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, Rasheem Biles and Shawn Lee Jr. have entered the portal and will not return next season.

Transfer Portal Tracker

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.

Pitt Players to Enter the Portal

  • QB Cole Gonzales, Sr.
  • QB Eli Holstein, R-So.
  • QB David Lynch, R-So.
  • RB Derrick Davis Jr., R-Sr.
  • RB Juelz Goff, R-Fr.
  • WR Kenny Johnson, Jr.
  • WR Zion Fowler-El, R-So.
  • WR Jesse Anderson, R-So.
  • TE Malachi Thomas, So.
  • OL Tai Ray, R-So.
  • OL Lyndon Cooper, R-Sr.
  • OL Jackson Brown, R-Jr.
  • OL Caleb Holmes, R-Fr.
  • DE Maverick Gracio, R-So.
  • LB Rasheem Biles, Jr.
  • CB Davion Pritchard, R-Fr.
  • CB Shawn Lee Jr., Fr.
  • CB Matthew Amofa, R-Jr.
  • S Marcus Serrano, R-Sr.
  • K Sam Carpenter, R-So.

Pitt Transfer Portal Visits

The following transfer portal recruits have reportedly scheduled a visit with Pitt:

  • (UCF) TE Kylan Fox, So. — Jan. 3
  • (MTSU) TE Hunter Tipton, R-Jr. — Jan. 3

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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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