Some freshmen see the light
— “the light’s been on since camp started,” he said of the main competitor to redshirt junior Dennis Briggs at strong safety — and the rest of the secondary is littered with potential first-year playmakers.
At cornerback, a spot where Dane Jackson led all Pitt freshmen in starts last year with three, Therran Coleman is a year older and should be more prepared after his redshirt season. But there could be even younger blood getting a shot to make a difference at the position.
“One puppy I think has been a football player is Damarri Mathis; he’s played special,” Narduzzi said last week of his 2017 signee who was lining up at corner for Lakeland High School in Florida last season. “He’s a guy that, for a young guy, doesn’t blink. I’ve been very, very happy with him right now.”
Narduzzi added that his other new cornerback, Jason Pinnock, has excelled in his first college camp as well, but had even more praise Monday for the 5-foot-11, 185pound Mathis.
After a scrimmage Saturday at Heinz Field, Narduzzi said Mathis “continues to impress.” Defensive coordinator Josh Conklin also wrote, “Young man developing fast. Effort. Execution. Attention to Detail,” when he tweeted that Mathis was the “Dog Solider,” or MVP, of the Friday practice. It’s worth noting, too, that a window has seemingly opened at cornerback given an undisclosed injury to redshirt junior Phillipie Motley, who had a hold on the No. 2 job early in camp.
“It’s a big opportunity,” Mathis said after practice Monday, adding that he has started taking more snaps with the starting defense. “It’s just an honor to potentially be playing in the ACC.”
Whoever ends up playing a major role opposite senior Avonte Maddox — be it Mathis, Pinnock, Coleman or someone with more experience — the defensive backs will need a pass-rush to make their jobs easier on the back end.
And up front, it’s more freshmen who could help fill the void. Narduzzi singled out Patrick Jones and Rashad Weaver, who both redshirted last year, at defensive end. It’s more evidence of a strong camp for Weaver, the 6-5, 265-pounder with an 83-inch wingspan.
Defensive line coach Charlie Partridge is always telling Weaver about his “freakishly long arms,” arms he hopes to use this season even if he doesn’t start over Dewayne Hendrix or Allen Edwards.
“With the top two ends on the depth chart, they’re some great players. We watch them and want to be like them,” Weaver said. “They keep getting better every day and we keep getting better every day.”
Weaver admitted he wasn’t ready to play last year as he tried to adjust to college football. But one redshirt freshman who might have been is defensive tackle Keyshon Camp, who should get that chance and more now as a projected starter next to Amir Watts, who did see action last year as a true freshman.
“He’s been consistent, I think, day in and day out,” Conklin said of Camp, who was the “Dog Soldier” of the scrimmage. “It’s really important to him. He understands what his job is and that if he does his job, he’s gonna have plays to make.”
Conklin noted that it’s difficult to ask too much of freshmen, but, at the very least, Pitt seems to have some flashing their upside. Camp, Mathis, Campbell, Weaver, possibly even someone like Chase Pine at linebacker? Narduzzi and company are eager to see whether they can be counted on when the lights are on.
“We’ll find out,” Narduzzi said. “But I’m not afraid to put ’em out there.”