Here's my thoughts on the 2025 roster: (Player/remaining years 2025 on)
QB: Eli Holstein (3); Nate Yarnell (1); Ty Dieffenbach (3); Julian Dugger (4); Mason Heintschel (4); David Lynch (3/walk on)
- the QB room needs some work. If Lynch passed up both Dugger and Dieffenbach, at least one of them and Yarnell will probably transfer. I'm hopeful Yarnell sticks around as a decent backup. Pitt needs Holstein to take a step forward in 2025 and be more like he was at the beginning of the year. He is the one key to a successful 2025
RB: Desmond Reid (1); Rodney Hammond (1); Derrick Davis (1); Juelz Goff (4); Montravius Lloyd (3); Che Nwabuko (2); Synkwan Smith (4)
- More questions than answers behind Reid, I'm hoping Goff is ready to take the #2 spot. I'm guessing Hammond is gone
WR: Kenny Johnson (2); Daejon Reynolds (1); Censere Lee (1); Poppi Williams (1); Zion Fowler-El (3); Lamar Seymore (3); Tyreek Robinson (4); Cam Monteiro (4); DaMarion Fowlkes (4); Bryce Yates (4); Tony Kinsler (4); Ja'Kyrian Turner (4); Kha'leal Sterling (4);
- this room needs to prioritize bringing in a transfer. Poppi Williams and Kenny Johnson have had drops problems. This room will probably see a good bit of transfers out (Reynolds, Seymore guesses). In Kade Bell's offense, you need 5 receivers. Maybe 1 of the true freshmen next year emerges (Fowlkes, Yates or Kinsler most likely). Kinsler could play RB, Sterling could play defense
TE: Jake Overman (1); Jake Renda (1); Malachi Thomas (3); Max Hunt (4)
- This room looks alright. Could probably stand to add 1 transfer. Renda is a total wild card hurt more than healthy
OT: Ryan Baer (2); Terrence Enos (2); Isaiah Montgomery (2); Jackson Brown (2); Shep Turk (4); Tai Ray (3); Adam Abouraya (4); Mason Lindsay (4); Jordan Fields (4);Akram Elnagmi (4);
OG: BJ Williams (2); Caleb Holmes (4); Ryan Carretta (3); Jiavani Cooley (4); Mortis Schmoranzer (4);
OC: Lyndon Cooper (1) Terrence Moore (1); Torian Chester (4)
- O-Line is in deep trouble. Should be transfer priority #1; impossible to project the youth guys but they have been bringing a lot of bodies in last 2 recruiting class, which is good
K: Sam Carpenter (3)
Departures: K Ben Sauls; OT Branson Taylor; TE Gavin Bartholomew; WR Konata Mumpfield; RB Daniel Carter; OG Jason Collier; OG Ryan Jacoby; WR Jake McConnachie
Defense
DE: Jimmy Scott (2); Sincere Edwards (3); Chief Borders (1); David Ojiegbe (3); Maverick Gracio (3); Denim Cook (4); Julian Anderson (4);
- They need at least 1 more DE, probably 2. Sincere Edwards looks legit
DT: Sean FitzSimmons (2); Nick James (2); Isaiah Neal (3); Nahki Johnson (1); Elliot Donald (1); Francis Brewu (3); Jahsear Whittington (4); Ty Yuhas (4); Trevor Sommers (4);
- They have plenty of numbers here, and FitzSimmons has played top tier
LB: Braylan Lovelace (2); Kyle Louis (2); Rasheem Biles (2); Jordan Bass (3); Jeremiah Marcelin (3); Cam Lindsey (4); Davin Brewton (4); Nick Lapi (1); Emmanuel Taylor (4); Justin Thompson (4);
- LB looks good if they can hold onto their top 4
CB: Ryland Gandy (2); Rashad Battle (1); Tamon Lynum (1); Tamarion Crumpley (1); Noah Biglow (1); Shadarian Harrison (3); Jeremiah Anglin (3); Nigel Maynard (4); Josh Guerrier (4); Mason Alexander (4);
- CB has good numbers
S: Javon McIntyre (1); Cruce Brookins (3); Jesse Anderson (3); Allen Bryant (4); Davion Pritchard (4); Cole Woodson (4); Shawn Lee (4);
- Safety looks alright. A lot of the CBs historically get cross-trained to Safety when they need numbers
P: Caleb Junko (1)
Departures: DE Nate Matlack; S Donovan McMillan; LB Brandon George; S PJ O'Brien; LB Keye Thompson; DE Nate Temple; DT Anthony Johnson
Possible NFL early entrants: LB Kyle Louis
