Inside The Panthers

Pitt's 2026 Transfer Portal Tracker

Here is an up-to-date tracker of all the Pitt Panthers' moves in the transfer portal.
Mitchell Corcoran|
Nov 29, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers linebacker Rasheem Biles (3) and wide receiver Raphael Williams Jr. (5) lead the team onto the field to play the Miami Hurricanes at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Nov 29, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers linebacker Rasheem Biles (3) and wide receiver Raphael Williams Jr. (5) lead the team onto the field to play the Miami Hurricanes at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

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Pittsburgh Panthers

PITTSBURGH — The NCCA Transfer Portal is officially open and the Pitt Panthers will look to make some big additions in the coming days.

A total of 16 Pitt players either announced their intent to enter the portal or were reported to be entering before the transfer portal even opened on Jan. 2. Players have until Jan. 16 to enter their names in the portal, but can sign at any point this year. However, if they want to be enrolled for the spring semester, they will have to make their decisions quickly.

The Panthers will need to address several positions in the transfer portal. Some of those positions include offensive line, cornerback, wide receiver, linebacker and tight end.

Pitt finished the season 8-5 after a 23-17 loss to East Carolina in the Military Bowl. Since then, key starters like Kenny Johnson and Rasheem Biles have entered the portal and are set not to return next season.

Pitt Players to Enter the Portal

The following is a list of Pitt players who have either reportedly entered the transfer portal or announced that they have entered the transfer portal, and the school they have committed to:

Pitt Transfer Portal Visits

Pitt Transfer Portal Commits

The following transfer portal recruits have reportedly committed with Pitt or have announced their commitment to Pitt:

Transfer Portal Tracker

Jan. 18

12:06 p.m.: Western Illinois transfer kicker Antonio Chadha has committed to Pitt, he announced. Chadha is the second transfer kicker to commit to Pitt this offseason. He went 13-for-19 on field goal attempts last season and made a long of 53 yards.

Jan. 16

2:22 p.m.: Texas State transfer quarterback Holden Geriner has committed to Pitt, per On3. Holden is entering his redshirt senior season and previously played at Auburn for three seasons.

12:30 p.m.: Former Pitt offensive lineman Caleb Holmes has signed with Jacksonville State, he announced on Instagram.

8 a.m.: This is the final day players can enter their names into the transfer portal.

Jan. 15

9:06 p.m.: Former Pitt backup kicker Sam Carpenter has committed to Sam Houston, he announced.

11:24 a.m.: Former Pitt offensive lineman Jackson Brown has transferred to UNLV. Brown joined Pitt in 2023 after spending one season at Cal.

Jan. 13

7:47 p.m.: Former Pitt starting quarterback Eli Holstein has transferred to Virginia, per Matt Zeniz of CBS Sports. Holstein started the 2024 season until he was struck with an injury that had him miss the last few games. As a redshirt sophomore, Holstein was the starter this season until he was benched for true freshman Mason Heintschel.

4:40 p.m.: Former Pitt defensive tackle Francis Brewu has committed to Notre Dame, per On3's Hayes Fawcett.

8:24 a.m.: Former Purdue starting linebacker Alex Sanford Jr. has transferred to Pitt, Chris Peak of Panther-Lair.com reported.

Jan. 12

10:15 p.m.: Former Pitt offensive lineman Tai Ray has committed to Western Kentucky, he announced. Ray will have two years of eligibility remaining.

3:37 p.m.: Former Pitt redshirt freshman defensive tackle Jahsear Whittington has signed with Nebraska, per On3. Whittington will have three years of eligibility remaining.

10:10 a.m.: Pitt backup transfer running back Juelz Goff has committed to Boise State, he announced on Instagram. Goff will have three years of eligibility remaining.

Jan. 11

7:04 p.m.: Former Purdue linebacker Alex Sanford Jr. visited Pitt today (Jan. 11), according to Nathan Breisinger of Pittsburgh Sports Now. Sanford played in all 12 games in 2025 and started nine. He totaled 47 tackles, 3.5 for a loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

4 p.m.: Former Pitt reserve cornerback Davion Pritchard has transferred to Kent State, he announced.

2 p.m.: Pitt true freshman long snapper Henry Searcy has transferred to Charlotte, he announced on Instagram. Pitt is now without all three longsnappes from the 2025 season. Nico Crawford transferred to Michigan and Nilay Upadhyayula is out of eligibility. Pitt recently added Purdue transfer longsnapper Justin Schmidt.

