By Ray Porter Jr./Urban Media Today
PITTSBURGH–After a disappointing 2023 season that saw them finish their first missed Bowl appearance since 2017 and a 3-9 record (their worst record since 1998), the Pitt Panthers 2024 team has been on a road to redemption. They made several off-season changes which included adding a new Offensive Coordinator in Kade Bell and the transfer additions of former Alabama QB Eli Holstein, and RB Desmond Reid. Part of their redemption tour got derailed when it was announced that 2023 leading rusher RB Rodney Hammond, Jr. was declared ineligible for the entire 2024 season, but it didn’t show in their first game as they welcomed FBS Kent State to Acrisure Stadium and sent them home after beating them 55-24.
“I’m sure you’ve got a lot of questions. Happy with what we did today,” said Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi. “I thought really all three phases did some good things. All three phases did some stuff we’ve got to clean up.”
It was truly an offensive explosion, led by 2 of their off-season transfers: Holstein, a redshirt Freshman who didn’t play a down on Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide team, was named starter and didn’t disappoint as he led the Panthers on 3 First Half scoring drives: one that resulted in an 11-yard TD pass to WR Konata Mumpfield, and a 7-yard TD pass to Raphael Williams Jr. His final TD pass was to WR Kenny Johnson in the 3rd Quarter. Holstein would finish with passing 30/40 for 33 yards, 3 TDs and an interception.
“I’ll let you guys. It won’t matter what I say. I’m going to watch the videotape. I thought early, shoot, I think his first series there wasn’t an incomplete pass. Eli played really good, I think,” said Narduzzi. “I was really happy with where he was. He had the one interception, kind of threw it off his heels, I think. We’ll go back and look at what he did there. I think the corner came one time. Overall, 30 of 40 for, what, 300-plus yards, I would say he looked pretty darn good.”
Nate Yarnell entered the game in the fourth quarter and threw a 6-yard TD to Williams, his second of the game.
Reid was the other star of the game as he filled in for Hammond admirably by not only rushing for 145 yards and a 46-yard TD, but he also scored on a 78-yard TD to extend their lead to 14-0. “That’s what I was talking about. I mean, the kid’s been like that,” said Narduzzi. He’s tough. He gets a calf right there, comes back, doesn’t say boo. He just keeps going. He’s an Eveready battery. He just goes. Even the punt return. We had our base defense on the field. We were in punt safe. We were keeping our base defense on the field. They made some blocks, and he made some plays. He popped through. I told you he could break one. Happened to be Izzy (Israel Abanikanda) was here today. He’s that kind of back who can break one.”
Johnson finished with 7 receptions for 105 yards for the Panthers (1-0, 0-0) ACC.
On Defense, the Panthers gave up 21 points but were able to sack Golden Flashes QB Devin Kargman (14/28, 181, 2 TD, INT) 5 times.
“Again, refer to the videotape. Kyle Louis, the one time he came in there and smacked the guy. The quarterback got beat up today,” Narduzzi said. “I hope he’s healthy. He took a beating today by our guys. We got five sacks, but it was five sacks and another ten hits so it’s 15 hits on the quarterback. He took licks, and he’s a tough kid from Camden, New Jersey, so give him credit.”
With this convincing win, the Panthers are off on the right foot of their redemption tour and will now prepare to travel to Cincinnati to face the Bearcats (1-0, 0-0 Big 12) Narduzzi knows his Panthers have a lot of work to do.
“Opening day issues, whether it be a muffed punt by Konata trying to make a play, just some stuff like that that’s got to get cleaned up. Jumping over a punch shield, which we can’t do, which we coach every single day, but guys trying to be aggressive.” Said Narduzzi. “Too many penalties early in the game. All on us. But overall, game one, there will be a lot to teach from the video, and happy with where we are at this point.”
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