Davis and Sibley Jr. taking over
Backfield duo expect to carry Pitt’s attack
Back in December 2016, Pitt running back A. J. Davis was an uncommitted, four- star prospect, weighing his options while competing at the Under Armour All-America Game. That’s when Davis met current teammate and, at the time, Pitt commit Todd Sibley Jr.
Davis already knew of Sibley Jr., from their contact on Twitter. The latter, along with defensive back Paris Ford, hounded Davis to choose Pitt over North Carolina, Louisville and South Florida leading up to the showcase game. But in Orlando — on the sideline, in between drills, you name it — Sibley tried selling Davis on the Panthers in- person.
“I saw how great he was, and that competition would only help me get better,” Sibley said at last week’s media day with a shrug. “We want the best guys here. I was pitching him, ‘ Hey, you should come play with me. You never know what could happen when we get there.’”
Funny how things work out. Six practices into fall camp, Davis and Sibley are competing to be the one who takes that first handoff from quarterback Kenny Pickett on Aug. 31.
As Pitt looks to replace a pair of 1,000- yard rushers in Qadree Ollison and Darrin Hall, Davis and Sibley — who are entering their third year with the program — are the eldest members of Andre Powell’s running back room and have bided their time. That was reflected on the pre- camp depth chart, where Davis got the first- team nod with Sibley behind him.
Now, they’re not alone in the backfield. Former four- star recruit Mychale Salahuddin is easing his way back from a knee injury. Freshmen Daniel Carter and Vincent Davis have shown flashes this week. Powell himself said last Friday that he’d be lying if he knew how the competition for snaps would play out.
But Davis and Sibley feel as though their time is now.
“Me and AJ are a one- two punch,” Sibley said. “We know each other’s running styles. We know what we do well and what we don’t do well. Competing with him every day brings the best out of me, and I’m sure it does the same for him. We help each other on and off the field. That’s how we are.”
On Thursday afternoon at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Davis echoed that sentiment.
“Whenever it’s your turn, it’s
your turn,” he said. “Me and Todd, we’re the older guys in the room. We have to take advantage of that.”
Still, it’s not as if Sibley or Davis have that much more in- game experience than the rest of Pitt’s running backs. Davis had 32 carries in 2018, 13 of which came in the season opener against Albany. Sibley had one rushing attempt, three fewer than Salahuddin, who played in three games, redshirted and kept a year of eligibility.
If Davis’ and Sibley’s onetwo punch plan is going to be challenged by anyone, it’ll be Salahuddin.
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said Carter and Vincent Davis are still “learning the trade at running back.” Meanwhile, Salahuddin — the fifth- best all- purpose back and No. 127 player overall in the 2018 recruiting class, according to Rivals — said he would have played in the Sun Bowl had it not been for that knee injury.
The hang up with Salahuddin is, he isn’t taking full- contact reps in camp yet. Narduzzi called the redshirt freshman “100 percent healthy,” and Salahuddin said himself that if the Panthers played tomorrow, he would be able to go. But Narduzzi doesn’t want the ballcarrier to “have a setback or have any regrets.”
“They’re just trying to be cautious,” Salahuddin said Thursday. “It’s going to be a long season.”
A season that could, ultimately, hinge on how Pitt’s backfield produces.
Pressure applies to everyone as Narduzzi enters his fifth year at Pitt. The coaching staff is expected to have the Panthers ready to defend their ACC Coastal crown. The defense, with depth in the secondary and at linebacker, could anchor the team. And Pitt’s passing game, under new offensive coordinator Mark Whipple, has to improve.
But given the Panthers’ rich tradition — from Ollison and Hall to James Conner and Curtis Martin — Pitt’s running backs understand they have big shoes to fill.
Whether it’s one, two or three backs who do the job, that remains to be seen.
“We all want to be the guy,” Sibley said. “But we figured out a successful system last year, having two guys going head- to- head. Maybe that’ll end up being the situation this year. Maybe it won’t. ... Everyone’s fighting for it.”