So it was day number four for Pitt’s fall camp, and it sure didn’t feel much like fall. It was a hot one today, and if you live in the Pittsburgh area you would know that just as well. At this point, the team is still in just helmets and shoulder pads.
It was my first time covering camp since the 2014 season when Paul Chryst was in charge, and as you well know things are much different now. Pat Narduzzi runs a tight ship, but you subscribe to this website - you already knew that.
- One of the first things I noticed, and that plays into how long it has been since I’ve seen a college football practice, is how big the defensive line really is. We know that has been an emphasis of Narduzzi’s recruiting efforts, and it shows. Rashad Weaver and Patrick Jones as defensive ends really, really look the part. Also the defensive tackle is well stocked. Much was made of Jaylen Twyman’s transformation and it shows, he really doesn’t look that big, but he moves very well. He looks like he can contribute. Keyshon Camp looked pretty well moving around out there as well. Deslin Alexandre caught my eye as well, he’s well put together. Overall, I just can’t stress enough about how big these guys are, especially since the last time I was here was in 2014 and Pitt was using converted fullback in David Durham at defensive end and Rori Blair as a true freshmen. The position looks totally different then the last time was here - it’s impressive.
- So we aren’t allowed to talk about injuries or anything (again, you should know that by now with this coaching staff), but I can say they are really healthy. There aren’t guys hanging around off to the sidelines. Guys like Tre Tipton and George Aston that missed last season look fine. I know people are always curious about Aston, and he looks fine - from what little of practice we were able to see. Remember it is early, but they aren’t the walking wounded. Narduzzi mentioned they were as healthy as they have been in his time here at the beginning of camp, and I still think that holds true.
- A lot was made of Kenny Pickett’s comments the other day, and for good reason. Pitt hasn’t had a quarterback to come out and make declarations like that. But the kid does walk around with confidence, he’s the first quarterback up in every rep and he sort of has a commanding presence about him. I thought Town also looks the part, as does Nick Patti. The only thing is, you really have to watch and make sure who is who, since they both wear No. 12.
- I didn’t see a ton from the running backs, but Qadree Ollison does seem to be in really good shape, I almost didn’t recognize him and maybe that was because he changed numbers (37 to 30) but he does look lean. I caught a glimpse of Mychale Salahuddin and he looked quick, about as quick as you can be in helmets and shoulder pads. But appearance wise, he’s built differently than the other scholarship running backs and he may be able to contribute early.
- One of the main things we do get to see a lot of is who is catching punts and kickoffs. I noticed Paris Ford, Maurice Ffrench, Rafael Araujo-Lopes out there, some of the guys you would obviously expect. As for some of the true freshmen Shocky Jacques-Louis and V’lique Carter were in the rotation. I was impressed with Carter, he seems faster than I expected him to be.
- A cool tidbit I noticed was walk-on senior Michael McAlone coaching up true freshman Kaymar Mimes. McAlone has been a candidate for getting one of the new scholarships that have opened, and I think that’s a possibility. Mimes, of course, is working out at tight end for now so he does have a lot to learn, it’s good an older guys somewhat in his position bracket looking out for him.
- We did not see the quarterbacks working out a ton with the receivers, they were working on some underneath routes and some bubble screen type stuff. But the first three receivers have seemingly been Araujo-Lopes, Tipton, and Mathews.
- From what they showed us, the offensive line of Millin-Dintino-Morrissey-Herndon-Bookser is still working together, obviously there could be something totally different happening outside, but that appears to be the group for now. Tyler Sear and George Aston were out there alongside them with Pickett obviously at quarterback. Wide receiver and running back had a lot of rotations.
It was my first time covering camp since the 2014 season when Paul Chryst was in charge, and as you well know things are much different now. Pat Narduzzi runs a tight ship, but you subscribe to this website - you already knew that.
- One of the first things I noticed, and that plays into how long it has been since I’ve seen a college football practice, is how big the defensive line really is. We know that has been an emphasis of Narduzzi’s recruiting efforts, and it shows. Rashad Weaver and Patrick Jones as defensive ends really, really look the part. Also the defensive tackle is well stocked. Much was made of Jaylen Twyman’s transformation and it shows, he really doesn’t look that big, but he moves very well. He looks like he can contribute. Keyshon Camp looked pretty well moving around out there as well. Deslin Alexandre caught my eye as well, he’s well put together. Overall, I just can’t stress enough about how big these guys are, especially since the last time I was here was in 2014 and Pitt was using converted fullback in David Durham at defensive end and Rori Blair as a true freshmen. The position looks totally different then the last time was here - it’s impressive.
- So we aren’t allowed to talk about injuries or anything (again, you should know that by now with this coaching staff), but I can say they are really healthy. There aren’t guys hanging around off to the sidelines. Guys like Tre Tipton and George Aston that missed last season look fine. I know people are always curious about Aston, and he looks fine - from what little of practice we were able to see. Remember it is early, but they aren’t the walking wounded. Narduzzi mentioned they were as healthy as they have been in his time here at the beginning of camp, and I still think that holds true.
- A lot was made of Kenny Pickett’s comments the other day, and for good reason. Pitt hasn’t had a quarterback to come out and make declarations like that. But the kid does walk around with confidence, he’s the first quarterback up in every rep and he sort of has a commanding presence about him. I thought Town also looks the part, as does Nick Patti. The only thing is, you really have to watch and make sure who is who, since they both wear No. 12.
- I didn’t see a ton from the running backs, but Qadree Ollison does seem to be in really good shape, I almost didn’t recognize him and maybe that was because he changed numbers (37 to 30) but he does look lean. I caught a glimpse of Mychale Salahuddin and he looked quick, about as quick as you can be in helmets and shoulder pads. But appearance wise, he’s built differently than the other scholarship running backs and he may be able to contribute early.
- One of the main things we do get to see a lot of is who is catching punts and kickoffs. I noticed Paris Ford, Maurice Ffrench, Rafael Araujo-Lopes out there, some of the guys you would obviously expect. As for some of the true freshmen Shocky Jacques-Louis and V’lique Carter were in the rotation. I was impressed with Carter, he seems faster than I expected him to be.
- A cool tidbit I noticed was walk-on senior Michael McAlone coaching up true freshman Kaymar Mimes. McAlone has been a candidate for getting one of the new scholarships that have opened, and I think that’s a possibility. Mimes, of course, is working out at tight end for now so he does have a lot to learn, it’s good an older guys somewhat in his position bracket looking out for him.
- We did not see the quarterbacks working out a ton with the receivers, they were working on some underneath routes and some bubble screen type stuff. But the first three receivers have seemingly been Araujo-Lopes, Tipton, and Mathews.
- From what they showed us, the offensive line of Millin-Dintino-Morrissey-Herndon-Bookser is still working together, obviously there could be something totally different happening outside, but that appears to be the group for now. Tyler Sear and George Aston were out there alongside them with Pickett obviously at quarterback. Wide receiver and running back had a lot of rotations.
