Pitt Missed Solomon DeShields in Wake Forest Loss

The Pitt Panthers were missing a major piece of their defense in the loss to Wake Forest.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers suffered a major loss mere seconds into last weekend's game against Wake Forest. 

Starting linebacker Solomon DeShields went down with an undisclosed injury on the opening kickoff of the game and did not return, leaving an already thin Panthers linebacking corps even more undermanned on short notice. 

"You know, Solomon DeShields went out, we were a little shorthanded at linebacker," head coach Pat Narduzzi said. "It really hurts not having DeShields out there. As you guys know, he’s had a good season so far. I think it was the opening kickoff, I believe, where we tagged them inside the 20-yard line."

DeShields has really come into his own in his first season as a full-time starter. His six-and-a-half tackles for loss lead the team and ranks 10th in the division, he ranks third on the team in total tackles and third in sacks. 

And it wasn't just DeShields who the Panthers were missing at linebacker. The top candidates to back him up - freshmen Kyle Louis and Braylan Lovelace - didn't make the trip down to Winston-Salem, North Carolina for this game. 

The Panthers had to turn to true freshman Jordan Bass as an emergency starter. He had only played a handful of defensive snaps during his short career, all of which came against Lousiville the week prior. Bass made three tackles, including one for a loss, but still showed some of the youthful mistakes that are common in a player getting his first real action. 

"Jordan Bass got a lot of reps out there today. I think last week I told you he had four - shoot, I think he had 50 today," Narduzzi said. "Again, playing with a true freshman linebacker out there. ... Just a tough - but I don’t care if you have a freshman linebacker. We’ve got to make plays."

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