1325,609
November 243:30 p.m.at Miami (FL)No. 24
ESPNL 3–2459,606
December 18:00 p.m.vs. No. 2 Clemson
ABCL 10–4267,784
December 312:00 p.m.vs. Stanford*
CBSL 13–1440,680
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

The Cathedral of Learning, which usually lights up after every Pitt sports win, was darkened following Pitt's 54-45 victory over Duke on October 27 out of respect for the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in nearby Squirrel Hill, which had occurred earlier that day.

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

[7]

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)
  • 26 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)
  • 19 V'Lique Carter – Freshman (5’9, 170)
  • 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)
  • 19 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)
  • 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

  • 49 Jake Scarton – Freshman (6'3, 195)
  • 97 Alex Kessman – Sophomore (6'3, 195)
  • 98 Will Connelly – Freshman (6'2, 220)

Long Snappers

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

Game summaries

Albany
Albany at Pittsburgh
1 234Total
Great Danes 7 000 7
• Panthers 19 1400 33
  • Date: September 1
  • Location:
    Heinz Field
    Pittsburgh, PA
  • Game start: 3:35 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 2:56
  • Game attendance: 34,486
  • Game weather: 86°F • S 6 • Mostly Sunny, Humid
  • Referee: Marcus Woods
  • TV announcers (ACCN Extra):
    Play-by-Play: Joel Meyers
    Analyst: Dustin Fox
See also: 2018 Albany Great Danes football team
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
See also: 2018 Penn State Nittany Lions football team and Penn State–Pittsburgh football rivalry
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
See also: 2018 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team
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
  • Date: September 22
  • Location:
    Kenan Memorial Stadium
    Chapel Hill, NC
  • Game start: 12:20 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:17
  • Game attendance: 44,168
  • Game weather: 84°F • W 3 • Sunny
  • Referee: Riley Johnson
  • TV announcers (Raycom):
    Play-by-Play: Tom Werme
    Analyst: Dave Archer
    Sideline: Lericia Harris
See also: 2018 North Carolina Tar Heels football team
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
See also: 2018 UCF Knights football team
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
See also: 2018 Syracuse Orange football team and Pittsburgh–Syracuse football rivalry
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
  • Date: October 13
  • Location:
    Notre Dame Stadium
    Notre Dame, IN
  • Game start: 2:41 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:05
  • Game attendance: 77,622
  • Game weather: 49°F • SW 9 • Sunny
  • Referee: Gary Patterson
  • TV announcers (NBC):
    Play-by-Play: Mike Tirico
    Analyst: Doug Flutie
See also: 2018 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team and Notre Dame–Pittsburgh football rivalry
Overall record Last meeting Result
21–48–1 2015 L, 30–42

Duke
Duke at Pittsburgh
1 234Total
Blue Devils 7 14213 45
• Panthers 7 101819 54
  • Date: October 27
  • Location:
    Heinz Field
    Pittsburgh, PA
  • Game start: 3:33 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:21
  • Game attendance: 31,510
  • Game weather: 45°F • NE 4 • Light rain
  • Referee: David Epperley
  • TV announcers (ACCRSN):
    Play-by-Play: Wes Durham
    Analyst: James Bates
See also: 2018 Duke Blue Devils football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
13–9 2017 W, 24–17

at Virginia
Pittsburgh at Virginia
1 234Total
• Panthers 7 079 23
No. 23 Cavaliers 7 303 13
  • Date: November 2
  • Location:
    Scott Stadium
    Charlottesville, VA
  • Game start: 7:31 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:15
  • Game attendance: 36,256
  • Game weather: 65°F • NE 12 • Heavy rain
  • Referee: Riley Johnson
  • TV announcers (ESPN2):
    Play-by-Play: Clay Matvick
    Analyst: Dan Orlovsky
See also: 2018 Virginia Cavaliers football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
7–3 2017 W, 31–14

Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh
1 234Total
Hokies 0 787 22
• Panthers 10 21714 52
  • Date: November 10
  • Location:
    Heinz Field
    Pittsburgh, PA
  • Game start: 3:32 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:07
  • Game attendance: 44,398
  • Game weather: 32°F • W 13 • Clear
  • Referee: Jerry Magallanes
  • TV announcers (ESPNU):
    Play-by-Play: Kevin Brown
    Analyst: Andre Ware
See also: 2018 Virginia Tech Hokies football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
7–10 2017 L, 14–20

at Wake Forest
Pittsburgh at Wake Forest
1 234Total
• Panthers 0 61414 34
Demon Deacons 3 703 13
  • Date: November 17
  • Location:
    BB&T Field
    Winston-Salem, NC
  • Game start: 12:04 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:01
  • Game attendance: 25,609
  • Game weather: 54°F • ENE 4 • Sunny
  • Referee: Duane Heydt
  • TV announcers (ACCRSN):
    Play-by-Play: Evan Lepler
    Analyst: Takeo Spikes
See also: 2018 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
First meeting

at Miami (FL)
Pittsburgh at Miami (FL)
1 234Total
No. 24 Panthers 0 030 3
• Hurricanes 3 777 24
  • Date: November 24
  • Location:
    Hard Rock Stadium
    Miami Gardens, FL
  • Game start: 3:35 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:25
  • Game attendance: 59,606
  • Game weather: 82°F • WSW 14 • Partly cloudy
  • Referee: Stuart Mullins
  • TV announcers (ESPN):
    Play-by-Play: Anish Shroff
    Analyst: Ahmad Brooks
See also: 2018 Miami Hurricanes football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
11–25–1 2017 W, 24–14

vs. Clemson (ACC Championship Game)
Pittsburgh vs. Clemson
1 234Total
• No. 2 Tigers 14 14014 42
Panthers 3 700 10
See also: 2018 Clemson Tigers football team and 2018 ACC Championship Game
Overall record Last meeting Result
2–0 2016 W, 43–42

vs. Stanford (Sun Bowl)
Pittsburgh vs. Stanford
1 234Total
• Cardinal 0 707 14
Panthers 0 1030 13
  • Date: December 31
  • Location:
    Sun Bowl Stadium
    El Paso, TX
  • Game start: 2:10 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:32
  • Game attendance: 40,680
  • Game weather: 46°F • WSW 10 • Sunny
  • Referee: David Smith
  • TV announcers (CBS):
    Play-by-Play: Brad Nessler
    Analyst: Gary Danielson
See also: 2018 Stanford Cardinal football team and 2018 Sun Bowl
Overall record Last meeting Result
2–1 1932 W, 7–0

2019 NFL Draft
Main article: 2019 NFL Draft
PlayerPositionRoundPickNFL Club
Qadree OllisonRB5152Atlanta Falcons

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. http://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2018/1/17/pitt-announces-2018-football-schedule.aspx
  7. https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/pittsburghpanthers.com/documents/2018/3/6/PITT_FB_Prospectus_18_COMPLETE_1_88_.pdf
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