1:49 p.m.: Pitt has landed a defensive lineman commitment from Tulane transfer Eliyt Nairne, per CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz. Nairne reportedly visited Pitt on Jan. 9 and will have two years of eligibility remaining.

10:07 a.m.: Pitt transfer defensive tackle Jahsear Whittington announced that he is in Waco, Texas visiting Baylor. Whittinton reportedly visited Nebraska on Jan. 9.

Jan. 10

9:32 p.m.: Northern Arizona transfer kicker Samuel Hunsaker announced that he has committed to Pitt. The sophomore kicker has made 15 of 22 field goal tries with a long of 50 yards in his career.

9:26 p.m.: Pitt transfer defensive tackle Francis Brewu has shared his visit with Ohio State. Brewu shared his visit with Tennessee on Jan. 7.

7:43 p.m.: Former Pitt All-ACC linebacker Rasheem Biles has committed to Texas, per Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. Biles led the conference with 17 tackles for loss and led the team in tackles with 100 despite missing three games.

4:04 p.m.: Pitt has received a commitment from Memphis transfer linebacker DeMarco Ward, per CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz. Ward visited Pitt yesterday (Jan. 9). The redshirt sophomore had 63 tackles, one forced fumble, two interceptions and two touchdowns last season.

4:00 p.m.: Former Pitt backup defensive end Maverick Gracio has committed to Ball State, he announced. Gracio had four tackles and one pass breakup this past season.

1:25 p.m.: Florida freshman transfer receiver Naeshaun Montgomery has committed to Missouri, per On3's Pete Nakos. A report came out on Jan. 4 that Montgomery set up visits with Pitt, Washington, UCLA and Missouri.

12:01 p.m.: UAB transfer TE Elijah Lagg has committed to Pitt, he announced. Lagg reportedly visited Pitt on Jan. 8. Lagg had 20 catches for 164 yards last season

11:36 a.m.: Pitt has received a commitment from Illinois transfer DT Jeremiah Warren, per Allen Trieu of 247Sports. Warren is a 6-foot-3, 310-pound redshirt sophomore with two years of eligibility remaining. Trieu previously reported that Warren visited Pitt on Jan. 8.

10:55 a.m.: Former Pitt offensive lineman Jackson Brown appears to be on a visit with South Carolina today, according to his Instagram story. Brown posted his visit with UNLV on Jan. 9.

10:11 a.m.: Former Pitt linebacker Rasheem Biles is expected to visit Miami on Jan. 11, per CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz. Biles has already reportedly made visits to Texas, Michigan, Colorado and Florida State.

9:37 a.m.: Pitt has signed Western Kentucky transfer RB La'Vell Wright, Coade Nagel of 247Sports has reported. Wright is entering his sixth year of eligibility and has 1,352 career rushing yards, 16 touchdowns at 5.5 yards per carry.

Jan. 9

6:23 p.m.: Tulane transfer DL Eliyt Nairne is visiting Pitt today (Jan. 9), according to 247Sports. Nairne had 13 tackles, one for a loss and a forced fumble this past season.

2:51 p.m.: Former Pitt defensive tackle Jahsear Whittington has scheduled a visit with Nebraska for Jan. 10, according to Brian Dohn of 247Sports.

2:09 p.m.: Former Pitt wide receiver/ defensive back Jesse Anderson has committed to Kentucky, he announced. Anderson, a redshirt sophomore, has played in 23 games over the past two seasons and has recorded 11 total tackles.

1:10 p.m.: Pitt has signed Idaho State transfer punter Gabe Russo, according to Chris Peak of Panther-Lair.com. Russon averaged 42.7 yards per kick last season. Pitt needed another punter with former starter Caleb Junko out of eligibility.

12:49 p.m.: Pitt has signed Oklahoma transfer tight end Carson Kent, according to On3. Kent is the first tight end addition through the portal for the Panthers and will have one year of eligibility remaining. Pitt has lost all three starters listed on the depth chart from last season.

12:39 p.m.: Buffalo transfer linebacker Dion Crawford shared his visit with Pitt on X. Crawford had 81 tackles, five for a loss and 3.5 sacks last season under defensive coordinator Joe Bowen, who is now Pitt's new linebackers coach.

