Freshmen appraisals hot topic
But don’t get too excited yet
As Rodney Hammond jogged back to the huddle, Pat Narduzzi swooped in and followed closely behind. Hammond, Pitt’s true freshman running back, didn’t flinch, keeping the ball high and tight as Narduzzi looked for a chance to pop it free.
That bit of pressure was telegraphed. Narduzzi said prior to Thursday’s practice — Pitt’s 12th of training camp and fourth in full pads — that Hammond impressed him during the team’s first 10 sessions. Wednesday’s practice? Not so much. So he was going to be hard on Hammond, one of several freshmen who have stood out so far.
Asked which other firstyear players have made a
first-year players have made a name for themselves, Narduzzi rattled off nine names: Cornerbacks Khalil Anderson, Noah Biglow and Tamarion Crumpley; tight ends Gavin Bartholomew, Jake Renda and Cole Mitchell; defensive tackle Elliot Donald; linebacker Preston Lavant; and wide receiver Jaden Bradley.
Narduzzi later recognized safeties P.J. O’Brien and Stephon Hall, as well as quarterback Nate Yarnell. And the question, of course, came after Narduzzi already gave Hammond his due.
“Rodney’s been good. I’ve been happy with him,” Narduzzi said. “He’s been impressive. He’s made people miss. I always say a good back is his own blocker. BYOB. Be your own blocker. He’s gonna make people miss. That’s what you have to do at that position. So it’s going to be interesting to see how he goes.”
Hammond could even be in for meaningful carries this fall. If he wasn’t, Narduzzi said he wouldn’t have made Hammond available to reporters after Wednesday’s practice.
The 5-foot-9, 175-pound back carried himself with a quiet confidence in his interview. Hammond — a former three-star prospect who enrolled in June and had offers from Michigan, Penn State and North Carolina — recognized that he has a lot to improve. He also understands he’s working in a crowded running back room, featuring breakout candidate Israel Abanikanda and veteran Vincent Davis.
“I don’t really view it as a competition. We’re all brothers. They teach me everything they know,” Hammond said. “... I’m getting my chances. So every opportunity, I’ll make something happen out of it.”
That’s the approach Bartholomew has taken, as well.
Bartholomew, a January enrollee, was a name often discussed during spring camp. Kenny Pickett spoke highly of the freshman tight end then, and Bartholomew has continued to build that reputation over the last couple weeks.
Sure, he’ll be stuck behind former Florida transfer Lucas Krull on the depth chart. But Pitt is expected to implement enough 12 personnel — sets with two tight ends and one running back — that both Krull and Bartholomew could be options in the passing game.
“He’s just so athletic,” backup quarterback Nick Patti said this week. “He’s versatile and a good blocker. And he’s what? Like, 18? When he came in, we were like, ‘Who’s this kid?’ We were definitely pleasantly surprised by him.”
“I’m just going out, doing my thing,” Bartholomew said when asked about his role this season. “We’ll see what happens.”
Patti also pointed out that Bradley, a summer enrollee and former three-star prospect, has been a playmaker in camp. Senior linebacker John Petrishen said the same, while Narduzzi expanded a bit on the 6-foot-4 wideout’s “swagger.”
“I tell you what, Jaden Bradley, I want to kick him in the butt every once in a while,” Narduzzi said with a laugh. “But he’s a great kid, hard worker. He’s tough. Nothing fazes him. He’s got a little swagger that I like. ... I love where he’s at right now.”
Still, it’s too early to know how much of a role some of these freshmen will play this fall.
Bradley is popping, but there are six or seven receivers ahead of him in the pecking order. Narduzzi called Lavant a smart player but acknowledged that the depth of the position would make him a redshirt candidate. Central Catholic’s Donald could “earn more reps as he goes,” but he faces competition on the interior defensive line from five players with previous starting experience.
Fortunately for those aforementioned freshmen — as well as Dorien Ford, Nahki Johnson and the other firstyear players — camp isn’t over. Pitt still has two more weeks with five padded practices, including Sunday’s closed scrimmage, before the season opener on Sept. 4. Even then, Pitt should be able to dole out time to freshmen against UMass and later in the non-conference slate.
Though it’s unlikely any true freshmen will break out the way Jordan Addison did last year, there’s confidence in the foundation some of these players have already laid. How Hammond, Bartholomew and their classmates grow from here will not only impact the Panthers this fall, but — perhaps more importantly — in 2022 and beyond.