Inside The Panthers

Pitt Freshman Earns Superstar Comparison

The Pitt Panthers could have a superstar running back hidden on their roster.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt Freshman Earns Superstar Comparison
Pitt Freshman Earns Superstar Comparison /
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers might have found a new star at running back in their latest freshman class, if head coach Pat Narduzzi is right. 

"I guess young guy when you think about freshmen coming in is Juelz Goff. He has a different gear," Narduzzi said of his newest Panther tailback. "He’s got some of that Izzy Abanikanda speed, I think. We’ll see more. I still haven’t seen enough to say he’s Izzy yet, but he’s shown some really good things."

It's not easy to live up to that comparison. Abanikanda accounted for 1,577 total yards and 21 touchdowns his final season at Pitt before the New York Jets drafted him. But Goff has the physical traits to live up to the hype, if his high school tape is any indication. 

Goff totaled 222 carries, 1623 yards and 31 rushing touchdowns in just nine games in the closing act of his high school career. On the average Friday night, he was totting the rock 25 times, for 180 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He left Central York as the district's Offensive Player of the Year and all-time leading rusher. He has track star speed - a 10.8-second 100-meter dash time that would have ranked among the top 10 at the 2021 US Olympic trials - as just a senior in high school. 

The Panthers have a deep running backs room, led by Rodney Hammond and Daniel Carter, but Goff could break out sooner than later with his speed leading the way. 

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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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