Eligibility, injuries topics of first day
The start of a football season invariably comes with questions about a team and what it’s about to face. Many of those questions for Pitt, at least on Tuesday in the first day of training camp, come back to a sheet containing 104 names handed to anyone that came by their practice — both about those on that list and those not.
On a team beset by the suspension of three starters and the outright dismissal of a fourth Friday, there’s still a level of uncertainty that lingers around several players expected to make an impact this season.
Perhaps the most askedabout member of that group is the one who has yet to play a college snap. Former Steel Valley star Paris Ford, the highest-rated member of Pitt’s 2017 recruiting class, has not yet been cleared by the NCAA, and with the Panthers’ first game 32 days away, is caught in eligibility purgatory. Because of that, he was not among the names listed on Pitt’s training camp roster.
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said there has been no update on the status of Ford, who attended three high schools in four years. He’s hopeful, though, that the promising defensive back will be able to play.
“He’s doing well,” Narduzzi said. “He’s doing better than expected at this point. We’re just going to wait for a decision to be made.”
When later asked if he was as optimistic as he was previously, the third-year coach said “I am, and so is [Ford].”
While one former WPIAL star looks to join Pitt, another is hoping to stay on the field consistently.
After an injury-plagued freshman season in which he was limited to three games, Damar Hamlin should figure prominently in the Panthers secondary. He will see time as a cornerback and safety, especially while star Jordan Whitehead sits out the first three games due to suspension. Hamlin, at 6 feet 1 and 190 pounds, arrived at the school as a cornerback but has been attending meetings with safeties of late. Depending on how healthy he is and how much coaches are willing to push him, Hamlin could be a force for a pass defense that gave up more yards per game than all but one Football Bowl Subdivision team last season (former Pitt coach Todd Graham and Arizona State).
“I think we’re going to get a lot out of him,” Narduzzi said. “Damar feels as good as he has ever felt. We’re being very cautious. The NCAA talks about player welfare and keeping them healthy. We don’t need them to tell us how important it is to keep them healthy. I don’t want to be back where we were. Damar said he has felt as good as he has ever felt. I’m talking back to his sophomore year of high school. He was injured through high school. He had a nagging issue. He feels great right now. I’m excited. But I don’t want to get so excited I throw him outthere and say ‘Let’s go.’ ”
Thatsame level of care and oversight will be applied to star offensive lineman Brian O’Neill in fall camp. After suffering an injury in Pitt’s spring game, the reigning Piesman Trophy winner will be limited early in training camp, but is on the road to a full recovery.
On an offensive line that lost two starters to the NFL, O’Neill will take on even more of a critical role for the Panthers. This comes after a season in which Pro Football Focus graded him as the 11th-best tackle in college football.
“We’re going to be cautious,” Narduzzi said. “We’re not going to be crazy. We knowthat guy can play.”
While he couldn’t specify theplayer, keeping in compliance with NCAA rules, Narduzzi said he is expecting an addition to the offensive line soon — a certain reference to Texas graduate transfer Brandon Hodges, who announced on Twitter July 25 that he would play his final college season at Pitt. The 6foot-5, 310-pound Hodges, who started nine games for the Longhorns last season, was not on Pitt’s training camproster.
Though certain questions remain and the status of some players is still in limbo, Narduzzi was pleased with how the camp began and, specifically, what he sees from thisgroup.
“The kids are out there all by themselves over the summer with our strength coaches who coach them in the weight room and drills and attitude and morale,” he said. “When it comes down to fundamentals, our coaches’ specialty, you see a lot of details you need to clean up. The effort was good, the attitude is great and I’m happy withwhere we are.”
“He’s doing well. He’s doing better than expected at this point. We’re just going to wait for a decision to be made.” - Pat Narduzzi. on Paris Ford