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If you were paying attention to Pitt football in late 2024, you saw the vibes shift. It wasn't just a tactical change; it was a total identity transplant. One minute, Pat Narduzzi is leaning on the veteran presence of Eli Holstein, and the next, a true freshman from Oregon, Ohio, is lighting up the ACC. Mason Heintschel didn't just step into the quarterback role; he hijacked it.
Honestly, the pitt football depth chart heading into the 2026 season looks nothing like what we expected twelve months ago. We are seeing a roster built around speed, youth, and a "no-huddle" spread option that actually feels dangerous. Gone are the days of the predictable ground-and-pound that made Acrisure Stadium feel like a defensive lab.
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With star running back Desmond Reid off to the NFL and defensive anchor Kyle Louis following him, the 2026 depth chart is a puzzle of transfer portal wins and young breakout stars.
The Mason Heintschel Factor and the Quarterback Room
Mason Heintschel officially announced his return for 2026 on January 15, and that basically settled the most important question in Pittsburgh. You’ve seen the numbers: 2,354 yards, 16 touchdowns, and a 63.6% completion rate as a true freshman. He took a 2-2 team and sparked a five-game win streak that included a massive road win at Florida State.
But what about the guys behind him?
Eli Holstein is still there, currently sitting at QB2. It’s a weird spot for a guy who started the 2025 season as "the man." Then you have Cole Gonzales, the senior transfer from Western Carolina who put up video-game numbers (620 yards in a single game!) before coming to Pitt.
- Starter: Mason Heintschel (So.)
- Backup: Eli Holstein (RS So.)
- Third-string: Cole Gonzales (Sr.)
It’s the deepest room Narduzzi has had in years. Having a Walter Payton Award finalist like Gonzales as your third-stringer is a luxury most ACC coaches would kill for.
Replacing Desmond Reid: The Backfield Committee
Replacing a guy like Desmond Reid is a nightmare. Reid was a Swiss Army knife. Now, the pitt football depth chart at running back is led by Ja’Kyrian Turner. Turner isn't a "wait-and-see" prospect anymore. He led the team with 745 rushing yards last year as a true freshman.
He’s fast. Sorta like Reid, but with a different gear.
The big news this month was the signing of La’Vell Wright from Western Kentucky. Wright is a 222-pound bruiser. He’s the hammer to Turner’s lightning. With Juelz Goff and Caleb Williams hitting the transfer portal, Wright’s arrival was less of a "bonus" and more of a "necessity."
- The Lead Dog: Ja’Kyrian Turner (So.)
- The Vet: La’Vell Wright (RS Sr. - Transfer)
- The Sleeper: Justin Cook (Sr.)
- Incoming: Damon Ferguson (Fr.) - The crown jewel of the 2026 recruiting class.
The Offensive Line: Rebuilding the Wall
The trenches are where things get a bit dicey. Keith Gouveia’s leg injury late in 2025 forced some musical chairs. Ryan Carretta stepped in at guard, and suddenly the depth chart shifted.
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Jeff Persi is the anchor at left tackle. He's a mountain of a man. Beside him, Ryan Carretta has likely locked down the left guard spot. The center position is a battle between Lyndon Cooper and Isaiah Montgomery, though Cooper's experience usually wins out in Narduzzi's eyes.
On the right side, BJ Williams is a lock at guard, and Ryan Baer stays at right tackle. It’s an experienced group, but they’ve got to be more consistent if Heintschel is going to survive the season.
Pitt’s Defensive Identity: The "Shark" Culture
Pitt defense is always about the pass rush. Period. Jimmy Scott and Sean FitzSimmons are the names you'll hear most. Scott had six sacks last year and he's only getting better.
The linebacker corps took a hit with Kyle Louis leaving for the NFL, but Cameron Lindsey is the guy everyone is talking about. He was Louis' backup, but in limited snaps, he looked like a clone. Same motor. Same violent hands.
- LDE: Isaiah Neal / Blaine Spires
- LDT: Francis Brewu / Jahsear Whittington
- RDT: Sean FitzSimmons / Nick James
- RDE: Jimmy Scott / Maverick Gracio
The secondary is where the portal help really shows up. Tamon Lynum and Rashad Battle are the projected starters at corner, but keep an eye on Zion Ferguson. He’s a former four-star from North Carolina who spent last year redshirting and learning the system. He’s a ballhawk.
The Tight End Overhaul
This room was basically empty two weeks ago. Justin Holmes and Jake Overman graduated. Malachi Thomas skipped town for LSU.
Enter Carson Kent.
Kent is a 6-foot-4 transfer from Oklahoma (via Kennesaw State). He has 34 games of Division I experience. In Kade Bell's offense, the tight end needs to be a legitimate receiving threat, and Kent averaged over 11 yards per catch in his career. He’s the clear TE1 on the updated pitt football depth chart.
Special Teams: A New Punter in Town
Caleb Junko has been the mainstay, but the competition is heating up. Gabe Russo, a transfer from Idaho State, was brought in specifically to push for the punting job. At kicker, Trey Butkowski seems to have the edge over Sam Carpenter, but that's a battle that usually goes right up until the season opener.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're tracking this team, keep these specific developments in your notes:
- Watch the Slot: Kenny Johnson and Raphael "Poppi" Williams Jr. are the focal points. If Heintschel is the trigger, these guys are the bullets. Johnson is likely a future NFL draft pick.
- Monitor the Linebackers: With Jeremiah Marcelin and Jayden Bonsu recovering from injuries, the depth behind Cameron Lindsey and Rasheem Biles is thin. One injury here changes the whole defense.
- The Run-Pass Balance: Kade Bell’s offense was at its best when Turner was threatening the edges. If La’Vell Wright can provide a consistent 4-yards-per-carry up the middle, it opens up the deep shots to Johnson.
- New Faces to Know: Kanye Thompson (Slippery Rock) and Raion Strader (Auburn) were added to the secondary this month. Don't be surprised if one of them starts by October.
The 2026 roster is younger than Narduzzi usually likes, but it’s undeniably more explosive. The transition from a "defense-first" program to a "Mason Heintschel-first" program is officially complete.