2017 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

2017 Pittsburgh Panthers football
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
DivisionCoastal Division
Record5–7 (3–5 ACC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorShawn Watson (1st season)
Offensive schemePro-style
Defensive coordinatorJosh Conklin (3rd season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumHeinz Field
2017 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Atlantic Division
No. 4 Clemson xy$^   7 – 1     12 – 2  
No. 23 NC State   6 – 2     9 – 4  
Boston College   4 – 4     7 – 6  
Louisville   4 – 4     8 – 5  
Wake Forest   4 – 4     8 – 5  
Florida State   3 – 5     7 – 6  
Syracuse   2 – 6     4 – 8  
Coastal Division
No. 13 Miami (FL) xy   7 – 1     10 – 3  
No. 24 Virginia Tech   5 – 3     9 – 4  
Georgia Tech   4 – 4     5 – 6  
Duke   3 – 5     7 – 6  
  3 – 5     5 – 7  
Virginia   3 – 5     6 – 7  
North Carolina   1 – 7     3 – 9  
Championship: Clemson 38, Miami 3
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2017 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Panthers were led by third-year head coach Pat Narduzzi and played their home games at Heinz Field. They were a member of the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). This was Pitt's fifth season as a member of the ACC. They finished the season 5–7, 3–5 in ACC play to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place.

Recruiting

Position key

Back B Center C Cornerback CB Defensive back DB
Defensive end DE Defensive lineman DL Defensive tackle DT End E
Fullback FB Guard G Halfback HB Kicker K
Kickoff returner KR Offensive tackle OT Offensive lineman OL Linebacker LB
Long snapper LS Punter P Punt returner PR Quarterback QB
Running back RB Safety S Tight end TE Wide receiver WR

Recruits

The Panthers signed a total of 24 recruits.

College recruiting information (2017)
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Paris Ford
S 		Munhall, Pennsylvania Steel Valley HS 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Oct 16, 2015 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
Kyle Nunn
S 		Findlay, Ohio Findlay HS 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 196 lb (89 kg) Apr 16, 2016 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
Kenny Pickett
QB 		Oakhurst, New Jersey Ocean Township HS 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jun 4, 2016 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
Cameron Bright
LB 		Montgomery, Alabama Park Crossing HS 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Jun 5, 2016 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
Darian Street
WR 		Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Liberty HS 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jun 6, 2016 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
Owen Drexel
C 		Montclair, New Jersey Montclair HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 280 lb (130 kg) Jun 15, 2016 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
Todd Sibley
RB 		Akron, Ohio Hoban HS 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 202 lb (92 kg) Jun 15, 2016 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
Carson Van Lynn
OT 		Columbus, Ohio Kilbourne HS 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 255 lb (116 kg) Jun 22, 2016 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
Albert Tucker
LB 		Fort Lauderdale, Florida St. Thomas Aquinas HS 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 197 lb (89 kg) Jun 28, 2016 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
Dontavius Butler
WR 		Fort Lauderdale, Florida American Heritage HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jul 31, 2016 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
Gabe Houy
OT 		Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Upper St. Clair HS 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 250 lb (110 kg) Aug 1, 2016 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
Kirk Christodoulou
K 		Melbourne, Australia Proquick Australia 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Aug 2, 2016 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
Tyler Sear
TE 		New Castle, Pennsylvania Neshannock HS 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 240 lb (110 kg) Aug 18, 2016 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
Grant Carrigan
TE 		Gibsonia, Pennsylvania Pine-Richland HS 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 250 lb (110 kg) Aug 18, 2016 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
Carter Warren
OT 		Wayne, New Jersey Passaic County Tech 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 315 lb (143 kg) Oct 8, 2016 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
Charles Reeves
TE 		Steubenville, Ohio Steubenville HS 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 230 lb (100 kg) Oct 26, 2016 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
Jerry Drake Jr.
OT 		Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Palm Beach Gardens HS 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 310 lb (140 kg) Dec 15, 2016 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
Deslin Alexandre
DE 		Deerfield Beach, Florida Deerfield Beach HS 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 230 lb (100 kg) Dec 16, 2016 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
Damarri Mathis
CB 		Lakeland, Florida Lakeland HS 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Dec 22, 2016 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
Jason Pinnock
CB 		Windsor, Connecticut Windsor HS 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Jan 17, 2017 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
Michael Smith
WR 		Vero Beach, Florida Vero Beach HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Jan 18, 2017 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
Kamonte Carter
DT 		Germantown, Maryland East Mississippi Community College 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 305 lb (138 kg) Jan 22, 2017 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
Jaylen Twyman
DT 		Washington, D.C. Woodson HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 290 lb (130 kg) Feb 1, 2017 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
A.J. Davis
RB 		Lakeland, Florida Lakeland HS 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Feb 1, 2017 
Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    
Overall recruit ranking:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Pittsburgh Football Commitments". Rivals. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  • "2017 Pittsburgh Football Commits". Scout. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  • "ESPN". ESPN. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved February 20, 2017.

