Inside The Panthers

Freshmen LB Braylan Lovelace Turing Heads in First Practices at Pitt

Pitt Panthers coaches and players are impressed with freshman linebacker Braylan Lovelace.
Stephen Thompson|
Freshmen LB Braylan Lovelace Turing Heads in First Practices at Pitt
Freshmen LB Braylan Lovelace Turing Heads in First Practices at Pitt

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Pittsburgh Panthers

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers have some snaps at linebacker up for grabs with two of last season's starters, SirVocea Dennis and Tylar Wiltz, departing school to pursue a career in professional football. Pitt's losing too ultra-reliable players but the present and future is bright. 

In addition to returning starters Bangally Kamara and Shayne Simon, Pitt has some returning depth and a freshman that's opened his career in college football by stringing together strong practice after strong practice. Head coach Pat Narduzzi didn't love what he saw from freshman Braylan Lovelace in the scrimmage - a decent performance, but not on the level of what he's been showing in practice. Still, that doesn't erase his fast start. 

“Lovelace was okay," Narduzzi said after the team's first scrimmage of the spring. "He wasn’t as good in the scrimmage as he was in the practice but he’s had a great spring ball so far.”

Narduzzi joked that Lovelace should be going to his senior prom at Leechburg High School, but is playing at a high level in college football practices instead. 

Lovelace has earned the praise of his teammates as well after just a couple of weeks as a college player. There's a long way to go but early returns are promising.  

That's music to linebackers coach Ryan Manalac's ears. According to Narduzzi, Manalac feels the linebackers room could use some more bodies. In addition to Lovelace being unexpected readiness, the Panthers will add two new freshman in Jordan Bass - the second-highest rated player in the 2023 recruiting class - 

“I like [our depth]. I don’t think Coach [Manalac] likes it. He’s always telling me ‘We need more guys’. We got [Jordan] Bass coming in and Rasheem Biles was here for about four days over his spring break. I really like the guys who are playing right now. Look at what we’re doing and how we’re doing it, we’re hanging in there.”

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage and so much more!

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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