PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi started his post Blue Gold Game news conference saying what a beautiful day it was. Not because the weather was perfect, which it was. They came away from the two-hour scrimmage with no injuries. Everything after that is just learning.
Officially the defense won the game by a point, although there is some internal dispute. They set up a scoring system allowing the defense to gain points, the biggest play of the game came on that side of the ball. An interception return for a touchdown by junior safety PJ O'Brien, which gave the defense 12 points.
"I'm on the sideline, I'm about to go on defense," O'Brien explained of the play. "(former Pitt player and current NFL safety) Jordan Whitehead (who was helping call some plays) said just read it, read it and stay patient. I saw the tight end running a drag route, I just got in front. It was either a big hit or a Pick 6. I just went for the ball."
"PJ has had a great Spring," said Pitt defensive coordinator Randy Bates.
"We've been really blessed in the last few years with field safeties who have been awesome. PJ hasn't had a ton of snaps, but did get a lot in the bowl game and has continued to improve. We are very excited about where he is going. He is an outstanding player."
Narduzzi said he told O'Brien if he made a play he would be able to talk to the media. He made a play, although Narduzzi pointed out it was against freshman QB Ty Dieffenbach.
The Spring Game set up this year where the first-team offense against the second-team defense and second-team offense against the first-team defense.
They ran a few pass plays with Phil Jurkovec (5-7, 51 yards) and Christian Veilleux (6-9, 74 yards). The Penn State transfer with a touchdown pass to Derrick Davis as he busted through a tackle and walked the sidelines to score. Jurkovec led a TD drive finished by Daniel Carter's TD run up the middle. Carter led all tailbacks with 45 yards rushing.
Narduzzi said they are sitting in a good place after Spring, remembering injuries to Deslin Alexandre and Brian O'Neill in previous Spring games. He said they are where they need to be.
Conway Award
The Ed Conway Award goes to the most improved players of Spring drills. It's voted on by the coaching staff and Narduzzi likes the award because everyone fights to get it. The 2023 winners are senior tight end Karter Johnson and sophomore defensive end Nahki Johnson.
"I think it's good that I brought it home, but everyone deserved it," Karter Johnson said. "This Spring we all just put our foot down and said we were going to do the right thing and do the little things right."
"He's done a great job blocking and got a lot better," Narduzzi said of Karter Johnson. "He caught the ball well for us all Spring. He was very reliable for us."
"I mean this in the humblest way, I was really excited," said Nahki Johnson. "At the beginning of Spring, I really wanted this award. It really got to me. I'm really blessed that everyone saw me do what I am supposed to do."
"Besides some of the strength stuff he did, his motor started turning," Narduzzi said of Nahki Johnson. "I don't know if the light turned on. It really turned on this Spring. The strength that he's playing with, watching him in team periods. He's putting a dent in the offensive line. There was also a consistency thing for him."
Freshman standouts
There were nearly two handfuls of players who left high school early to join the Panthers for these practices in March and April. Of that group, Narduzzi said of the pair who stood out.
WR Israel Polk-"I would say he had a nice Spring, real smart. There were times he played the X and Z. So he was playing two positions as a true freshman, that's impressive."
LB Braylan Lovelace-"Not a question, he looks like a man right now. He looks like a guy that could play for us right now. I've been really, really impressed with his maturity as a linebacker, his physicality and his intelligence."
