Pitt Has New Leader in DL Competiton

The Pitt Panthers have a different face lighting up the defensive line this year.

PITTSBURGH -- Deandre Jules' is entering his fourth year as a Pitt Panther which out much to show for it in terms of on-field production - just 12 tackles, four for a loss and 1.5 sacks over 16 career games. But that could all change very soon. 

Jules has been one of the stars of training camp so far, drawing rave reviews from coaches as he wields a re-tooled body and continues to stand out among a Pitt defensive line room. Now he's got his Pitt coaches believing he'll be a force in 2023. 

“He’s figured it out," Defensive coordinator Randy Bates said. "He’s much more athletic. He’s a pain to block. And he’s going to play a lot of ball for us”

Jules has earned the right to play through his work on and off the field. He'll have to contend with established veterans like Devin Danielson, David Green and Tyler Bentley, as well as rising reserves like Sean FitzSimmons and Isaiah Neal for playing time but defensive line coach Charlie Partridge has seen enough to believe that Jules has what it takes. 

Maturity and a slimmer frame have made him a much more difficult cover for the Panthers' offensive linemen. He's smarter and making the right moves, plus faster and making those decisions more quickly. 

“Sometimes it sounds like coach speak, but he’s matured off the field so he could see this coming," Partridge said. "He doesn’t have distractions, he’s handling his schedule so much better and playing really good football. Minimal mental errors for the entire camp and it’s allowed his talents to rise up and I’m really proud of him.”

Pitt and Partridge had to be patient with Jules, who has taken four years to show the kind of consistent play that warrants serious consideration for playing time, but it was well worth the wait. 

The Panthers have, after all, tried to hang their hat on doing more with less, using a player's time in the program to maximize their potential, even if it doesn't happen right away. Jules is just one more example of that and it serves as a reminder to Partridge about the virtues of patience. 

"In a developmental program, you’re going to have guys who are fourth or fifth-year guys that come out of that development phase," he said. "You’re going to wonder where they were. They’ve been here the whole time, they’ve just been in the crock pot.”

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