Offseason catch
Pitt’s plan to put TE back in passing game hinges on Rutgers transfer
Pitt tight end Nakia Griffin- Stewart still was enrolled at Rutgers in early May. But that didn’t stop the eventual graduate transfer from working out with future teammates.
Griffin- Stewart, a fifth- year senior who verbally committed to Pitt in February, linked up with Panthers quarterback Kenny Pickett and wide receiver Maurice Ffrench while they were on post- semester break in New Jersey. The trio, all Garden State natives, met at Franklin High School to run a few routes. Nothing crazy. But Griffin- Stewart, who enrolled at Pitt a few weeks later, said he felt a connection with Pickett then and there.
That relationship has only grown as fall camp pushes on. Pickett, who served as the host for Griffin- Stewart on his Pitt visit in early February, is rooming with the tight end, by the latter’s request. At the Panthers South Side hotel, the two study Mark Whipple’s playbook and watch film for four or five hours per day. And it’s paying dividends on the practice field.
“It’s day four, and I feel pretty comfortable out there,” Griffin- Stewart said Monday morning at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “[ Pickett’s] always in my ear encouraging me, pushing me and helping me out when need be. By time Aug. 31 comes around, which seems like a long way but is pretty close, I think our relationship is going to be pretty good. And it’ll
develop even further.”
Griffin- Stewart’s arrival and emergence could prove to be significant for Pitt’s offense, one that lacked a tight end’s presence in the passing game in 2018. In 14 games last year, Pitt tight ends recorded 11 receptions. That same season, 10 of the other 13 ACC teams had at least one tight end eclipse 11 catches. Duke alone had three.
But after hiring Whipple from Massachusetts — which featured a secondteam All- American tight end just two years ago — the Panthers’ anti- tight end approach is expected to change. When asked at his media day news conference if tight ends will have an expanded role in the new offense, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said, “Yes,” and smiled.
“I don’t think we have a tight end committed to us right now [ in the 2020 recruiting class], and I think after they watch us being able to at least throw the ball to the tight end, there are going to be some tight ends that say, ‘ Can I come? Can I come?’” Narduzzi said. “I think they’ll be a lot more productive.”
Pitt tight ends coach Tim Salem chimed in on Friday afternoon, too, calling Whipple a “smart guy that knows if there are 11 guys out there on offense, let’s make use of all 11.” And judging by GriffinStewart’s early work in fall camp, he has a solid shot of finding his way into that 11.
Narduzzi — who called the tight end “a special player” Friday — followed up Monday by saying he has the potential to work as both an in- line blocker and a receiver down the seam. GriffinStewart had only 13 catches for 97 yards in 25 games with Rutgers prior to joining the Panthers, but backup quarterback Jeff George Jr. likes the tight end’s athleticism.
“He’s definitely making strides,” the former Illinois signal- caller said.
“He brings that speed element. He’ll be a great playmaker for us.”
The Rutgers transfer showed that off in the 30 - minute practice window allotted to the media Monday morning. The 6- foot- 5, 260pounder smoothly caught every pass from Pickett, running everything from drags and sticks to posts and 10yard outs. It was a small sample size, sure, but GriffinStewart stood out from competitors Grant Carrigan and Will Gragg.
It should be noted that Carrigan and Gragg were ahead of Griffin- Stewart on the preseason depth chart because the former Scarlet Knight wasn’t on it. The mid- July two- deep reflected how the Panthers looked when spring camp concluded, and it didn’t include the grad transfers.
Before Pitt’s Aug. 31 opener against Virginia, expect to see Griffin- Stewart’s name on the depth chart. Maybe he’ll even be atop it. For the time being, though, Griffin- Stewart is focused on nailing down Whipple’s offense and continuing to foster his connection with Pickett — one that could help change the perception of Pitt tight ends.
“We’re catching a lot of passes,” Griffin- Stewart said of the tight ends, cracking a grin. “Whether it’s 7- on- 7s, team periods, two- minute, whatever it is, we seem to be a big focal point of this offense. We’re all going to thrive in it and help the team.”