PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s not often you move your leader in tackles for loss to a different position. Pitt did so with explosive linebacker SirVocea Dennis coming into the season.
Coaching staff decided to switch him from an outside linebacker with 14.5 TFL, four sacks and 57 tackles to the inside. Dennis worried he wouldn’t be able to handle the play-calling for a whole game, but says he found out it’s actually easy.
“It’s definitely been different,” Dennis said. “It’s fun out there. Playing a new position and be able to get to the ball in a different way.”
He won the battle with Wendell Davis with his performance in a couple of camp scrimmages. Even though he won that battle. He’s listed as a co-starter for every game including Saturday against Western Michigan. Linebackers coach Ryan Manalac says the competition continues every day in practice.
Dennis had six tackles and a quarterback hurry against Tennessee and an identical stat line with the addition of a half a tackle for loss against UMass. Davis has four tackles on the season, but 1.5 TFL and a sack.
Pitt believes either linebacker is an ACC starter who can make an impact. Manalac said of what he noticed about the team reaction to having Dennis in there.
“When I first sat down and talked to the linebackers,” Manalac said. “It was impressive how much SirVocea had an impact on those guys relationship wise. That carries over on the field. They trust him. They look to him for answers.”
“I think it’s because he is a sharp, intelligent football player. His preparation is impressive. Those guys know he has answers. He knows what he is talking about. When he says something, it means something. I think it gives those guys around him confidence to have him in the middle.”
Why does Manalac think his teammates gravitate to him?
“He’s got that gregarious personality,” Manalac said. “He’s engaging. He gets guys excited to play. When you talk about the tangibles. He can run fast. He can hit. He’s strong. He’s elusive, but also powerful. He has those skill sets paired with his personality and drive. It’s a powerful combination.”
Dennis is confident, but not cocky. His parents were both in the Army, that where his leadership skills originate. He says he’s more concerned about cleaning up the missing details from the first two games by himself and the team.
The junior is also reminding his team to keep the focus hosting the Broncos on Saturday.
“Keep your head on straight,” Dennis said. “We got to go 1-0 every week. We got to fix every little detail we can. We have to make sure we don’t get too ahead of ourselves.”