Pitt LB Nick Lapi Earns Scholarship

The Pitt Panthers added a reserve linebacker to their list of scholarship players.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers had some good news to share with one of their veteran walk-ons over the weekend. 

Following the team's second scrimmage of the year, linebacker Nick Lapi was put on scholarship to the delight of his family, teammates and coaching staff. 

"Nick Lapi has done an unbelievable job all last year," head coach Pat Narduzzi said. "It was an easy decision to put this guy on scholarship. ... He's athletic, he's tough and a guy who's dependable."

Lapi learned his school would be paid for at a team meeting over the weekend. David Green, a super senior defensive lineman, was speaking to the team about the work Lapi and his teammates on the "rocks" - Pitt's scout team - had done this year during camp and singled out Lapi as one of the stars in that unit. 

"He brought up me and Brandon George and how we were on rocks and now we're on all phases of special teams. And he's like 'Those two are scholarship guys.' I was like 'I'm not on scholarship.'"

That was when Green yelled to the rest of the team that Lapi had been put on scholarship. The team erupted to congratulate Lapi and a graphic with his face on it appeared behind the team. 

Lapi then went to call his family, who couldn't contain their excitement. 

"I can't share exactly what she said," Lapi said. "She cursed a little bit. She was very happy, couldn't stop smiling."

The redshirt sophomore joined the team as a walk-on in 2021 but did not play. He became a valuable special teams contributor in 2022. Lapi could have gone to a smaller school, where more playing time and a scholarship would have been available right away, but he picked Pitt and is glad he did. 

Lapi said a scholarship won't change his attitude or approach. He'll keep playing football and doing the things that earned him this elevation from walk-on to scholarship player. 

"Never get too high, never get too low," he said. "And just keep sawing that wood."

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