Biggest needs: Offensive Line, Defensive End, Wide Receiver, Backup QB
QB: Eli Holstein (3); Nate Yarnell (1); Ty Dieffenbach (3); Julian Dugger (4); Mason Heintschel (4); David Lynch (3/walk on)
- the QB room needs some work. If Lynch passed up both Dugger and Dieffenbach, at least one of them and Yarnell will probably transfer. I'm hopeful Yarnell sticks around as a decent backup. Pitt needs Holstein to take a step forward in 2025 and be more like he was at the beginning of the year. He is the one key to a successful 2025
RB: Desmond Reid (1); Rodney Hammond (1); Derrick Davis (1); Juelz Goff (4); Montravius Lloyd (3); Che Nwabuko (2); Synkwan Smith (4)
- More questions than answers behind Reid, I'm hoping Goff is ready to take the #2 spot. I'm guessing Hammond is gone
WR: Kenny Johnson (2); Daejon Reynolds (1); Censere Lee (1); Poppi Williams (1); Zion Fowler-El (3); Lamar Seymore (3); Tyreek Robinson (4); Cam Monteiro (4); DaMarion Fowlkes (4); Bryce Yates (4); Tony Kinsler (4); Ja'Kyrian Turner (4); Kha'leal Sterling (4);
- this room needs to prioritize bringing in a transfer. Poppi Williams and Kenny Johnson have had drops problems. This room will probably see a good bit of transfers out (Reynolds, Seymore guesses). In Kade Bell's offense, you need 5 receivers. Maybe 1 of the true freshmen next year emerges (Fowlkes, Yates or Kinsler most likely). Kinsler could play RB, Sterling could play defense
TE: Jake Overman (1); Jake Renda (1); Malachi Thomas (3); Max Hunt (4)
- This room looks alright. Could probably stand to add 1 transfer. Renda is a total wild card hurt more than healthy
OT: Ryan Baer (2); Terrence Enos (2); Isaiah Montgomery (2); Jackson Brown (2); Shep Turk (4); Tai Ray (3); Adam Abouraya (4); Mason Lindsay (4); Jordan Fields (4);Akram Elnagmi (4);
OG: BJ Williams (2); Caleb Holmes (4); Ryan Carretta (3); Jiavani Cooley (4); Mortis Schmoranzer (4);
OC: Lyndon Cooper (1) Terrence Moore (1); Torian Chester (4)
- O-Line is in deep trouble. Should be transfer priority #1; impossible to project the youth guys but they have been bringing a lot of bodies in last 2 recruiting class, which is good
K: Sam Carpenter (3)
Departures: K Ben Sauls; OT Branson Taylor; TE Gavin Bartholomew; WR Konata Mumpfield; RB Daniel Carter; OG Jason Collier; OG Ryan Jacoby; WR Jake McConnachie
Defense
DE: Jimmy Scott (2); Sincere Edwards (3); Chief Borders (1); David Ojiegbe (3); Maverick Gracio (3); Denim Cook (4); Julian Anderson (4);
- They need at least 1 more DE, probably 2. Sincere Edwards looks legit
DT: Sean FitzSimmons (2); Nick James (2); Isaiah Neal (3); Nahki Johnson (1); Elliot Donald (1); Francis Brewu (3); Jahsear Whittington (4); Ty Yuhas (4); Trevor Sommers (4);
- They have plenty of numbers here, and FitzSimmons has played top tier
LB: Braylan Lovelace (2); Kyle Louis (2); Rasheem Biles (2); Jordan Bass (3); Jeremiah Marcelin (3); Cam Lindsey (4); Davin Brewton (4); Nick Lapi (1); Emmanuel Taylor (4); Justin Thompson (4);
- LB looks good if they can hold onto their top 4
CB: Ryland Gandy (2); Rashad Battle (1); Tamon Lynum (1); Tamarion Crumpley (1); Noah Biglow (1); Shadarian Harrison (3); Jeremiah Anglin (3); Nigel Maynard (4); Josh Guerrier (4); Mason Alexander (4);
- CB has good numbers
S: Javon McIntyre (1); Cruce Brookins (3); Jesse Anderson (3); Allen Bryant (4); Davion Pritchard (4); Cole Woodson (4); Shawn Lee (4);
- Safety looks alright. A lot of the CBs historically get cross-trained to Safety when they need numbers
P: Caleb Junko (1)
Departures: DE Nate Matlack; S Donovan McMillan; LB Brandon George; S PJ O'Brien; LB Keye Thompson; DE Nate Temple; DT Anthony Johnson
Possible NFL early entrants: LB Kyle Louis
Biggest needs: Offensive Line, Defensive End, Wide Receiver, Backup QB
