Pitt Planning to Thin DL Rotation

The Pitt Panthers are looking to find their workhorses as the schedule gets more difficult.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers had some fun in their 45-7 win in the season opener against Wofford. The blowout win allowed them to test their depth and send some young players out for their first snaps. 

The Panthers dipped particularly deep into their defensive line, playing 11 linemen over four quarters. Pitt has plenty of depth at that position, but don't expect the rotation to be as loose when the Panthers host Cincinnati this week. 

“It’ll be slimmed down a little bit based on how the game is going. So we’ll play eight guys up there for sure," head coach Pat Narduzzi said. "But we got more guys in [against Wofford]. I don’t know how early they got in but the score got out of control early and you were like ‘Yeah, go ahead, go ahead,’ but it will be a little more detailed this week.”

Pitt has four starters - David Green, Devin Danielson, Deandre Jules and Tyler Bentley - listed at defensive tackle that Narduzzi likes and said earlier in the week that he would keep in the lineup. Dayon Hayes and Nate Temple are the listed starters at the defensive end. 

That accounts for six of the eight that Narduzzi pledged to play, but where the other two come from is an open question. Standout redshirt freshman Sean FitzSimmons didn't play against Wofford and should be one of the first men off the bench. So should Nahki Johnson, the Ed Conway Award Winner for the most improved defensive player during spring ball, and Samuel Okunlola, a redshirt freshman defensive end who recorded his first sack against the Terriers. 

But no matter who sees the field this weekend, it'll be who the Panthers believe can carry them down the stretch of the regular season. We'll get a first look at that rotation against the Bearcats. 

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