I mentioned this in the training camp report from the first practice, and yesterday DL coach Charlie Partridge said it was accurate. Freshmen Deandre Jules and Bryce Nelms are both getting work at defensive tackle. They were recruited as ends but Partridge said both guys are around 270 pounds and he sees them getting bigger, so they're practicing inside.
I think we considered this as a possibility when those guys were getting recruited. Nelms seemed like a candidate for a potential move to offensive tackle; I assume that's still on the table. And Jules looked like an option as a DT or a DE. So while Pitt signed four defensive ends, we all knew that some of those guys would move positions, and two of them have.
Here's what Partridge had to say about Jules and Nelms
"I’m getting them both work inside and outside. They’re big guys. They’re both in that 270 range now walking in the door; it’s hard to imagine them not being 290, 295 and ending up inside. I am giving them some reps here and there on the outside but focusing more on defensive tackle for those guys."
I think we considered this as a possibility when those guys were getting recruited. Nelms seemed like a candidate for a potential move to offensive tackle; I assume that's still on the table. And Jules looked like an option as a DT or a DE. So while Pitt signed four defensive ends, we all knew that some of those guys would move positions, and two of them have.
Here's what Partridge had to say about Jules and Nelms
"I’m getting them both work inside and outside. They’re big guys. They’re both in that 270 range now walking in the door; it’s hard to imagine them not being 290, 295 and ending up inside. I am giving them some reps here and there on the outside but focusing more on defensive tackle for those guys."