Coaching staff

2017 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff
Coaching staff   Support staff
  • Chris Lasala – Associate Athletic Director/football operations
  • Bob Junko – Director of player development and High School Relations
  • Ben Mathers – Director of football operations
  • Mark Diethorn – Director of Recruiting
  • Ben Cotton – Offensive graduate assistant
  • Joshua Lott – Defensive graduate assistant
  • Rob Greene – Offensive graduate assistant
  • Phil Decapito – Defensive graduate assistant
   Strength and conditioning staff
  • Dave Andrews – Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
  • Freddie Walker – Associate Strength and Conditioning Coach
  • Austin Addington-Strapp – Assistant strength and conditioning coach

[1]

Roster

2017 Pittsburgh Panthers football roster

Quarterbacks

  •  3 Ben DiNucci – sophomore (6'2, 220)
  •  4 Max Browne – senior (6'5, 230)
  •  7 Thomas MacVittie – freshman (6'5, 225)
  •  8 Kenny Pickett – freshman (6'2, 215)
  • 19 Jake Zilinskas – sophomore (6'2, 210)

Tailbacks

  • 21 A.J. Davis – freshman (6'0, 205)
  • 22 Darrin Hall – junior (5'11, 220)
  • 23 Todd Sibley Jr. – freshman (5'9, 215)
  • 26 Chawntez Moss – sophomore (5'11, 210)
  • 36 Shawn Wood – freshman (6'0, 210)
  • 37 Qadree Ollison – junior (6'2, 230)
  • 39 Kyle Vreen – freshman (5'10, 190)

Fullbacks

  • 35 George Aston – junior (6'0, 245)
  • 40 Colton Lively – senior (6'0, 235)
  • 47 Ryan Sliwoski – junior (5'11, 230)
  • 49 Erik Sellers – sophomore (6'1, 235)

Wide receivers

  •  5 Tre Tipton – sophomore (6'0, 190)
  •  6 Aaron Mathews – sophomore (6'4, 205)
  •  9 Michael Smith – freshman (6'1, 205)
  • 10 Quadree Henderson – junior (5'8, 190)
  • 11 Ruben Flowers III – freshman (6'3, 205)
  • 34 Mark Bernsdorff – senior (5’11, 195)
  • 46 Michael Vardzel – freshman (5'11, 190)
  • 48 Kellen McAlone – junior (6'2, 205)
  • 80 Dontavius Butler-Jenkins – freshman (6'0, 205)
  • 82 Rafael Araujo-Lopes – junior (5'9, 190)
  • 83 Darian Street – freshman (6'1, 180)
  • 84 Garrett Bickhart – freshman (6'5, 190)
  • 85 Jester Weah – senior (6'3, 210)

Tight ends

  • 19 Charles Reeves Jr. – freshman (6'5, 280)
  • 45 Devon Edwards – senior (6'4, 275)
  • 81 Nathan Bossory – senior (6'3, 240)
  • 84 Grant Carrigan – freshman (6'7, 275)
  • 86 Tyler Sear – freshman (6'4, 245)
  • 87 Chris Clark – sophomore (6'6, 260)
  • 88 Matt Flanagan – senior (6'6, 260)
  

Offensive linemen

  • 54 Justin Morgan – freshman (6’6, 350)
  • 55 Jaryd Jones-Smith – senior (6’7, 320)
  • 56 Brandon Ford – freshman (6’5, 310)
  • 57 Gabe Houy – freshman (6'6, 280)
  • 58 Brandon Hodges – senior (6’4, 315)
  • 60 Owen Drexel – freshman (6'3, 270)
  • 63 Alex Officer – senior (6’4, 340)
  • 67 Jimmy Morrissey – freshman (6’3, 295)
  • 68 Brian Burgess – freshman (6’2, 295)
  • 69 Kenny Rainey III – freshman (6'3, 330)
  • 70 Brian O'Neill – junior (6’6, 305)
  • 71 Bryce Hargrove – freshman (6’4, 310)
  • 72 Tony Pilato – sophomore (6’5, 320)
  • 74 Jerry Drake Jr. – freshman (6’5, 315)
  • 76 Connor Dintino – junior (6’3, 315)
  • 77 Carter Warren – freshman (6'5, 325)
  • 78 Alex Bookser – junior (6’6, 315)

