Three 2024 Signees Who Can Help Pitt Immediately
PITTSBURGH -- National Signing Day is one of the most monumental days of the year for the Pitt Panthers and college football as a whole as it represents the culmination of a program's high hopes and acts as a coronation for its incoming recruiting class.
While a majority of true freshmen won't make an immediate impact or see the field consistently, Pitt brought in three members of its Class of 2024 who are primed to be an exception to that notion and help shape the outcome of the Panthers' 2024 season.
Jashear Whittington - DT, Imhotep Charter High School; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Rated as a four-star recruit and No. 14 DL in the nation by Rivals, Whittington was Pitt's first commit in the class in April of 2022 and stands a real chance to enter the rotation next season.
With the Panthers set to lose their starting defensive tackles from last season in Deandre Jules and David Green alongside veterans Tyler Bentley and Devin Danielson, Whittington and the rest of Pitt's incoming class is on equal footing in terms of competing for snaps in 2024. Sean FitzSimmons, Elliot Donald and Isaiah Neal are among the roster holdovers who may have an inside track at the position right out of the gate, but Whittington could emerge early on and leave an indelible impression while potentially working his way into a major role for Pitt.
Caleb Holmes - OL, Creekside High School; Fairburn, Georgia
As questions permeate about the structure of the Panthers' offensive line next year, Caleb Holmes is another signee who could quickly rise up the depth chart. A consensus four-star interior offensive line recruit from Fairburn, Georgia, Holmes was rated as a top-10 player at his position by both 247Sports and ESPN while largely being ranked as Pitt's top recruit in the class.
There figures to be playing time up for grabs for Holmes now that Jake Kradel and Blake Zubovic are out of the picture at guard. BJ Williams and Jason Collier will both return to the Panthers after earning starting time on the interior last season while Ryan Jacoby and Isaiah Montgomery should push for snaps as well. While he may be fighting an uphill battle at the onset, Holmes has the talent to force the issue and push for reps early in his Pitt career. Pat Narduzzi has proven the willingness to entrust true freshmen with a role on the offensive line before, with Williams being the latest example, and Holmes could very well follow in his footsteps next season.
Nigel Maynard - CB, Stewarts Creek High School; Smyrna, Tennessee
With the cornerback room in disrepair, Nigel Maynard is staring down a golden opportunity to make a name for himself from the jump. He is a Smyrna, Tennessee product who is regarded as a consensus three-star recruit and will be an early enrollee for the Panthers in January, according to Chris Peak of Panther-Lair.
With each of Pitt's top three corners from a season ago moving on from the collegiate ranks, Maynard is in good shape to throw himself into the mix at the position next season. Ryland Gandy and Nebraska transfer Tamon Lynum are among the likely starting options at this juncture, but nothing is set in stone and Maynard has the potential to separate himself from the crowd and become an immediate playmaker for the Panthers.
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