Inside The Panthers

Saskatchewan Roughriders Take Pitt DE Habakkuk Baldonado in CFL Draft

Pitt Panthers defender Habakkuk Baldonado was one of the top picks in the CFL draft.
Stephen Thompson|
Saskatchewan Roughriders Take Pitt DE Habakkuk Baldonado in CFL Draft
Saskatchewan Roughriders Take Pitt DE Habakkuk Baldonado in CFL Draft

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Pittsburgh Panthers

PITTSBURGH -- Pitt Panthers defensive end Habakkuk Baldonado signed an undrafted free agent contract with the New York Giants just days ago and now, he has a fall-back option should his career in the NFL not pan out. 

The Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League made Baldonado the 11th overall pick in the 2023 CFL Global Draft when they selected him in the second round. This was news to Baldonado, however. He seems preoccupied with getting to New York and preparing for minicamp with the Giants right now. 

He didn't begin playing football in the United States until 2017, but he quickly gained interest from FBS schools and eventually committed to Pitt. Baldonado arrived in 2018 and redshirted his first season, then was limited to four games during the 2020 season.

He burst onto the scene in 2021 by starting all 14 games at defensive end and earning second-team All-ACC consideration. While 2022 was an injury-riddled season for Baldonado, he started all nine games he appeared in and recorded five tackles for loss, two sacks and a blocked kick.

Baldonado closed his Pitt career with 99 total tackles - 22.5 for loss - 15 sacks and two passes defended in forty career games. 

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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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