The Pitt football team this afternoon took to the field at Acrisure Stadium for its final action of the spring. Led by Kyle Louis and true freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel, the Blue team earned a 17-14 win after pitching a shutout through the first three quarters.
Areas that the Panthers need to improve on heading into the fall were noticeable, but there were also bright spots that Pat Narduzzi and his staff can build off of moving forward. Here are my five takeaways:
STAYING HUMBLE AND HUNGRY
It's hard not to notice a player of Louis' caliber on the field. He made 101 tackles last season to go along with 15 TFLs, seven sacks and four interceptions and earned All-American honors in the process. It seems as though that will continue heading into the 2025 season.
On this day, despite there being no tackling and just "thuds," Louis was still all over the field, he even made two appearances on offense and threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Zion Fowler-El after entering the game in the backfield. Narduzzi said that it was supposed to be a run play but Louis pulled up after rolling to the right, switched the ball into his left hand -- his dominant hand -- and let the pass go.
"I've been begging the coaches to call that play right there," Louis said. "I'm gonna keep asking the coaches to put the ball in my hands so the magic can go to work."
This is a player that impacted games in so many ways last year and was one of the most dynamic players in the ACC, if not the country. That was noticeable today as well. But, what stuck out to me the most was what linebacker coach Ryan Manalac said after the game about how Louis has handled his success and growth since coming to Pitt.
"With his success, it's really cool to see him keep the chip on his shoulder and stay hungry," Manalac said. "He's still really early into the building, watching film, bringing guys with him. He competes his tail off every single day. So it's fun to watch, seeing an All-American stay that hungry, and keep coming and keep guys going. That's special and I think it's a blessing for our team."
BETTER CALL ... WHO?
The Panthers have benefitted from kicker Ben Sauls over the last few years after he made 52 of his 64 field goal attempts and went on to set several new records last season. But, now, with Sauls heading to the NFL, they'll need to find a new kicker.
James London, a Murray State transfer, was brought in this offseason after making 16 of his 22 field goal attempts for the Racers, including going 14-of-19 last season with seven makes from at least 50 yards. However, today London missed both of his field goal attempts -- one from 33 and another from 42. Sam Carpenter made one from 29 yards to kick the scoring off.
"James didn't play great today like he has," Narduzzi said. "Maybe he got nervous, everything is a first for him at the Power 4. So I bet you if we had a second spring game, he probably would've been alright."
After having a kicker who was as successful as Sauls, Pitt's next kicker will have big shoes to fill and it's something that will play out during fall practices. But, missing two field goals during a spring game, isn't a great place to start.
BALL HAWK
This morning, Shadarian "Dripp" Harrison was named the Ed Conway award winner, given to the most improved player in the spring, for the defensive side and followed it up with two interceptions this afternoon. Henderson, a redshirt sophomore, didn't play at all during the 2023 season and played in just eight games last season, registering five total tackles.
Both of his interceptions came against Eli Holstein as he picked off the second pass of the day and then also undercut a pass later in the afternoon. It's a long time coming for Harrison who has worked his way back from injury. However, he feels like he's become better because of it as he spent most of his down time focused on studying film to see how he can get better.
"There were times when you go out there and I'll be puzzled by a play and I have to go back to the drawing board and look at it and see what I did wrong," Harrison said. "So seeing what I did wrong, definitely helps, and going back out there and trying to regurgitate what my coach is telling me and just doing it, it definitely helps."
Harrison called the past two years tough, just trying to get back into the swing of things, both mentally and physically. But, he said the coaching staff was very patient with him, which has allowed him to flourish this spring as he returned to form.
RUNNING BACK DEPTH
Desmond Reid did not play this afternoon, but Justin Cook and Ja'Kyrian Turner definitely were. Cook rushed 10 times for 42 yards and scored a touchdown. He also caught 12 passes for 68 yards with a long of 15 yards. Turner ran 17 times for 44 yards and caught three passes for 15 yards.
Both running backs were pretty impressive throughout the afternoon by showcasing bursts of speed and were real shifty and times when breaking through the line of scrimmage. While Reid wasn't on the field, both Cook and Turner looked very similar to him in terms of running style and their ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.
"We've been riding low with Des being a guy that didn't finish it up in the spring," Narduzzi said. "But Turner has been outstanding all spring and Justin Cook is a football player. He hasn't played much running back in his career but we knew we were short going into camp. So when he got here we just moved him to running back right away because we thought just going through winter workouts and watching him run. Those guys are just war daddies, getting hit by guys every play. I love their toughness and both guys can make plays with the ball. So I'm impressed with both of those guys."
Those two will definitely help build running back depth moving into the fall as Narduzzi doesn't believe Derrick Davis Jr. will be ready for fall camp after suffering a knee injury this past season.
"He had a pretty significant knee injury, so he's going to be awhile," Narduzzi said. "He didn't take any snaps this spring and it's going to be awhile. I don't think he'll be ready for August camp."
NEED FOR SPEED
The Panthers also showcased a lot of speed this afternoon, in particularly Cataurus "Blue" Hicks, who ran away from Gold team defenders for a 65-yard score on a pass across the middle from Heinschtel.
Only right that Blue scored for the Blue Team 🔵
He wasn't the only one though. I thought Cook also showcased some speed out of the backfield when breaking through the offensive line. There were spurts all over the field and that athleticism will surely be on full display when guys like Reid and Poppi Williams return to full action.
