Gandy has huge shoes to fill on defense
One of the biggest questions for Pitt’s 2024 defense will be how the Panthers replace all three of their starting cornerbacks lost to the NFL.
A.J. Woods and Marquis Williams each used their last year of eligibility last season, while M.J. Devonshire forwent his final year of eligibility, as all three entered their names for the NFL draft. Between them, the three cornerbacks totaled 76 starts in their combined years at Pitt.
That’s a big trio to replace for the Panthers. The first step to filling all their shoes is finding the team’s top cornerback for the 2024 season. That’s where redshirt sophomore cornerback Ryland Gandy comes into the picture, as he redshirted the 2022 season and played in all 12 games in 2023, serving as a reserve cornerback and a special teams player.
Gandy was a three-star recruit from Buford, Ga., when Pitt recruited him in its 2022 class. He was a standout freshman who earned praise from head coach Pat Narduzzi, albeit with the caveat that he still had many things to improve.
But now, two years later, Gandy is earning praise as Pitt’s top cornerback option during the Panthers’ spring practices.
“Ryland’s been outstanding,” Narduzzi said after Pitt’s Friday practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “If I asked most [Pitt players], ‘Who’s our starting corner?’ I think the first name that’ll come out of their mouth is Ryland. He wants to be on ESPN someday.”
That part about ESPN is true in multiple aspects, as Gandy explained he not only wants to be an NFL star someday, but he also wants
to be a game-day color commentator in the booth. He’s a communications major who says he wants a role like that of Troy Aikman so he can always be around football.
“He’s come a long way,” Narduzzi said. “The great thing about Ryland is there were three really good corners last year, but he never got down on himself. He was never in my office whining about when he was going to play. He trusted the process, and that tells you he’s got an outstanding family that raises him the right way.”
“Growing up, I didn’t want to do anything else other than sports,” Gandy said. “So if I’m not playing it, I can sure talk about it.”
But for now, Gandy has embraced the challenge in front of him about replacing Pitt’s cornerbacks as the Panthers’ top option to line up across from opposing wide receivers. Despite being praised for his work as a young cornerback, Gandy respected the climb he had to make to be a starter and the veterans who were ahead of him on the depth chart.
“It was just about waiting my turn,” Gandy said of 2022 and 2023. “I learned from those guys daily for two years, learn what they see on the field, what techniques
they would use and grow as a player. I wasn’t [as ready] as I thought I was. [Defensive backs] coach [Archie] Collins wanted me to continue to learn from them. Now that they’re gone, it’s my turn to help the young guys.”
Collins had been able to rely on players like Williams and Woods as longtime veterans who both had been with the program since at least 2019. Devonshire transferred to Pitt in 2021, but that’s still three years of playing experience and leadership Collins had to set the tone for the younger cornerbacks — like Gandy — to follow.
Now, Collins calls upon Gandy to step into that role.
“We talked about it a couple times,” Gandy said of his leadership. “[Collins] really wanted me to step up as a vocal leader. I think I’ve done that, but I can do better. Growing up, I’ve been a person to show you how to get it done. It’s different being a vocal leader, so I’m trying to continue to get better at doing that.”
Gandy’s two years learning Pitt’s defense should be an asset in that regard. But an additional boost will be his familiarity of playing man-to-man coverage at the rate Pitt asks its cornerbacks in defensive coordinator Randy Bates’ system.
“Being in man-to-man isn’t anything new to me,” Gandy said. “It’s similar to how I played in high school. It’s something I’m carrying over.”
Meanwhile, the other aspect Gandy must live up to is how strong Pitt has developed defensive backs in recent years to make it to the NFL. Under Narduzzi, Pitt has produced eight defensive backs who’ve been drafted into the NFL, and that doesn’t include the possibility of Devonshire, Woods or Williams making it this year.
But to Gandy, simply seeing Devonshire perform at the combine in Indianapolis last week was a source of inspiration.
“I don’t see pressure,” Gandy said of living up to Pitt’s defensive backs reputation. “I just find it as a challenge. It’s my time. It’s my turn to shine and be on that stage. I saw M.J. at the combine, and that’s something I hope — God willing — I’m able to do that someday.”
Devonshire spoke at the combine about his practice rivalry with Pitt receiver Bub Means — who was also at the combine — and how it sharpened his skills over their years together. This spring, Gandy has two such rivals who push him in practice.
“It’s Konata Mumpfield and Kenny Johnson,” Gandy said. “They’re the two main people I go up against. They push me to be my best every day, and I hope I push them the same way. They’re very quick at the line — twitchy type of people. Kenny’s a stronger guy who uses his leverage. Konata, you have to be careful — if you go one way, he’s going back the other way.”