We are getting down to the end of spring practice as it just today, Thursday, and the Spring Game on Saturday. So we are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel for sure. '
-- First thing's first....the team was outside today. Most of the spring was spent inside but it was a nice day and they went outside. It gives them more room, instead of one field they have two.
-- OK, the big thing is...Did you hear Pitt changed colors? It was in full effect today for sure. The team debuted new practice uniforms and I believe that is what the team will wear on Saturday. The coaches, trainers, everyone was in blue and yellow today, no more navy and gold. The facility still needs to go some changes, but it's getting there.
-- It was a light day for recruiting, there just weren't many guys here and that breaks the trend of the past month as they have been seemingly hosting multiple offered kids a day along with plenty of highly ranked 2021 kids as well. I think the coaches are trying to get a good crop of recruits on Saturday, so they may have held some kids off on coming until then.
-- David Afari was there. He's a 2020 Running Back from Lakota West HS in Ohio in the Cincinnati region. Same high school as Pitt DT Tyler Bentley
-- Also there was Justin Siggers from Cleveland. He doesn't have a profile, but he's a 2020 recruit that profiles as a DB, I believe. He plays for Padua Franciscan HS.
-- As for practice itself, here are the top 2 offensive line pairing I saw.
Carter Warren - Bryce Hargrove - Jimmy Morrissey - Chase Brown - Gabe Houy
Carson VanLynn - Brandon Ford - Owen Drexel - Rashad Wheeler - Jerry Drake Jr.
Not too surprising based on what we have been reporting. Warren being at left tackle is one of the bigger developments during camp, and I think the job is trending in his direction heading into fall camp.
The second biggest development is the recent surge from Chase Brown. He was an afterthought heading into spring, but has risen ahead at right guard. I think everyone mostly expected Hargrove and Brandon Ford to be the two starting guards this year, but the Brown thing is certainly worth watching once we get to fall camp.
-- Maurice Ffrench was the first man during punt return drills, with Shocky Jacques-Louis, Paris Ford, and John Varzdel also in the rotation.
-- Avonte Maddox was milling around practice today. Seeing him stand next to Dane Jackson is crazy, because he's so much shorter but was one of the better rookie DB's in the NFL this season.
-- I think Chris reported this before, but Jimmy Medure is now with the tight ends. I think he will have a hybrid sort of role this year - part fullback, part tight end. He'll get playing time, but it won't be a defined position.
-- Kaymar Mimes was with the tight ends today. Speaking of the tight ends, Will Gragg appears to be out ahead of the race for now.But with Nakia Griffin-Stewart arriving in the fall, that could very well change.
-- As we were walking out, it did look like the team was getting ready for some sort of 11 on 11 type drill and it looked like Jaylen Twyman and Phil Campbell were making their way to the first unit. Not totally a surprise either way, but interesting nonetheless. I couldn't make out a lot of what was going on though, but those two guys stuck out.
Twyman really impressed last year. He changed his number to 97 this year, I think he is planning on having a big season and it looks like he's taking the steps to make it happen for now if he's working with the one's.
That's it for now. We'll talk to Mark Whipple, Kenny Pickett, Todd Sibley, and AJ Davis later, along with Pat Narduzzi of course.
-- First thing's first....the team was outside today. Most of the spring was spent inside but it was a nice day and they went outside. It gives them more room, instead of one field they have two.
-- OK, the big thing is...Did you hear Pitt changed colors? It was in full effect today for sure. The team debuted new practice uniforms and I believe that is what the team will wear on Saturday. The coaches, trainers, everyone was in blue and yellow today, no more navy and gold. The facility still needs to go some changes, but it's getting there.
-- It was a light day for recruiting, there just weren't many guys here and that breaks the trend of the past month as they have been seemingly hosting multiple offered kids a day along with plenty of highly ranked 2021 kids as well. I think the coaches are trying to get a good crop of recruits on Saturday, so they may have held some kids off on coming until then.
-- David Afari was there. He's a 2020 Running Back from Lakota West HS in Ohio in the Cincinnati region. Same high school as Pitt DT Tyler Bentley
-- Also there was Justin Siggers from Cleveland. He doesn't have a profile, but he's a 2020 recruit that profiles as a DB, I believe. He plays for Padua Franciscan HS.
-- As for practice itself, here are the top 2 offensive line pairing I saw.
Carter Warren - Bryce Hargrove - Jimmy Morrissey - Chase Brown - Gabe Houy
Carson VanLynn - Brandon Ford - Owen Drexel - Rashad Wheeler - Jerry Drake Jr.
Not too surprising based on what we have been reporting. Warren being at left tackle is one of the bigger developments during camp, and I think the job is trending in his direction heading into fall camp.
The second biggest development is the recent surge from Chase Brown. He was an afterthought heading into spring, but has risen ahead at right guard. I think everyone mostly expected Hargrove and Brandon Ford to be the two starting guards this year, but the Brown thing is certainly worth watching once we get to fall camp.
-- Maurice Ffrench was the first man during punt return drills, with Shocky Jacques-Louis, Paris Ford, and John Varzdel also in the rotation.
-- Avonte Maddox was milling around practice today. Seeing him stand next to Dane Jackson is crazy, because he's so much shorter but was one of the better rookie DB's in the NFL this season.
-- I think Chris reported this before, but Jimmy Medure is now with the tight ends. I think he will have a hybrid sort of role this year - part fullback, part tight end. He'll get playing time, but it won't be a defined position.
-- Kaymar Mimes was with the tight ends today. Speaking of the tight ends, Will Gragg appears to be out ahead of the race for now.But with Nakia Griffin-Stewart arriving in the fall, that could very well change.
-- As we were walking out, it did look like the team was getting ready for some sort of 11 on 11 type drill and it looked like Jaylen Twyman and Phil Campbell were making their way to the first unit. Not totally a surprise either way, but interesting nonetheless. I couldn't make out a lot of what was going on though, but those two guys stuck out.
Twyman really impressed last year. He changed his number to 97 this year, I think he is planning on having a big season and it looks like he's taking the steps to make it happen for now if he's working with the one's.
That's it for now. We'll talk to Mark Whipple, Kenny Pickett, Todd Sibley, and AJ Davis later, along with Pat Narduzzi of course.
