PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The most dominant defensive lineman of his time in the NFL, it all grew at the University of Pittsburgh. During the Notre Dame game in November, Pitt will honor Aaron Donald by retiring his number 97.
“It’s hard to put into words what it means to have my jersey retired,” said Donald in a release. “Born and raised in Pittsburgh, I’m grateful to the University of Pittsburgh for taking a chance on me when so many others wouldn’t. I accomplished more in my career than I ever dreamed of, and for that I’m truly blessed. To soon see my number hanging alongside other Pitt greats is an honor beyond measure. I will always love this University. Hail to Pitt!”
A lightly recruited player out of Penn Hills High School, Donald played 13 games as a freshman as a back-up defensive tackle at Pitt. By the end of his sophomore season, he was an All-American. As an interior lineman, he was second in the Big East in sacks (11) and tackles for loss (16). Against Utah, he had three sacks and nine tackles. He had multiple sack games against UConn and Louisville as well.
As a junior he was First-Team All-Big East with 18.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Donald had multiple tackles-for-loss games against UConn, USF and Rutgers.
His senior year was one for the ages. He averaged 2.2 tackles for loss per game leading the nation finishing with 28.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 16 quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles and a blocked extra point (which determined a 17-16 win against Syracuse). Against Georgia Tech he had six TFLs, two forced fumbles and a sack.
The national honors for Aaron Donald in 2013
· Bronco Nagurski Trophy Winner (most outstanding defensive player)
· Chuck Bednarik Award Winner (defensive player of the year)
· Outland Trophy Winner (best offensive or defensive interior lineman)
· Rotary Lombardi Award Winner (most outstanding lineman or linebacker)
· 1st Team All-American
· National Defensive Player of the Year by Athlon, CBS Sports & Lindy’s Sports
· ACC Defensive Player of the Year
It carried over in the NFL, as Donald was named the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2014. A defensive tackle, Donald won the Defensive Player of the Year Award three times and finished in the top five in voting seven consecutive seasons. Donald finished with 111 sacks, 176 tackles for loss, 260 quarterback hurries, 24 forced fumbles in 10 seasons, retiring at age 32. Pro Football Reference has a statistical determination for Hall of Fame worthiness, no defensive tackle in NFL history is more deserving of nomination than Donald.
Out of respect to his career, no Pitt football player will ever wear the number 97.