Defensive linemen

  •  5 Kam Carter – sophomore (6'4, 295)
  •  8 Dewayne Hendrix – junior (6’4, 260)
  • 10 Keyshon Camp – freshman (6’4, 290)
  • 17 Rashad Weaver – freshman (6’5, 265)
  • 31 Kaezon Pugh – freshman (6’1, 250)
  • 34 Amir Watts – sophomore (6’3, 285)
  • 40 James Folston Jr. – junior (6’4, 250)
  • 51 Jim Medure – sophomore (6’2, 225)
  • 55 Jaylen Twyman – freshman (6'2, 315)
  • 59 Carson van Lynn – freshman (6'5, 255)
  • 66 Mike Herndon – junior (6’4, 310)
  • 86 Julian Desire' – freshman (6’3, 215)
  • 90 Rashad Wheeler – freshman (6’3, 290)
  • 91 Patrick Jones II – freshman (6’5, 245)
  • 93 Shane Roy – junior (6’4, 280)
  • 95 Greg Sizemore – freshman (6'1, 230)
  • 96 Allen Edwards – senior (6’4, 255)
  • 97 Deslin Alexandre – freshman (6'4, 255)

Punters

  • 18 Ryan Winslow – senior (6'6, 225)
  • 98 Kirk Christodoulou – freshman (6'1, 215)
  

Linebackers

  • 23 Oluwaseun Idowu – junior (6’0, 225)
  • 25 Elijah Zeise – junior (6’2, 230)
  • 28 Anthony McKee Jr. – sophomore (6’2, 215)
  • 30 Albert Tucker – freshman (6'1, 210)
  • 36 Chase Pine – freshman (6’2, 240)
  • 38 Cam Bright – freshman (6'0, 210)
  • 39 Saleem Brightwell – sophomore (6’0, 220)
  • 41 Jalen Williams – junior (6’2, 215)
  • 44 Elias Reynolds – freshman (6’2, 235)
  • 47 Kyle Nunn – freshman (6'3, 200)
  • 48 Peyton Deri – freshman (6’1, 225)
  • 53 Brian Popp – junior (6'0, 235)
  • 58 Quintin Wirginis – senior (6'2, 245)

Defensive backs

  •  2 Maurice Ffrench – sophomore (5'11, 190) (+WR)
  •  3 Damar Hamlin – sophomore (6’1, 190)
  •  4 Therran Coleman – freshman (6’0, 195)
  •  7 Henry Miller – freshman (6’3, 205)
  •  9 Jordan Whitehead – junior (5’11, 195)
  • 11 Dane Jackson – sophomore (6’0, 180)
  • 12 Paris Ford – freshman (6'0, 175)
  • 14 Avonte Maddox – senior (5’9, 180)
  • 15 Jason Pinnock – freshman (6'0, 190)
  • 16 Damarri Mathis – freshman (5'11, 185)
  • 20 Dennis Briggs – junior (5’10, 195)
  • 21 Malik Henderson – sophomore (6’0, 190)
  • 22 Kollin Smith – freshman (5'10, 170)
  • 24 Phil Campbell – freshman (6’1, 195)
  • 27 Bricen Garner – freshman (6’1, 180)
  • 32 Phillipie Motley – junior (5’10, 175)
  • 35 Rob Boatright – senior (5’10, 190)
  • 43 Jazzee Stocker – sophomore (6’2, 190)
  • 46 Rimoni Dorsey – sophomore (6’0, 195)

Placekickers

  • 49 Ian Troost – junior (6'6, 200)
  • 92 Jake Scarton – freshman (6'3, 180)
  • 97 Alex Kessman – freshman (6'3, 190)

Long snappers

Schedule

The Panthers schedule was released on January 24, 2017.[2][3]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 21:00 p.m.No. 9 (FCS) Youngstown State*
ACCN ExtraW 28–21 OT40,012
September 93:30 p.m.at No. 4 Penn State*
ABCL 14–33109,898
September 1612:00 p.m.No. 9 Oklahoma State*
  • Heinz Field
  • Pittsburgh, PA
ESPNL 21–5938,952
September 2312:20 p.m.at Georgia Tech
ACCNL 17–3540,211
September 3012:00 p.m.Rice*
  • Heinz Field
  • Pittsburgh, PA
ACCRSNW 42–1033,051
October 712:30 p.m.at Syracuse
ACCRSNL 24–2733,290
October 1412:00 p.m.No. 20 NC State
  • Heinz Field
  • Pittsburgh, PA
ACCRSNL 17–3541,124
October 2112:20 p.m.at Duke
ACCNW 24–1722,621
October 2812:30 p.m.Virginia
  • Heinz Field
  • Pittsburgh, PA
ACCRSNW 31–1430,889
November 97:30 p.m.North Carolina
  • Heinz Field
  • Pittsburgh, PA
ESPNL 31–3434,056
November 1812:20 p.m.at Virginia Tech
ACCNL 14–2058,948
November 2412:00 p.m.No. 2 Miami (FL)
  • Heinz Field
  • Pittsburgh, PA
ABCW 24–1435,978
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

