PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Looking like it was going to have a freshman as the back-up quarterback this year, the Panthers hit the portal for an addition. And it’s someone that the last time they worked with Pitt offensive coordinator Kade Bell, was named the conference player of the year.
Cole Gonzales spent this spring at Oklahoma, but played the last three seasons at Western Carolina, where Bell was offensive coordinator. The 6’, 198-pound senior worked with Bell for two seasons (2022-23) and his father, the head coach at WCU, for all three. In 2023 Gonzales was named the Southern Conference Player of the Year after completing 204 of 310 passes for 2,803 yards with 28 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He was third in FCS in passer efficiency (166.4) and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award (best FCS player).
Last year Gonzales threw for 2,543 yards with 12 TD to two interceptions in eight games (injury ended his season). His last two games before injury were his best
· 33-55, 620 yards, 5 TD at Furman
· 25-47, 395 yards, 2 TD at Mercer
Gonzales also threw for a pair of touchdowns with no picks and rushed for 75 yards in the 2024 season opener at North Carolina State, a game Western Carolina led in the fourth quarter.
Panthers added 6’, 241-pound, senior tight end Justin Holmes (Marshall-1 year, Kent State-3 years) who is expected to be a run-blocking addition and redshirt freshman defensive back Zion Ferguson. The Georgia native didn’t play at North Carolina last year after being recruited as a four-star out of Georgia. Ferguson was ranked as the 19th best corner in the 2024 class.