Pitt TE Ready for Breakout Season

The Pitt Panthers have a dangerous weapon on offense.

Sep 10, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers tight end Gavin Bartholomew (86) / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

PITTSBURGH -- Pitt Panthers senior tight end has a great chance to break out in 2024 and he showed his talents throughout the Spring Game.

Bartholomew made two catches for 45 yards, both coming towards the end of the first half from redshirt freshman Eli Holstein. His first catch was wide open, 18 yards to the sideline for the first down near midfield. His second reception came across the middle, with him dragging senior defensive back P.J. O'Brien and pushin down redshirt sophomore defensive back Ryland Gandy for a 27-yard gain.

Those two plays helped set up a touchdown to give the Gold Team a 10-3 lead at halftime and eventually the 17-10 win in the spring game.

Bartholomew struggled to get serious looks last season in the stagnant offense under Frank Cignetti Jr. He only had 18 catches for 326 yards and one touchdown, with his season-high just three catches in a game, which he did three times.

Despite many seeing him choose to leave the Panthers, Bartholomew stuck around and now has a chance to excel in a much different offense.

Kade Bell took over the offensive coordinator duties, promoting a faster-paced and spread-out attack to get the ball out quicker and to more targets. Even in just the Spring Game, fans got to see what they wanted all last season: targets to Bartholomew.

Tight ends coach Jacob Bronowski praised Bartholomew for his efforts in the Spring Game, despite serving as the head coach of the Blue Team.

He has seen Bartholomew's talents all spring, and he's glad that the rest of the fanbase had the chance to witness it as well.

"He's been a threat down the field, his route running is getting more and more better every single day," Bronowski said. "For Gavin moving forward, that’s the next phase for him is to continue to improve as a route runner within our offense because there is so much freedom within our offense to sit routes down and change your routes based on the coverages and leverages of the defense.

Gavin, just getting to the next level for him, like you see the Travis Kelces of the world do and that’s what I’m so excited about for him this summer moving forward. That’s what he’s going to be doing and studying and I can’t wait to see it for our program."

Redshirt junior quarterback Nate Yarnell, who will serve as the starter this fall, is also excited to get to play with Bartholomew under Bell's new system and plans to make him a big target throughout his tight end's final collegiate season.

"A huge threat, no doubt about it," Yarnell said. " I love Gavin, I love seeing him out there, seeing him make plays and I expect him to make plays this year."

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