Inside The Panthers

Pitt Adds Freshman OL to Starting Lineup vs Cincinnati

The Pitt Panthers have made a big change to their starting lineup.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt Adds Freshman OL to Starting Lineup vs Cincinnati
Pitt Adds Freshman OL to Starting Lineup vs Cincinnati /
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers have made a major shakeup to their offensive line prior to kickoff against Cincinnati at Acrisure Stadium. 

Prior to game time, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that true freshman B.J. Williams will replace Jason Collier Jr. - who is healthy - at left guard in the starting lineup. Collier had started against Wofford after presumed starter Ryan Javoby went down with a season-ending injury. 

Head coach Pat Narduzzi said at the start of the week that the Pitt offensive line had allowed frequent pressure up the middle, which affected starting quarterback Phil Jurkovec's accuracy. 

Williams, a former three-star recruit from Fairburn, Georgia, enrolled in January and has been one of the standouts of training camp so far among young offensive linemen. Players and coaches have said Williams is far ahead of where most true freshmen are at this point in their careers, both physically and mentally. 

"He is a freshman, but he’s been here since spring and it’s like he’s been here forever," starting right guard Blake Zubovic siad. "He doesn’t whine, keeps his nose to the grindstone. I think BJ is taking coaching as well as anyone here. Physically, he’s ready to go in if you need to. He’s strong, quick. I think B.J. is in a place that not a lot of guys in their first year are.”

But Williams faces a massive challenge as the starting left guard against a stout Cincinnati defensive line, led by All-American nose guard Dontay Corleone and defensive end Jowon Briggs. The Bearcats tallied three sacks against Eastern Kentucky in Week 1. 

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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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