Pitt OT Matt Goncalves Ready for Next Level
PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers suffered more devastating attrition to their offensive line this week when they announced that starting left tackle Matt Goncalves would miss the remainder of the season with an undisclosed injury, making him the second member of starting of Pitt's starting lineup to lose a season to injury.
Goncalves, a redshirt senior, said he will stick with the team through the remainder of the year, offering whatever help he can to the suddenly much younger Pitt offensive line. But he will have a decision to make at the end of the year - to exercise another year of eligibility with the Panthers or pursue a career in the NFL. Whatever he decides, Goncalves' position coach believes he is ready for a leap to the pros.
"I think whatever he’s projected to be, that’s well-deserved and I wish, and I know he certainly does too, that he could have [finished the season]," Pitt offensive line coach Dave Borbley said. "His whole focus was ‘I want to play well this season. I’m not worried about all that stuff.’ But yeah, I think he’s an NFL player.”
Goncalves morphed from unheralded recruit and reserve to the Panthers' best lineman and lone preseason All-ACC first-team selection. He has plenty of experience, talent and football IQ that will translate to the professional level, according to Borbley, who's coached a host of future NFL linemen during his time at Pitt like Brian O'Neill, Carter Warren and Jimmy Morrisey, among others.
“He was a 13-game started and then started the last six games of the ‘21 season," Borbley said. "So a lot of experience there and a lot of on-the-job training for him, which it is for all those kids because every game presents a different situation and scenario, different type of pass rusher and different type of run defender. So he’s kind of seen the whole gambit. You lose a lot when you lose a guy like that.”
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