Pitt : Pitt Football Positional Preview: The Defense

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"Pitt Football Positional Preview: The Defense
The Panthers return seven starters on defense
uly 16, 2015
PITTSBURGH – The Pitt defense will feature seven returning starters from last year’s team that ranked 33rd nationally in total defense.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The Panthers’ interior front welcomes back five lettermen, including a pair of senior returning starters in Khaynin Mosley-Smith and Darryl Render.
As the starting nose tackle last season, Mosley-Smith compiled 27 tackles. He will receive strong competition from junior letterman Tyrique Jarrett, a top backup last year. Adding depth will be Connor Dintino, who is coming off a freshman redshirt.
Render moved into the starting defensive tackle spot last year and collected 32 stops and a team-high six TFLs. Sophomore Justin Moody played in every game as a reserve, while sophomore Jeremiah Taleni gained experience at both interior positions.


At defensive end, junior Shakir Soto started every game a year ago and totaled 31 tackles. Sophomore Rori Blair showed intriguing promise in his initial collegiate season and led the Panthers with five sacks. Senior Ejuan Price has been limited to just six games the past three seasons due to injuries but has been productive when healthy.
Additional depth and competition at end will come from sophomores Reggie Green and Zach Poker, redshirt freshmen Hez Trahan and Shane Roy and sophomore walk-on Michael Dunn.
Pitt will add two experienced newcomers on the defensive line in junior college transfer Allen Edwards and graduate transfer Mark Scarpinato. Edwards was an all-conference defensive end at Dean (Mass.) College and arrives at Pitt with junior eligibility. Scarpinato, an important contributor for Michigan State’s 2013 nationally ranked defense, was enrolled in medical school last year and did not play football. Owning senior eligibility, he can play either tackle or end for the Panthers.
LINEBACKERS
This unit will need retooled with the loss of last season’s top two tacklers, Anthony Gonzalez and Todd Thomas.
In the middle, junior Matt Galambos is the returning starter and had 72 tackles (third on the team), 4.5 TFLs and an interception last year. Galambos will be pushed by sophomore letterman Quintin Wirginis and redshirt freshman James Folston. Also working in the middle will be redshirt frosh walk-on Dom Cuono.
At Star linebacker, senior Nicholas Grigsby will be a leading contender for a starting nod. A top reserve last year, he had 28 tackles, four TFLs and three sacks. Competing with Grigsby will be senior Jameel Poteat, a converted running back, and sophomore walk-on Nico Lodovico.
At Money linebacker, junior Bam Bradley looks to make an impact after enjoying career production last season. Contributing in a reserve role, Bradley collected 36 tackles, four TFLs, two sacks and an interception. He will be pushed by junior letterman Mike Caprara and redshirt freshman Jamal Davis. Also working at this position will be redshirt freshman walk-on Brian Popp.
Pitt’s 2015 recruiting class includes a pair of decorated linebackers. Saleem Brightwell was an All-New Jersey performer at perennial state power Paramus Catholic. Anthony McKee earned acclaim at Marion-Franklin as one of Ohio’s top defensive prospects.
SECONDARY
Injuries and inexperience made Pitt’s secondary a work in progress last season. The Panthers return a solid nucleus for 2015 with seven lettermen, including five players with starting experience.
Both starting cornerbacks return in senior Lafayette Pitts and sophomore Avonte Maddox. Pitts is the secondary’s elder statesman with 38 career starts. Maddox made immediate contributions as a true freshman, locking down a starting job the final six games of the year.
Junior letterman Ryan Lewis provides experienced depth at corner. Dennis Briggs and Phillipie Motley enter active duty following freshman redshirts. Additionally, freshman Malik Henderson enrolled at Pitt in mid-year and participated in spring drills.
Junior Reggie Mitchell is one of the Panthers’ most versatile defensive backs. Mitchell was a starter at both safety and corner last year, leading the team with seven pass breakups. He will focus on free safety in 2015. Also competing at the free will be junior Terrish Webb, a starting safety the opening eight games of 2014 before a knee injury ended his year. Sophomore walk-on Mark Bernsdorff provides depth.
At boundary safety, junior Jevonte Pitts and sophomore Pat Amara are the leading contenders to start. A pair of redshirt freshmen, Jalen Williams and walk-on Oluwaseun Idowu, will also compete for time.
The secondary will add three incoming freshman defensive backs from Pennsylvania: Central Valley’s Jordan Whitehead, the state’s No. 1 recruit according to Rivals, Quaker Valley’s Dane Jackson and Coatesville Area’s Jay Stocker.
Season tickets and mini-plans for the 2015 Pitt football season are now on sale. The Panthers will be led by new head coach Pat Narduzzi, who joined Pitt in December after an accomplished tenure as defensive coordinator at Michigan State.
Fans have a new seating option at Heinz Field this fall with the debut of the South Plaza Champions Club. For more information, call the Panthers Ticket Office at (800) 643-PITT (7488) or log on to PittsburghPanthers.com.Click here for the Panthers’ 2015 schedule with announced kickoff times.
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