12:05 p.m.: Pitt has signed former Purdue long snapper Justin Schmidt, Stephen Thompson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. Schmidt played high school ball at Thomas Jefferson High School in Pittsburgh.

9:21 a.m.: Redshirt freshman defensive tackle Jahsear Whittington has entered the transfer portal, per On3's Pete Nakos. Whittington played in 11 games this sesaon and made his first start in the Military Bowl.

8:57 a.m.: Former Pitt linebacker Rasheem Biles will visit Texas today, according to 247Sports' Chris Hummer. Biles visited Michigan on Jan. 8.

Jan. 8

8:30 p.m.: Former Pitt quarterback David Lynch has committed to Holy Cross, according to 247Sports. Lynch played in three games in 2024 and did not see any playing time in 2025 with the Panthers.

3:47 p.m.: Former Pitt defensive tackle Francis Brewu will visit Ohio State this weekend, per Chris Hummer of 247Sports. Brewu visited Tennessee on Jan. 7.

11:31 a.m.: Robert Morris transfer safety Xavier Styles plans to visit Pitt on Jan. 10, according to ESPN's Max Olson. Olson also reported that Styles is visiting Iowa today (Jan. 8). Styles posted 36 tackles, six pass breakups, one interception and two forced fumbles this past season.

11:16 a.m.: Pitt has landed another commit this morning. Auburn transfer Raion Strader has committed to Pitt, Cody Nagel of CBS Sports has reported. Strader reportedly visited Pitt on Jan. 7. He played high school ball at Penn Hills and began his college career at Miami (Ohio).

11:13 a.m.: IUP transfer edge rusher Logan Goodwin is visiting Pitt on Jan. 10, according to On3. He has totaled 64 tackles, 21 for loss, 12.5 sacks and forced one fumble in two seasons with the Crimson Hawks.

10:46 a.m.: Pitt transfer linebacker Rasheem Biles is reportedly setting up a visit with Michigan, per On3's Pete Nakos.

9:35 a.m.: Pitt true freshman kicker Trey Butkowski has signed with Michigan, according to Chris Hummer of 247Sports. Butkowski entered the transfer portal on Jan. 7.

8:36 a.m.: Slippery Rock transfer DB Kanye Thompson has committed to Pitt, he announced. Thompson visited Pitt earlier this week and had a breakout year at Slippery Rock in 2025.

Jan. 7

9:26 p.m.: Illinois transfer defensive lineman Jeremiah Warren will visit Pitt on Jan. 8, Allen Trieu of 247Sports reported. Warren is a redshirt sophomore and has 13 career tackles in 26 games.

9:15 p.m.: Pitt transfer defensive tackle Francis Brewu shared an image of himself visiting Tennessee.

8:09 p.m.: Akron offensive lineman Keylen Davis has committed to Pitt, he told Jim Hammett of PantherLair.com. Davis has played primarily at guard but is versatile enough to play anywhere on the line, according to the report. Davis will have on year of eligibility.

3:56 p.m.: Former Pitt starting wide receiver Kenny Johnson has committed to Texas Tech, CBS Sports Matt Zenitz has reported. Johnson was the Panthers' second-leading receiver in 2025 with 48 catches for 695 yards and five touchdowns.

3:45 p.m.: Holy Cross linebacker Lathan Croley has scheduled a visit with Pitt for Jan. 9, according to 247Sports. Croley had 80 tackles, 2.5 for a loss and 1.5 sacks this past season and will have two years of eligibility remaining.

3:28 p.m.: Pitt has landed its second transfer commitment with Western Carolina wide receiver Malik Knight, per CBS Sports Matt Zenitz. Knight had 47 catches for 774 yards and seven touchdowns this season and will have one year of eligibility.

1:27 p.m.: UAB transfer tight end Elijah Lagg will visit Pitt on Jan. 8, according to Nathan Breisinger of Pittsburgh Sports Now. Lagg is a 6-foot-4, 240-pound junior with one year of eligibility remaining. He had 20 catches for 164 yards in 2025.

11:45 a.m.: Pitt true freshman kicker Trey Butkowski has entered the transfer portal, per On3's Pete Nakos. Butkowski was a second-team All-ACC selection and made 20 of 23 field goal attempts.

10:28 a.m.: Auburn transfer cornerback Raion Strader will visit Pitt today, Mike Vukovcan of Pittsburgh Sports Now has reported. Strader is a former WPIAL standout player from Penn Hills High School. Strander started his college career at Miami (Ohio) and was named a freshman All-American.

