SHARON, Pa. -- In the continuation of the build-up to the start of Pitt's football camp on Monday, we are going to break down the third of the Panthers' position groups by going over the defensive line.
Pitt’s defensive line was overwhelmingly the best in the Atlantic Coast Conference and one of the best in all of college football last season, totaling 54.0 sacks, which topped Clemson’s 42.0 for the best in the conference. The Panthers racked up 406 yards on their sacks, which was tops in Football Bowl Subdivision. The 54.0 sacks were good enough for third-most in FBS -- three behind Oklahoma State and Alabama’s 57.0 -- and the Panthers’ 3.86 yards gained per sack was second in FBS to Oklahoma State’s 4.07.
Among FBS rankings, Pitt allowed a 33.5% success rate on third downs, which was 15th, and the fourth-down defense was second in the NCAA, as the Panthers allowed a 26.9% success rate.
RETURNERS: Haba Baldonado (redshirt senior), David Green (redshirt senior), Deslin Alexandre (redshirt senior), John Morgan III (redshirt senior), Tyler Bentley (redshirt senior), Devin Danielson (redshirt senior), Chris Maloney (redshirt senior), Calijah Kancey (redshirt junior), Nate Temple (redshirt junior), Bam Brima (redshirt junior), Deandre Jules (redshirt junior), Dayon Hayes (junior), Sam Williams (redshirt sophomore), Will King IV (redshirt sophomore), Nahki Johnson (redshirt freshman), Dorien Ford (redshirt freshman), Elliot Donald (redshirt freshman).
DEPARTURES: JoJo Belgrave (transfer), Noah Palmer (transfer), Keyshon Camp.
NEWCOMERS: Sean FitzSimmons (true freshman), Jimmy Scott (true freshman), Samuel Okunlola (true freshman).
ANALYSIS
Once again, Pitt’s defensive line should be one of, if not the best that college football has to offer this season. Kancey was a third-team Associated Press All-American, and Baldonado gathered second-team All-ACC honors after strong seasons anchoring the line.
Each are gaining steam as NFL prospects, with the potential to be selected in the first round. Baldonado was projected at No. 24 to Kansas City in a mock draft by ESPN’s Matt Miller in late June, and Kancey is climbing the way-too-early boards with a fringe first-to-second round grade.
Baldonado paced the team with 9.0 sacks, and Kancey tabbed seven for a team-high 58 yards last season. Alexandre was second among Pitt defensive linemen with 41 tackles – 3.5 for loss – and should slot opposite Baldonado again at defensive end.
Baldonado and Kancey each were named to the preseason All-ACC team on Wednesday.
Green played all 14 of Pitt’s games last season and should be the incumbent starter alongside Kancey, as Camp graduated after starting seven games at defensive tackle.
Belgrave and Palmer transferred to UT-Martin and Duquesne, respectively.
Pat Narduzzi pulled in three rock-solid freshmen prospects to the room this season, led by Scott, a three-star recruit in the 247Sports composite rankings and the No. 2-rated recruit out of New York state in the 2023 class. Scott picked Pitt among 22 offers, including from ACC rivals Boston College, Duke, NC State, and Syracuse.
Okunlola had 54 offers out of high school, as he was the No. 4-rated recruit out of Massachusetts in the 2023 class. He held offers from defending national champion Georgia, Clemson, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State, Southern California, and Texas.
The Monaca native FitzSimmons was the No. 21-rated recruit out of the state, and he chose Pitt among 15 offers, including from Wake Forest. He led Central Valley to 27 consecutive wins and two PIAA Class 3A state championships to close his prep career.
Here is the rest of the week's rundown for Pitt position breakdowns:
Thursday: Offensive Line
Friday: Wide receivers/tight ends
Saturday: Running Backs
Sunday: Quarterbacks/Specialists
Previous position breakdowns:
Monday: Defensive backs
Tuesday: Linebackers
