Leechburg HS & Pitt LB named preseason 1st Team All-ACC

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The first Division 1 football player from his high school since his father, Pitt linebacker Braylan Lovelace named preseason first-team All-ACC by Athlon.

Since coming to the Panthers from Leechburg High School, with 177 total students, Lovelace has impacted the program. He played 11 games as a freshman and has missed only one game in his career, that due to injury.

In 2025, Lovelace finished with 80 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and a pair of interceptions, one returned for 100 yards in a win at 16^th ranked Georgia Tech, which earned him ACC Linebacker of the Week honors.

2^nd Team Preseason All-ACC Panthers

• Sophomore RB Ja’Kyrian Turner-rushed for 201 yards vs. Georgia Tech
• Senior OL Ryan Baer-Honorable Mention All-ACC in 2025
• Senior DL Sean FitzSimmons-6 tackles (TFL, sack) v WVU in 2025
• Junior DB Cruce Brookens—Honorable Mention All-ACC in 2025

3^rd Team Preseason All-ACC Panthers

• Senior OL BJ Williams-Honorable Mention All-ACC in 2025
• Senior DL Nick James-had at least a half-TFL in 8 games in 2025
• Senior DL Jimmy Scott-led Pitt defensive line in sacks in 2025, plus 8 TFL
• Sophomore DB Shawn Lee, Jr.-Honorable Mention All-ACC as freshman

4^th Team Preseason All-ACC Panthers

• Junior WR Cataurus ‘Blue’ Hicks-84-yard TD v NC State in 2025