Solomon DeShields Becoming Breakout Star for Pitt
PITTSBURGH -- Solomon DeShields wasn't sure what position he wanted to play when he first became a Pitt Panther. In fact, he was so certain he wasn't cut out for linebacker that he approached his head coach about switching to offense.
Eventually, DeShields found his way back to linebacker and that's a good thing for the Panthers, because he's taken "leaps and bounds" forward, according to head coach Pat Narduzzi and has been one of the defense's best players in 2023.
"There were times over the first year and a half where he said ‘Coach, can I go play receiver? I’m not a linebacker,'" Narduzzi said. "Then there was finally the time where he said ‘I’m done with receiver, I’m going to be a linebacker.’ And when he finally put it in his mind that he was going to be a linebacker, that’s when you start to see him rise."
DeShields' role has grown steadily since his freshman season. He didn't even sniff the field in 2020, then mixed in as a backup and special teamer in 2021, then found a niche in Pitt's delta package in 2022 and has emerged as a full-time starter in 2023.
He ranks third on the Panthers with two sacks and 45 total tackles and leads the team in tackles for loss with eight. All are careers and his TFL total is 13th in the ACC. To linebackers coach Ryan Manalac, DeShields has played well and still has plenty of room to grow - a sweet spot for demanding coaches working with ambitious players.
"We all know he’s big and athletic but he’s putting it together more consistently, which is good to see," Manalac said. "And obviously, it’s never a done process, right? He’s got to keep being more consistent but certainly proud of the plays he’s made and the toughness he’s shown and the ability to continue to fight and prepare himself as a guy who’s playing more.”
Part of "putting it together more consistently" for DeSheileds meant exposure to the full depths of Pitt's defensive playbook. He played almost exclusively in the "delta" defense, a specialty package that isn't on the field very often. This year, he's gotten more snaps in the base defense, which in addition to some personal work on the playbook and his technique, has helped DeShields become the game-wrecker he's been at times this season.
“Just getting more of them base reps, learning more formations, different blitzes, not just being on delta," DeShields said. "That's helping me get more comfortable flying around.”
While the present has been encouraging, Narduzzi is even more excited about DeShields' future. As a redshirt junior, he has plenty of eligibility left to burn and will be a fixture in the Panthers defense well into next year and possibly beyond.
"He’s had a good year," Narduzzi said. "And he’s going to be even better next year.”
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