Inside The Panthers

Pitt DT Calijah Kancey Named ACC Defensive Player of the Year

Pitt Panthers defensive tackle Calijah Kancey earned the highest honor an ACC defender can.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt DT Calijah Kancey Named ACC Defensive Player of the Year
Pitt DT Calijah Kancey Named ACC Defensive Player of the Year /
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PITTSBURGH -- He had already been named a first-team All-ACC defender and now he can add conference Defensive Player of the Year to his many accolades. Pitt defensive tackle Calijah Kancey has capped a decorated and productive season - and possibly career - as a Panther by taking home the top honor an ACC defender can. 

“I am extremely thankful and humbled to receive this incredible honor from the ACC,” Kancey said. “I share this award with all of my teammates and coaches. They make me better every day, on and off the field. I’m so proud to wear the Blue and Gold with them.”

Kancey narrowly beat out Yasir Abdullah, the excellent Louisville linebacker who earned 17 votes, by just two votes to earn the award. 

Despite facing constant double teams and blocking schemes designed to neutralize him, Kancey bullied his way to 31 total tackles, 14.5 for a loss. and 7.5 sacks. He was an anchor in the middle of the Panthers' outstanding defense, which leads the country in sacks (3.75 per game), ranks seventh nationally against the run (95.5 yards per game) and ranks 19th in fewest total yards allowed (319.7 per game). 

Kancey is the sixth Pitt player to have earned ACC Player or Rookie of the Year honors and the second to earn Defensive Player of the Year distinction specifically. Aaron Donald, a player Kancey's compared to often, was the first in 2013. Kancey and Donald are two of three defensive tackles to ever win the award. 

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

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Published
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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