Pitt LBs Ranked Fifth in ACC
PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers lost an important emotional leader from the heart of their defense this offseason when SirVocea Dennis, leading tackler in 2021 and 2022 and a three-time All-ACC selection, declared for the NFL draft and was selected in the fifth round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It's a major loss, but not a damning one for the Panthers, according to ESPN ACC correspondent, David Hale. He assigned Pitt to the lower end of a crowded second tier. They rank fifth in the conference out of 14 teams, trailing Clemson, Florida State, North Carolina and NC State and one notch above Syracuse. No Panthers made his projected All-ACC teams.
Super senior Shayne Simon, who projects to start at one of the linebacker spots is among the 11 highest-rated returning linebackers in the ACC, according to Pro Football Focus. Pitt has played around with his position, moving him inside and outside as the season wore on, but his excellent coverage skills make a strong argument for keeping him on the outside.
"Pitt's Shayne Simon saw 26 targets while in coverage last year and allowed just 75 yards while racking up 6 PBUs." Hale wrote. "Per PFF, he graded out as the ACC's best linebacker in coverage."
One can feel comfortable penciling in Bangally Kamara at star linebacker and with Simon set to fill another spot, there are a couple of veterans with chances to fill the void Dennis leaves behind. Brandon George and Solomon DeShields are top candidates to battle for that staring linebacker spot but either way, both will play - one as a starter and the other as a reserve.
Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!
Darrelle Revis Calls Out Asante Samuel Over CB Rankings
Pat Narduzzi Among FBS's Longest-Tenured Head Coaches
West Virginia Limiting Ticket Sales for Backyard Brawl
Pitt Predicted to Miss on Four-Star WR
Pitt Contacts Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Transfer Terrion Murdix
- Follow Inside the Panthers on Twitter: @InsidePitt