9:44 a.m: Former Pitt starting center Lyndon Cooper has transferred to Vanderbilt, according to Pro Football Focus. Cooper spent the last two seasons in Pittsburgh after transferring from NC State.

9:40 a.m.: Former Pitt backup quarterback Cole Gonzales has transferred and signed with Charlotte, he announced on Instagram. Gonzales transferred to Pitt last spring after stops at Western Carolina and Oklahoma.

8:35 a.m.: Pitt transfer linebacker Rasheem Biles has visited Colorado and is now set to visit Florida State, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports.

Jan. 6

8:49 p.m.: Middle Tennessee State transfer tight end Hunter Tipton has committed to Memphis, he announced. Tipton reportedly visited Pitt on Jan. 4.

6:27 p.m.: Slippery Rock transfer DB Kanye Thompson has Pitt, Ohio State and Tennessee as his top three schools, according to William Patterson of Fox Sports Knoxville. Pitt hosted Thompson, a McKeesport native, for a visit recently.

5:08 p.m.: Bowling Green transfer linebacker Caden Marshall has committed to SMU, according to On3. Marshall announced that he received an offer from Pitt on Jan. 5.

5:05 p.m.: Division II Slippery Rock transfer DB Kanye Thompson has shared his visit with Pitt. Thompson, a McKeesport, Pa. native, received an offer from Pitt shortly after he entered the transfer portal on Nov. 19. Thompson is best known for his blazing speed and ran a 10.13 100-meter dash.

3:15 p.m: Pitt transfer wide receiver Kenny Johnson has been predicted to transfer to Texas Tech with "high" confidence by On3's Pete Nakos. Nakos called Johnson, "one of the most productive wide receivers in the transfer portal," and said the Red Raiders want to surround newly-signed Cincinnati transfer quarterback Brendan Sorsby with talented wideouts.

12:57 p.m.: Former Pitt backup longsnapper Nico Crawford has committed to Michigan, Clayton Sayfie of TheWolverine.com reported. Crawford is now the second former Pitt player to commit to a new school. Tight end Malachi Thomas was the first, and he committed to LSU on Jan. 5.

12:38 p.m.: Old Dominion transfer linebacker Jahleel Culbreath has been in contact with Pitt and seven other schools since entering the portal, according to JGPCFB on X.

11:35 a.m.: Pitt starting defensive tackle Francis Brewu has reportedly entered the transfer portal, per Hayes Fawcett of On3. Brewu was a Freshman All-American last season and totaled 42 tackles, 8.5 for a loss and 2.5 sacks in his two seasons with the Panthers.

11:26 a.m: Bowling Green transfer linebacker Gideon ESPN Lampron has committed to Colorado, he announced. Gideon received an offer from Pitt and included the Panthers in his top 11 schools.

Jan. 5

6:36 p.m.: Pitt has offered former Bowling Green redshirt freshman linebacker Caden Marshall, he announced. Marshall started six games in 2025 and made 38 tackles and four for a loss. He previously played at Tennessee State before Bowling Green.

5:30 p.m.: According to 247Sports, former Texas Tech edge rusher Braylon Rigsby will visit Pitt from Jan. 6-7. Rigsby, a redshirt sophomore, has 24 total tackles across three seasons.

3:48 p.m.: Pitt has offered Delaware State transfer running back James Jones, he announced. Jones, a junior, rushed for 958 yards, nine touchdowns and averaged 9.8 yards per carry at the FBS level.

3:17 p.m.: Former Memphis linebacker DeMarco Ward has scheduled a visit to Pitt for Jan. 9, he announced. The redshirt sophomore recorded 63 tackles, three for a loss, forced two fumbles and picked off two passes this past season. He started his college career in the ACC at Florida State.

1:18 pm.: The first former Pitt player in the portal has found a new home. Sohompre tight end Malachi Thomas has committed to LSU, per On3's Hayes Fawcett.

12:19 p.m.: Pitt true freshman All-American defensive back Shawn Lee Jr. announced his apparent return to the program in 2026 on his personal Instagram. Lee reportedly entered the transfer portal on Jan. 1.

Jan. 4

2:58 p.m.: Walk-on redshirt sophomore running back Caleb Williams has announced that he entered the transfer portal. Williams had seven carrer caries for 10 yards at Pitt.

