Pitt Offense Doesn't Lose Confidence With Vincent Davis in Backfield

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers suffered more than just an embarrassing loss to Georgia Tech during Week 5 - their most explosive playmaker also went down with an injury in the second quarter of that defeat to the Yellow Jackets.

With leading rusher Israel Abanikanda in a sling for the second half, backup tailback Vincent Davis assumed the role of bell cow back, toting the ball 15 times - his largest carry total since September of 2021 - for 80 yards and added three catches for 14 yards. Two costly fumbles overshadowed the season-best totals for Davis, but Pitt's players and coaches have not lost faith in him according to head coach Pat Narduzzi.

"Earlier today, we’re going to a period, he had a ball in his hand and I came from behind to try and punch it out and he said ‘Come on, coach. That was last week. I got this,’ and I couldn’t get anything out," Narduzzi said of Davis' attitude this week. "That’s how he is."

It wasn't just a more deliberate week of practice that made Narduzzi believe in Davis' ability to bounce back from rare instances of ball insecurity. Narduzzi has seen countless examples of why the sixth-year senior is capable of being this team's lead back, but none paint a better picture of the player Davis is than when he played with an injured hand during the 2019 season.

"You guys remember a couple years ago, the guy played with a cast on his hand," Narduzzi said. "That’s when I got nervous about Vince. That guy never dropped a ball with a cast on his hand. For four or five weeks, that guy’s our starting tailback with a broken hand carrying the ball with that."

The infectious energy and team-first attitude are part of why Narduzzi loves Davis the person and his track record - which doesn't include many fumbles at all - is why he believes Davis is ready to step up should Abanikanda need to sit out another week.

"I don't know if he’s had a fumble - I can’t think of a fumble in the past two or three years that Vince Davis has had," Narduzzi said. "So mark that as one of those one-timers and I never expect to see it again. I’m sure he’s hurting and feels bad but I’m sure he’ll be hanging onto that ball a little bit tighter for the rest of the season.”

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