Gavin Bartholomew Expects More Opportunities in New Offense
PITTSBURGH -- Pitt Panthers tight end Gavin Bartholomew was one of the most explosive pass-catchers in all of college football but, because he caught just 18 balls in 10 games, he didn't make as large an impact as he might have hoped
Two straight seasons of underwhelming production had Bartholomew considering if there were greener pastures beyond Pitt that he should pursue. Ultimately, he opted to stick with the Panthers in large part because the change in offensive coordinator and scheme.
“Everything, everything," Bartholomew responded when asked what the tight end's role in Kade Bell's offense would be. "Actually, Coach Bell was coming in here the other day saying how we have a big role in this offense and he has high expectations and we all expect to meet them.”
After hauling in 326 yards and four touchdowns during his freshman season, Bartholomew has amassed just 39 catches for 609 yards and three touchdowns. He still averaged more than 15 yards per reception but the Panthers couldn't seem to find consistent ways to get him the ball and use that explosiveness.
Bartholomew, believing he had more to offer the offense, met with head coach Pat Narduzzi and new offensive coordinator Kade Bell to tell them that.
“I just expressed how I wanted to be able to help the team out," Bartholomew said. "Nothing selfish or anything, I just feel like I could help the team more and, yeah pretty much that. Try to move me around, get me involved a little bit more. … And they said I would.”
In Bartholomew's freshman season, Pitt won 11 games and an ACC Championship. During his sophomore year, they won nine games and finished the year ranked after beating then-No. 18 UCLA in the Sun Bowl. So a 3-9 campaign in 2023 was a shock to the system.
Bartholomew, like many of his teammates, is frustrated and returns to Pitt hopeful that if he can produce more, it will lead to good things for the rest of the team as well.
“I’d say a little bit of hungriness and almost an edge on you because just we’ve got a new offense coming in," Bartholomew said. "Everyone wants to go out and learn it and show the coaches they can play but also prove that we can win games and prove to ourselves that we can win and we can win that championship.”
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