One of Pitt's deepest groups in players that have experience is undoubtedly its linebackers. After seeing five of the defense's 2020 starters leave for the NFL in Patrick Jones, Rashad Weaver, Paris Ford, Jason Pinnock and Damar Hamlin, it would be natural for the defense to be lacking depth and need to rebuild.
But that isn't the case at linebacker.
Pitt returns three three linebackers with at least four years of experience in Chase Pine, Phil Campbell and John Petrishen, along with redshirt senior Cam Bright, who Pat Narduzzi said had become the leader of the group before Wednesday's practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
"I can't say there's one leader," Narduzzi said of his linebackers. "But if you twist my arm, I would say Cam Bright right now. He's really vocal. There was a practice we were doing a 3-on-3 drill and he was getting blocked by two receivers to prepare against quick passes to the outside. He didn't like the drill, but he destroyed the drill. That's the kind of leadership we want, lead by example, step up where we need you too and he's been a vocal leader for us."
Bright was the Panthers' third-leading tackler in 2020 with 53 on the season and his 4.5 sacks tied with Campbell as the most from the team's linebackers. Bright's also played in all 38 Pitt games over the past three seasons, being an iron man for the team. That experience has led to him taking more of the reigns at linebacker and helps other younger linebackers like SirVocea Dennis to just focus on playing rather than leading.
"I look up to Cam like a big brother," Dennis said of Bright. "He's filled into that role more and more over the years and now he's a vocal leader for us. We all appreciate Cam in the room and to see him take that role has been great for the rest of us so we can relax and focus on playing football."
Dennis has grown himself as a linebacker playing as a true freshman in 2019 and earning Third Team All-ACC honors in 2020. His 57 tackles was second-most on the Panthers in 2020, only behind Hamlin, and his 14.5 tackles for loss led the team, while being the third-most in the ACC.
As a freshman, Dennis played one outside linebacker position for Pitt. His responsibilities grew to two linebacker roles in 2020, and now will encompass all three linebacker positions for the Panthers' defense in 2021.
"My first year I was just focused at money linebacker," Dennis said. "My second year, last year, I focused on both outside positions. Now I'm focused on all three positions and I've really picked up on everything."
Dennis playing all three linebacker spots has come from a challenge issued by Narduzzi, who pushed Dennis to show his versatility at linebacker to give Pitt more situational advantages when looking for matchups. So far, Narduzzi has liked the move.
"Dennis has done both," Narduzzi said of Dennis playing outside and mike linebacker. "He can play all three linebacker spots so offenses will have to worry about him all over the field. There's competition that will come down to just how they practice each week and fit into our game plan versus each offense we face. We know where they can play and their strengths and weaknesses, but it will just come down to game week and how guys work into the game plan, play well and show up in practice."
Dennis called the opportunity to play all the positions "a gift" from Narduzzi and sees it as an opportunity to make himself more of a playmaker.
"I've been working to know where everyone is from multiple positions," Dennis said. "I need to know everything about the defense and the concepts we try to implement. Now that I can do that everywhere, I thank coach (Narduzzi) for that."
While mike linebacker is typically the role that gets the most tackles, responsibilities and opportunities to make plays, Dennis doesn't mind sharing that role with other players like Wendell Davis.
Davis is a redshirt junior who looked really strong during training camp and started fast in Pitt's first two games in 2020. But an injury sidelined him for the rest of the season, leaving him to recover from his injury and miss out on his chance to showcase his talents.
Now that he's back, he's going back and forth with Dennis at mike linebacker for snaps. Dennis enjoys the competition and the two see each other as friends, with Dennis saying he even enjoys playing outside linebacker while Davis is the mike linebacker because of how good Davis plays the position and how they play off each other.
"It's a healthy competition between me and him right now," Dennis said of Davis. "Diamonds cut diamonds and iron sharpens iron. We love the competition. That's my guy, he's been a very vocal leader as well. I love playing with him as well as competing with him. Playing money linebacker while he's the mike is so much fun."
Pitt will have a heavy rotation at linebacker this season to get more snaps across the board for all the talent and experience in the group. But it's clear there are some players rising above others in camp, including Bright as the vocal leader, Dennis as the all around talent, and potentially Davis as the mike running things in the middle of the defense.