12:51 p.m.: Pitt has landed its first transfer portal commit of the postseason in Penn offensive tackle Netinho Olivieri, he announced on X. The 6-foot-5, 315-pounder earned first-team All-Ivy League honors in 2024 and was an AP All-American Honorable Mention in 2025. He will have one year of eligibility remaining.

11:06 a.m: Rivals' Adam Gorney has confirmed that Montgomery has scheduled a visit with Pitt.

10:36 a.m.: According to Pittsburgh Sports Now, Pitt has scheduled a visit with former Maryland corner La'khil Roland for Jan. 5. Roland, a sophomore, had 17 tackles and three interceptions in 11 games this past season. According to Pro Football Focus, Roland allowed 15 catches for 202 yards and a touchdown in coverage.

9:31 a.m.: Montgomery is in the process of scheduling a visit to Pitt, Pittsburgh Sports Now has reported.

8:12 a.m.: Pitt was named a school to watch for former Florida wide receiver Naeshaun Montgomery, according to Tom Loy of 247Sports. Montgomery, a former four-star high school recruit out of Miami, was a true freshman this season and posted three catches for 26 yards in four games.

Jan. 3

7:25 p.m.: Former Bowling Green linebacker Gideon ESPN Lampron, who announced that he received an offer from Pitt on Jan. 2, now has the Panthers in his top 11 schools.

3:59 p.m.: Pitt has been in contact with former Michigan defensive back Elijah Dotson, according to Allen Trieu of 247Sports. Dotson originally committed to Pitt out of high school before flipping to Michigan in 2024. Dotson recorded 11 tackles and one interception in 12 games as a true freshman.

12:42 p.m.: Middle Tennessee State tight end Hunter Tipton, who announced that he received an offer from Pitt on Jan. 2, has now scheduled an official visit with the Panthers, Pittsburgh Sports Now reported.

11:34 a.m.: Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Caleb Holmes has entered the transfer portal, according to Panther-Lair.com. Holmes is a former four-star and did not appear in a game this season.

10:32 a.m.: Redshirt senior running back Derrick Davis Jr. announced that he has officially entered the transfer portal. Davis announced his intent to enter the portal on Jan. 2.

Jan. 2

8:25 p.m.: Former Middle Tennessee State tight end Hunter Tipton announced that he has received an offer from Pitt. Tipton had 39 catches for 411 yards and two touchdowns this past season.

7:52 p.m.: Pitt will reportedly host former UCF sophomore tight end Kylan Fox on an official visit on Jan. 3.

6:13 p.m.: Former Bowling Green junior linebacker Gideon ESPN Lampron (yes, that's his real name) announced that he has received an offer from Pitt. Lampron was a First-Team All-MAC linebacker and totaled 119 tackles, 17.5 for a loss, 2.5 sacks and forced two fumbles in 2025. Lampron has also received offers from TCU, Colorado, Virginia, UCF, Louisville, Houston and Oklahoma.

According to On3's Pete Nakos, Lampron plans to schedule visits with UCF, Colorado and Oklahoma.

3:33 pm.: Redshirt senior running back Derrick Davis Jr. announced that he will enter the transfer portal. Davis spent the entire 2025 season sidelined with an injury, but says he is now "100% healthy and cleared to play."

9:37 a.m.: Redshirt sophomore Maverick Gracio announced that he has entered the transfer portal. Gracio says he will have two to three years of eligibility remaining. In his career, Gracio recorded four total tackles, 1.5 for loss, one sack and a blocked kick that was returned for a touchdown in the 2024 Backyard Brawl.

9 a.m.: Backup senior quarterback Cole Gonzales has entered the transfer portal, according to Panther-Lair's Chris Peak. Gonzales transferred to Pitt last spring and used his redshirt this season to gain another year of eligibility.

8 a.m.: 16 Pitt players have officially entered the NCAA Transfer Portal.

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Mitchell Corcoran
MITCHELL CORCORAN

Mitch is a passionate storyteller and college sports fanatic. Growing up 70 miles away in Johnstown, Pa., Mitch has followed Pittsburgh sports all his life. Mitch started his sports journalism career as an undergraduate at Penn State, covering several programs for the student-run blog, Onward State. He previously worked for NBC Sports, The Tribune-Democrat and the Altoona Mirror as a freelancer. Give him a follow on X @MitchCorc18.

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