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THE ASYLUM
Greg Macafee
9:56 pm - 04.12.2025NORTH NORTHBlue-Gold takeaways: Louis leading the way
The Pitt football team this afternoon took to the field at Acrisure Stadium for its final action of the spring. Led by Kyle Louis and true freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel, the Blue team earned a 17-14 win after pitching a shutout through the first three quarters.
Areas that the Panthers need to improve on heading into the fall were noticeable, but there were also bright spots that Pat Narduzzi and his staff can build off of moving forward. Here are my five takeaways:
STAYING HUMBLE AND HUNGRY
It's hard not to notice a player of Louis' caliber on the field. He made 101 tackles last season to go along with 15 TFLs, seven sacks and four interceptions and earned All-American honors in the process. It seems as though that will continue heading into the 2025 season.
On this day, despite there being no tackling and just "thuds," Louis was still all over the field, he even made two appearances on offense and threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Zion Fowler-El after entering the game in the backfield. Narduzzi said that it was supposed to be a run play but Louis pulled up after rolling to the right, switched the ball into his left hand -- his dominant hand -- and let the pass go.
"I've been begging the coaches to call that play right there," Louis said. "I'm gonna keep asking the coaches to put the ball in my hands so the magic can go to work."
This is a player that impacted games in so many ways last year and was one of the most dynamic players in the ACC, if not the country. That was noticeable today as well. But, what stuck out to me the most was what linebacker coach Ryan Manalac said after the game about how Louis has handled his success and growth since coming to Pitt.
"With his success, it's really cool to see him keep the chip on his shoulder and stay hungry," Manalac said. "He's still really early into the building, watching film, bringing guys with him. He competes his tail off every single day. So it's fun to watch, seeing an All-American stay that hungry, and keep coming and keep guys going. That's special and I think it's a blessing for our team."
BETTER CALL ... WHO?
The Panthers have benefitted from kicker Ben Sauls over the last few years after he made 52 of his 64 field goal attempts and went on to set several new records last season. But, now, with Sauls heading to the NFL, they'll need to find a new kicker.
James London, a Murray State transfer, was brought in this offseason after making 16 of his 22 field goal attempts for the Racers, including going 14-of-19 last season with seven makes from at least 50 yards. However, today London missed both of his field goal attempts -- one from 33 and another from 42. Sam Carpenter made one from 29 yards to kick the scoring off.
"James didn't play great today like he has," Narduzzi said. "Maybe he got nervous, everything is a first for him at the Power 4. So I bet you if we had a second spring game, he probably would've been alright."
After having a kicker who was as successful as Sauls, Pitt's next kicker will have big shoes to fill and it's something that will play out during fall practices. But, missing two field goals during a spring game, isn't a great place to start.
BALL HAWK
This morning, Shadarian "Dripp" Harrison was named the Ed Conway award winner, given to the most improved player in the spring, for the defensive side and followed it up with two interceptions this afternoon. Henderson, a redshirt sophomore, didn't play at all during the 2023 season and played in just eight games last season, registering five total tackles.
Both of his interceptions came against Eli Holstein as he picked off the second pass of the day and then also undercut a pass later in the afternoon. It's a long time coming for Harrison who has worked his way back from injury. However, he feels like he's become better because of it as he spent most of his down time focused on studying film to see how he can get better.
"There were times when you go out there and I'll be puzzled by a play and I have to go back to the drawing board and look at it and see what I did wrong," Harrison said. "So seeing what I did wrong, definitely helps, and going back out there and trying to regurgitate what my coach is telling me and just doing it, it definitely helps."
Harrison called the past two years tough, just trying to get back into the swing of things, both mentally and physically. But, he said the coaching staff was very patient with him, which has allowed him to flourish this spring as he returned to form.
RUNNING BACK DEPTH
Desmond Reid did not play this afternoon, but Justin Cook and Ja'Kyrian Turner definitely were. Cook rushed 10 times for 42 yards and scored a touchdown. He also caught 12 passes for 68 yards with a long of 15 yards. Turner ran 17 times for 44 yards and caught three passes for 15 yards.
Both running backs were pretty impressive throughout the afternoon by showcasing bursts of speed and were real shifty and times when breaking through the line of scrimmage. While Reid wasn't on the field, both Cook and Turner looked very similar to him in terms of running style and their ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.
"We've been riding low with Des being a guy that didn't finish it up in the spring," Narduzzi said. "But Turner has been outstanding all spring and Justin Cook is a football player. He hasn't played much running back in his career but we knew we were short going into camp. So when he got here we just moved him to running back right away because we thought just going through winter workouts and watching him run. Those guys are just war daddies, getting hit by guys every play. I love their toughness and both guys can make plays with the ball. So I'm impressed with both of those guys."
Those two will definitely help build running back depth moving into the fall as Narduzzi doesn't believe Derrick Davis Jr. will be ready for fall camp after suffering a knee injury this past season.
"He had a pretty significant knee injury, so he's going to be awhile," Narduzzi said. "He didn't take any snaps this spring and it's going to be awhile. I don't think he'll be ready for August camp."
NEED FOR SPEED
The Panthers also showcased a lot of speed this afternoon, in particularly Cataurus "Blue" Hicks, who ran away from Gold team defenders for a 65-yard score on a pass across the middle from Heinschtel.
He wasn't the only one though. I thought Cook also showcased some speed out of the backfield when breaking through the offensive line. There were spurts all over the field and that athleticism will surely be on full display when guys like Reid and Poppi Williams return to full action.
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