Youngstown State

Youngstown State at Pittsburgh
Team 1 234OTTotal
No. 9 (FCS) Penguins 0 07140 21
• Panthers 14 7007 28
See also: 2017 Youngstown State Penguins football team

At Penn State

Pittsburgh at Penn State
Team 1 234Total
Panthers 0 338 14
• No. 4 Nittany Lions 14 0712 33
See also: 2017 Penn State Nittany Lions football team and Penn State–Pittsburgh football rivalry

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State at Pittsburgh
Team 1 234Total
• No. 9 Cowboys 21 2873 59
Panthers 0 1470 21
See also: 2017 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team

At Georgia Tech

Pittsburgh at Georgia Tech
Team 1 234Total
Panthers 7 1000 17
• Yellow Jackets 7 1477 35
See also: 2017 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team

Rice

Rice at Pittsburgh
Team 1 234Total
Owls 0 0100 10
• Panthers 21 7014 42
  • Date: September 30
  • Location:
    Heinz Field
    Pittsburgh, PA
  • Game start: 12:04 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 2:59
  • Game attendance: 33,051
  • Game weather: 56°F • NW 9 • Mostly Sunny
  • Referee: Jeff Maconaghy
  • TV announcers (ACCRSN):
    Play-by-Play: Evan Lepler
    Analyst: Takeo Spikes
See also: 2017 Rice Owls football team

At Syracuse

Pittsburgh at Syracuse
Team 1 234Total
Panthers 0 10311 24
• Orange 3 7107 27
  • Date: October 7
  • Location:
    Carrier Dome
    Syracuse, NY
  • Game start: 12:34 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:33
  • Game attendance: 33,290
  • Game weather: Dome
  • Referee: Tra Blake
  • TV announcers (ACCRSN):
    Play-by-Play: Wes Durham
    Analyst: James Bates
See also: 2017 Syracuse Orange football team and Pittsburgh–Syracuse football rivalry

NC State

NC State at Pittsburgh
Team 1 234Total
• No. 20 Wolfpack 14 0714 35
Panthers 7 703 17
  • Date: October 14
  • Location:
    Heinz Field
    Pittsburgh, PA
  • Game start: 12:03 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:13
  • Game attendance: 41,124
  • Game weather: 72°F • SSE 6 • Mostly Sunny
  • Referee: Riley Johnson
  • TV announcers (ACCRSN):
    Play-by-Play: Evan Lepler
    Analyst: Takeo Spikes
See also: 2017 NC State Wolfpack football team

At Duke

Pittsburgh at Duke
Team 1 234Total
• Panthers 7 0710 24
Blue Devils 0 3140 17
See also: 2017 Duke Blue Devils football team

Virginia

Virginia at Pittsburgh
Team 1 234Total
Cavaliers 0 707 14
• Panthers 7 1473 31
  • Date: October 28
  • Location:
    Heinz Field
    Pittsburgh, PA
  • Game start: 12:34 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 2:54
  • Game attendance: 30,889
  • Game weather: 55°F • S 7 • Light Rain
  • Referee: Duane Heydt
  • TV announcers (ACCRSN):
    Play-by-Play: Wes Durham
    Analyst: James Bates
See also: 2017 Virginia Cavaliers football team

North Carolina

North Carolina at Pittsburgh
Team 1 234Total
• Tar Heels 14 1037 34
Panthers 3 1477 31
See also: 2017 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

At Virginia Tech

Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech
Team 1 234Total
Panthers 7 007 14
• Hokies 7 3010 20
  • Date: November 18
  • Location:
    Lane Stadium
    Blacksburg, VA
  • Game start: 12:20 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:11
  • Game attendance: 58,948
  • Game weather: 57°F • WSW 2 • Cloudy
  • Referee: Jeff Flanagan
  • TV announcers (ACCN):
    Play-by-Play: Brock Bowling
    Analyst: Renaldo Wynn
See also: 2017 Virginia Tech Hokies football team

Miami (FL)

Miami (FL) at Pittsburgh
Team 1 234Total
No. 2 Hurricanes 0 707 14
• Panthers 3 777 24
See also: 2017 Miami Hurricanes football team

2018 NFL draft

Main article: NFL Draft
Player Position Round Pick NFL club
Brian O'Neill Offensive Tackle 2 62 Minnesota Vikings
Jordan Whitehead Safety 4 117 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Avonte Maddox Cornerback 4 125 Philadelphia Eagles

References

  1. ^ Spring Guide 2017 Archived March 24, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Pitt Panthers Football 2017 Schedule Released". Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  3. ^ "2017 Pitt football schedule released". WTAE. January 24, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
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