Inside The Panthers

Pitt P Sam Vander Haar Enters Transfer Portal

The Pitt Panthers lose a former starter to the transfer portal.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt P Sam Vander Haar Enters Transfer Portal
Pitt P Sam Vander Haar Enters Transfer Portal /
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers are undergoing some turnover at the punter position this offseason. Last season's opening day starter, Sam Vander Haar, entered the transfer portal this week, according to a report from Mike Farrell of The Portal Report. 

Vander Haar's career in college football got off to a rough start. After winning the starting job coming out of fall training camp, Vander Haar struggled to make the adjustment to American Football's speed and timing after making the long journey to the states from Australia. He averaged 38.6 yards on his 30 kicks over 11 games but is best known for having a pair of his kicks blocked in the first two weeks of the season - one each against West Virginia and Tennessee. 

With Jeff Yurk now in the fold and Caleb Junko having made tremendous strides in spring practices, Vander Haar figured to be firmly outside of the punter picture. 

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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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