Five Takeaways From Pitt Training Camp

New stars emerged from Pitt Panthers training camp.

PITTSBURGH -- With four weeks of training camp in the books, the Pitt Panthers look different than they did at the end of spring ball. 

New stars and a new approach emerged as the Panthers prepare to open the 2023 campaign against Wofford next week. 

New-Look Offense
If nothing else, the Panthers will attack defenses differently than they did in 2022. Without a home-run hitter like Israel Abanikanda in the backfield, the big plays are expected to come through the air. 

Pitt is counting on Phil Jurkovec to resemble his 2020 self, the receiving crops to take a massive step forward and continuity within offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti's system to drive this shift. There's plenty of potential for the passing game to improve drastically, and the Panthers want to capitalize on it. 

There's no way to know for sure if their efforts will be successful, but the Panthers will certainly approach things differently than they did last season. 

Pitt Has a Star at Cornerback
At the NFL Combine this past spring, each and every Pitt player in attendance was asked which Panther would be next up at that event and Devonshire was the most popular answer. 

Pat Narduzzi issued a warning to opposing offenses not to throw Devonshire's way this year, because he's been racking up the interceptions in practices and scrimmages. And not only is he a lockdown corner, but an all-league punt returner as well. 

Devonshire was really good last year, but 2023 could hold another leap for the Pittsburgh native. 

Ryan Bear Is A Rising Star
As Pitt seeks to fill the holes left behind by the departure of Carter Warren, Marcus Minor and Gabe Houy, there has been some shuffling along the offensive line with Ryan Jacoby, Branson Taylor, B.J. Williams and Bear all earning consideration for one of the two open spots. 

But Bear is the only one of those four that has been consistently mentioned as a standout within that competition. He's emerged as a leader and a force in the trenches. 

A former four-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals, Bear was one of the crown jewels of the Panthers' 2021 recruiting class and maintained a redshirt while playing in the final three games of the regular season. 

Javon McIntyre Has Separated Among Safeties 
The Panthers are going through as drastic a turnover at safety with two starters off to the NFL after long, successful careers. They have some capable options battling for snaps on the back end but there is one player who's been head and shoulders above his peers. 

Narduzzi has called just one safety a "starter" at any point during training camp and that player is McIntyre, who got his first action real action down the stretch of the regular season and started in the Sun Bowl with Brandon Hill out. 

I think McIntyre is one of the more underrated players on this defense, with athleticism, power, ball skills and intelligence. He's going to make an immediate impact and can grow into a star by the time he leaves Pitt. 

Linebacker Room Has Surprising Depth
At the outset of spring practices, Narduzzi said linebackers coach Ryan Manalac was looking for more from his linebackers room. He needed more bodies and he needed the players available to step up. 

That seems to have happened during training camp. The top line is strong with Bangally Kamara, Shayne Simon and Solomon DeShields, but the depth is where Manalac's concerns really get addressed.

Brandon George is a luxury as an experienced backup MIKE, redshirt freshman Kyle Louis is finally healthy and making plays and true freshman Braylan Lovelace has been a revelation through the spring and summer. And the future is bright with a pair of tremendous athletes in Jordan Bass and Rasheem Biles waiting in the wings after joining the team after spring ball. 

After going through some uncertain times, Pitt now feels much more content with not just their immediate future, but the long-term health of their linebackers room as well. 

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