HC Pat Narduzzi Identifies Pitt Football's Freshmen Standouts
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PITTSBURGH -- It's not easy for a freshman to break through and play regularly on any college football team, much less one as deep experienced as the Pitt Panthers. But on the first day of training camp, Pitt head coach identified a select group of young Panthers that could compete for playing time this season.
With top cover corner Damarri Mathis now in the NFL as a fourth round pick of the Denver Broncos, there are open snaps at cornerback and that's where Narduzzi sees the best chance for young players too see the field. He singled out three defensive backs - Ryland Gandy, Stephon Hall and Javon McIntyre. Hall, a redshirt freshman, was one of the newcomers that Narduzzi was impressed with last camp.
"You know, I'm looking forward to see what Stephon Hall does," Narduzzi said. "I think he has some potential. Again he's not a true freshman. He's a (redshirt) freshman, though. Javon McIntyre is another guy, I think is interesting."
Narduzzi has also been impressed with offensive linemen Ryan Baer, an imposing, 6'7, 335 pound athlete who's applying pressure to a veteran group of linemen.
"On the offensive side of the ball, nobody that I can offhand, say, just as a freshman," Narduzzi said. "I guess maybe the other guy is Ryan Baer. That guy is big and athletic, and so we'll see what happens there."
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