Honestly, the mood around South Oakland right now is a weird mix of "finally" and "what now?"
If you've been following the Pitt Panthers football news lately, you know the program just slammed the door on a chaotic January. The transfer portal window is shut. National Signing Day is a memory. Pat Narduzzi is currently shuffling a coaching staff like a deck of cards.
But here’s the thing. Most people look at the departures—like star linebacker Rasheem Biles bolting for Texas or Eli Holstein heading to Virginia—and think the sky is falling. It’s not. It’s just different.
The Quarterback Room Just Got Very Crowded
Let’s talk about the signal callers. Losing Holstein to an ACC rival stung, no doubt about it. You don't just "replace" a guy with that kind of ceiling without some growing pains.
However, Narduzzi didn't just sit on his hands. He went out and grabbed Holden Geriner from Texas State. Geriner is a big body—6-foot-3, 223 pounds—and he brings a veteran presence that this room desperately needed after the exodus.
Then you have the kids.
Pitt welcomed 16 early enrollees this month. Among them? Two quarterbacks from Texas. Corey Dailey is the one everyone is whispering about. He’s 6-foot-6 and looks like he was built in a lab to play Sunday ball. Angelo Renda joined him from Southlake Carroll, a program that basically breathes winning.
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Will a true freshman start? Probably not. Mason Heintschel officially announced he’s returning for 2026, which gives the Panthers a safety net. But the "quarterback of the future" debate is going to be the soundtrack of spring ball.
Pat Narduzzi Is Rebuilding the Brain Trust
If you think the roster turnover was intense, look at the sidelines. Narduzzi basically did a hard reset on his staff this month.
He brought in Harlon Barnett to coach safeties and serve as Assistant Head Coach. That’s a massive get. Barnett has been in the trenches at Michigan State and Florida State; he knows how to recruit the Midwest and the South.
The rest of the hires feel very "blue-collar," which fits the Pitt identity:
- Joe Bowen: Taking over linebackers and run game coordination. He comes from Buffalo, where he turned Red Murdock into a tackling machine.
- Brent Davis: New tight ends coach.
- Mike Priefer: A former NFL coordinator taking over special teams.
It feels like Narduzzi is trying to get back to that "tougher than you" defensive identity that slipped a bit last season. Bringing in a guy like Priefer suggests they are tired of losing the hidden yardage battle.
The Transfer Portal: A Massive Net Loss or a Strategic Reset?
We have to be real here. Losing Rasheem Biles to the SEC is a gut punch. Biles was a human highlight reel, capped off by that 16-tackle, two-sack performance in the Military Bowl against East Carolina.
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When your best defensive player leaves, it hurts.
But the "In" column isn't empty. Pitt added Alex Sanford Jr. from Purdue and DeMarco Ward from Memphis to bridge the gap at linebacker. They also secured Kanye Thompson, a cornerback from Slippery Rock who runs a 10.13-second 100-meter dash.
That is world-class speed.
You can't teach a 10.13. If Thompson can adjust to the speed of the ACC, he’s going to be a problem for opposing offensive coordinators.
What’s Up With the Stadium?
While the roster is changing, the house might be too. There has been a lot of chatter lately regarding a formal Pitt football stadium proposal.
For years, the "On-Campus Stadium" dream was just a meme on message boards. But with Acrisure Stadium getting $750,000 upgrades for the 2026 NFL Draft—including a massive new video board and a "South Lawn" turf project—the conversation has shifted.
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The university is finally acknowledging that while Acrisure is great, the "limitations in fan experience" for a college atmosphere are real. Don't expect ground to break tomorrow, but the fact that the administration is even mentioning "funding strategies" in 2026 is a huge leap from where we were five years ago.
The NFL Draft Factor
Looking ahead to April, the Pitt Panthers football news cycle will be dominated by the draft. Kyle Louis is the name to watch. PFF has him ranked as the No. 5 returning linebacker in the country.
He’s an All-American. He’s a playmaker. He’s also staying—for now.
Having guys like Louis and defensive tackle Sean FitzSimmons bypass the portal to stay in Pittsburgh is the only reason Narduzzi is sleeping at night. FitzSimmons is the anchor. Without him, that defensive line would be a sieve.
Actionable Steps for the Offseason
If you’re a fan trying to keep track of this whirlwind, here is what you actually need to do to stay ahead of the curve:
- Watch the Spring Game Depth Chart: Specifically, look at the left tackle spot. Jeff Persi hasn't declared for the draft yet, and the Panthers added Netinho Olivieri from Penn to provide some Ivy League brawn. The blindside protection is the biggest question mark on the team.
- Track the 2027 Recruiting: Harlon Barnett is already on the road. He was just in Ohio visiting Ka’ronn Daugherty. The "Barnett Effect" on recruiting will show up in the next six months.
- Monitor the Kicker Battle: Pitt landed an FCS transfer kicker this month. After some shaky special teams play last year, this is a "boring" position battle that will actually decide two or three games in the fall.
The 2026 season isn't going to be a "rebuilding" year in the traditional sense—it's more of an identity transplant. Narduzzi is betting on speed and a revamped coaching staff to fix the middle-of-the-pack rut. Whether it works or not depends entirely on if those 16 early enrollees are as good as their tape suggests.