Inside The Panthers

Pro Football Focus Pegs Pitt DT Calijah Kancey as First Round Pick

Pitt Panthers defensive tackle Calijah Kacney continues to earn first-round buzz.

Stephen Thompson

Pro Football Focus Pegs Pitt DT Calijah Kancey as First Round Pick
Pro Football Focus Pegs Pitt DT Calijah Kancey as First Round Pick /
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PITTSBURGH -- Pitt Panthers defensive tackle Calijah Kancey is holding steady as a projected first round pick in the ever-nearing NFL Draft. 

Pro Football Focus' Sam Monson and Steve Palazzolo released a new mock draft with the real thing just days away and they have the Detroit Lions taking Kancey with their second pick of the first round - selection No. 18 overall. 

"He may have to start off as a designated pass-rusher, but he can truly excel in that role," Monson and Palazzolo wrote. "There's little doubt he's going to impact QBs at the next level."

Kancey was the second interior tackle taken in this draft, behind only Georgia's Jalen Carter and the eighth defensive player selected. 

Before he shattered all-time records with his speed and quickness at the NFL Combine and Pitt's Pro Day, Kancey was a unanimous All-American and ACC Defensive Player of the Year this past season after recording 31 tackles, 14.5 for a loss and 7.5 sacks in 11 games this year. 

He suffered a shoulder injury that kept him out of the regular season finale and will sideline him for the Sun Bowl against No. 18 UCLA, but Kancey still led the country's interior defensive linemen in tackles for loss.

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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