PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said all players have decisions to make as today his leading tackler decided to opt out for the NFL Draft.s to make as today his leading tackler decided to opt out for the NFL Draft.
“Paris is a tremendous football player and a tremendous person,” Narduzzi said Monday. “A guy I have a lot of respect for. We appreciate all of the efforts he’s put in here in his 3 and a half/4 years and his 6 years we’ve known him in the recruiting process.”
Narduzzi said Ford initially made the decision to stay in February and then said he took a few days in the summer to decide if he would leave early for the pros.
Now that their All-ACC defensive lineman, Jaylen Twyman, left before the season started and their All-ACC safety left with four games to play, is Narduzzi worried that others will make that same choice, as the Panthers are 3-4 on the year.
“No I don’t,” Narduzzi said. “I don’t at all. I don’t have a crystal ball, you never know. I don’t see that right now. No.”
Narduzzi believes other players will help bring the energy that is lost in not having Ford. Redshirt freshman Brandon Hill will get the start at safety, having played in 11 career games with 13 tackles, including 8 against Notre Dame. Hill was a 4-star prospect out of Apopka, Florida two years ago.
“A guy we have a ton of confidence in,” Narduzzi said of Hill. “We feel like he’s a starter. I think Brandon Hill has played the last couple of weeks. He’s played a lot of special teams. He’s a play-maker. He’s physical and strong. He will be the guy to line up and play in that position.”
Pickett update
While Narduzzi maintains that he doesn’t give updates on injured players, he did say that starting quarterback Kenny Pickett gets better every week as he recovers from an ankle injury suffered against Boston College.
“Kenny can go out and throw, but he’s not moving great right now, obviously,” Narduzzi said. “He’s out there watching.”
Transfer Joey Yellen is getting the majority of the first-team snaps having started the last two games.