Inside The Panthers

Former Pitt DT Aaron Donald Shares Pre-Draft Message with Calijah Kancey

Former Pitt Panther Aaron Donald had a pre-draft message for Calijah Kancey.

Stephen Thompson

Former Pitt DT Aaron Donald Shares Pre-Draft Message with Calijah Kancey
Former Pitt DT Aaron Donald Shares Pre-Draft Message with Calijah Kancey /
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PITTSBURGH -- Ever since his football career took off, former Pitt Panthers defensive lineman Calijah Kancey has drawn comparisons to another great rusher from his alma mater. The similar size and playing style made it an easy line to draw. 

By the time Kancey made it to the NFL Combine earlier this month, he said he hadn't had much interaction with Donald, who spends some of his offseason back in his hometown of Pittsburgh, training at Pitt's practice facilities. But that changed this week when Donald prepared a special pre-draft message for Kancey. 

"Just wanted to reach out to tell you I'm proud of you," Donald said in an appearance on NFL Total Access. "All the great defensive lineman that Pitt was able to produce and you add into that, having so much success in college. Now you're going to this level where you're about to go to the NFL, live out your dream. Just wanted to tell you, man, to keep working. Just do the same thing you've been doing and don't slow down, don't get satisfied, don't get comfortable. Stay hungry and keep dominating."

Kancey was a unanimous All-American and ACC Defensive Player of the Year this past season after recording 31 tackles, 14.5 for a loss and 7.5 sacks in 11 games this year. He suffered a shoulder injury that kept him out of the regular season finale and will sideline him for the Sun Bowl against No. 18 UCLA, but Kancey still led the country's interior defensive linemen in tackles for loss.

Donald added he hopes Kancey falls to the Rams in April's Draft so the two former Pitt defenders can team up in Los Angeles. 

"Hopefully you can fall to me and come to the Rams so we can make something happen," Donald said. "But anywhere you go, you're going to do your thing and hold it down and continue to take over. Hail to Pitt. You're really making us Pitt guys proud."

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage and so much more!

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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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