PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – A day after the 2025 college football season ended, the Pitt Panthers announced 16 transfers have enrolled for this semester and eligible for Spring drills.
Seven of the new players on offense, six on defense and three on special teams including the likely new kicker from Northern Arizona.
Offensive players
· OT Netinho Olivieri (6’4”, 305 pounds)-Newton, MA (Penn)-3-year starter at left tackle
· TE Carson Kent (6’4”, 245 pounds)-Milton, GA (Oklahoma)-a 2-year starter at Kennesaw State before transferring to OU, had 3 catches for 26 yards
· TE Elijah Lagg (6’2”, 245 pounds)-Mountain Home, Ark (UAB)-6 starts, 20 catches, 164 yards in only year at UAB
· WR Malik Knight (6’, 180 pounds)-Fort Lauderdale, FL (Western Carolina)-last year, 47 receptions, 774 yards, 7 total TD, played with OC Kade Bell
· OL Keylen Davis (6’2”, 315 pounds)-Indianapolis (Akron)-3rd Team All-MAC interior offensive lineman
· RB La’Vell Wright (5’11”, 215 pounds)-Louisville (Western Kentucky)-115 rushes-609 yards, 5 TD last year at WKU
· QB Holden Geriner (6’3”, 225 pounds)-Savannah, GA (Texas State)-9 career completions on 21 attempts for 116 yards, 1 INT
Defensive players
· DB Kanye Thompson (5’9”, 160 pounds)-McKeesport (Slippery Rock)-Don Hansen All-American after 60 tackles, 10 pass break-ups, 4 forced fumbles, 5.5 TFL
· DB Raion Strader (6’, 180 pounds)-Penn Hills (Auburn)-37 career pass-breakups, 2024 MAC Cornerback of the Year at Miami (Ohio)
· DL Jeremiah Warren (6’2”, 315 pounds)-Belleville, MI (Illinois)-11 games, 3 tackles in 2025
· DL Eliyt Nairne (6’, 290 pounds)-Charlotte (Tulane)-13 tackles, TFL in 2025 after transferring from Liberty
· LB DeMarco Ward (6’1”, 215 pounds)-Duluth, GA (Memphis)-63 tackles, 2 interceptions, 3 tackles for loss in 2025 after transferring from Florida State
· LB Alex Sanford, Jr (6’, 225 pounds)-Oxford, MS (Purdue)-46 tackles, 3.5 TFL, pass breakup in one season with Boilermakes after transferring from Arkansas
Special Teams
· P Gabe Russo (6’, 240 pounds)-Montgomery, AL (Idaho State)-averaged 46.3 yards per punt, 2nd Team All-Big Sky
· K Sam Hunsaker (5’9”, 150 pounds)-Gilbert, AZ (Northern Arizona)-made 11 of 15 FG including career-long 50 yarder, 45-45 on PAT
· LS Justin Schmidt (6’, 240 pounds)-Thomas Jefferson HS (Purdue)