Practice Takeaways: First Look at Pitt Football in Pads

The Pitt Panthers teased some 11-on-11 drills during the open portion of its second training camp practice

PITTSBURGH -- Football season arrived in earnest on Pittsburgh's South Side on Wednesday, as the Pitt Panthers put on their shoulder pads for the first time at training camp. Panthers hit Panthers as full team defenses lined up against full team offenses and ran semi-live plays against one another. 

Weather: A steamy 82 degrees and partly sunny - downright humid. 

Dress: Pitt added shoulder pads to their shorts and helmets for the first time this training camp. 

Soundtrack: Kacey, by Youngboy Never Broke Again and Outside by MO3 and OG Bobby Billions (this was a personal favorite for senior defensive end John Morgan) blasted through speakers while the Panthers stretched.

Observations from an energetic third training camp practice follow below.  

Pads Crack in First "Thud" Period

Head coach Pat Narduzzi oversaw the first "thud" period of the 2022 season on Wednesday and it was the highlight of the day. The crack of plastic shells colliding with one another was a welcome sound for Pitt players, especially those along the offensive and defensive lines - two units that figure to be strengths of the 2022 Panthers. 

"Everyone's going against everyone," veteran defensive lineman Devin Danielson said. "It's going to be a fun time knocking heads with all of the o-linemen. ... It was a little rusty going into it because we haven't hit in a while. But it was pretty juiced up today." 

Danielson added that, while technically the thud period is supposed to limit the intensity and frequency of hits, he and his direct opponents always end up playing as if the reps were fully live. 

"In the trenches, we're still hitting, just not tackle football - just contact the runner," he said. "But for defensive linemen, it's pretty much full pads." 

Veteran Vincent Davis Leading in Running Backs Room

Senior tailback Vincent Davis is the elder statesman of a talented, productive group of Pitt rushers. They return three players who accounted for more than 500 yards on the ground in 2021 and Davis' 142 carries led the team.  After struggling out of the gates last summer, Narduzzi said Davis has started strong in 2022. 

"Vince has done a nice job," Narduzzi said. "He's had two good days of camp so far. He struggled early last camp for whatever reason but he's coming along."

Narduzzi added that Davis is becoming a vocal leader within the running backs room. As a senior, he is the elder statesman - the most experienced and productive player of anyone within that group. His outgoing, sometimes eccentric personality helps as well.

"[Davis] is one of those leaders, one of those sneaky leaders," Narduzzi said. "He's always talking. He loves that microphone. He's growing up. You love him and you love that energy that he brings to that room. He's kind of the leader in that room."

Davis showed off some of his trademark quick-twitch cuts and slippery running style during the 11-on-11 thud period on Wednesday. 

Panthers Searching for Secondary Tight End

Sophomore Gavin Bartholomew came as a pleasant surprise in 2021. He racked up 28 catches for 326 yards and four scores - the fourth-best receiving touchdown total on the team. He was an All-ACC Honorable Mention and landed on two freshman All-American teams. 

But Narduzzi said the Panthers will not lean solely on Bartholomew this coming season. They're looking for a reliable reserve behind their presumed starter during training camp and a couple of transfers - Karter Johnson and Dylan Deveney - are in the current leaders in that race.

"I'll tell you the other guy who's done a nice job and made an impact is Karter Johnson," Narduzzi said. "Karter's going to really push [Bartholomew] as well. So there's some competition there. ... Deveney is going to be a guy as well. Down the road, we'll see where he is, but I think he's looked good."

Johnson took a roundabout way to Pitt, signing with TCU as a four-star defensive lineman out of high school before dropping 70 pounds and stepping down to the junior college ranks before joining the Panthers this summer. Deveney's route was more typical. His freshman year at Georgia Tech was marred by injury and he committed to Pitt looking for a fresh start.  

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