Inside The Panthers

Starting LB Returning to Pitt

The Pitt Panthers will get a starting linebacker back in 2024.
Stephen Thompson|
Starting LB Returning to Pitt
Starting LB Returning to Pitt

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Pittsburgh Panthers

PITTSBURGH -- The early weeks of the offseason have depleted the Pitt Panthers defense, with 10 players who started at least one game announcing they would not return to either enter the transfer portal or declare for the NFL Draft. 

But Pitt got some good news this week, as starting linebacker Solomon DeShields announced that he would return for his senior season with the Panthers. 

DeShields had himself a breakout season in 2023, notching career-bests with 58 tackles and eight tackles for loss. He added two sacks and a pass defended for good measure. 

Shayne Simon has declared for the NFL Draft and Brandon George and Bangally Kamara have announced their intention to transfer, leaving the Panthers thin and inexperienced at linebacker. 

Freshmen Braylan Lovelace, Kyle Louis and Jordan Bass all took snaps and some even made starts as Pitt battled injuries at that position. But DeShields will still be the only Pitt player with any kind of significant starting experience under his belt back with the team in 2024. 

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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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