Dennis provides stability in middle of Panthers' linebacker quandary taken on the South Side (Pitt)

Pitt Athletics

SirVocea Dennis.

While Pat Narduzzi and defensive coordinator Randy Bates figure out their starters at each outside linebacker spot, one constant will remain in aiding the transition and turnover at the position.

SirVocea Dennis is their unquestioned leader. He's the voice that his teammates turn to, he's one of the most versatile players on that side of the ball, and he's the straw that stirs the entire operation for Narduzzi and Bates. 

With three massive departures at the position and an influx of transfers, he will be counted on now more than ever in fortifying the middle of the Panthers' elite defense.

"I just try to be everyone's teammate," Dennis said. "I don't want to be everyone's coach, and try to make it seem like I'm trying to overwhelm them with information and things to do. I just try to be that teammate on the field, and if I have to correct them -- if I need to -- I will."

He is the constant the Pitt defense especially needs early in the season, with marquee games against West Virginia and Tennessee on the slate right out of training camp. 

The Panthers lost four of their seven leading tacklers from last season, including linebackers John Petrishen, Cam Bright, and Phil Campbell III. Even though he's primarily a middle linebacker, Dennis won't just be counted on for his services at that spot.

"SirVocea can play all three (positions), and that's what I have comfort with," Narduzzi said. "Nice to have him in the middle to make sure he has everything under control and can tell everybody else what to do. ... I think we have a lot of pieces to work with."

Dennis was the leader of the pack last season, having racked up a team-high 81 total tackles and pacing all linebackers with 9.5 tackles for loss. 

His impact goes beyond the stat sheet, however. Now, with massive turnover within the room, his impact off the field will be as important as the one he will leave on it. Along with linebacker Brandon George backing him up in the middle, those qualities will be counted on more than ever.

"Those guys have sat down all summer, even all spring for some of the guys who've been here, and they're teaching along with what we've been teaching," Bates said. "The kids are in here every day grinding, learning, watching tape, and so I'm very impressed with where they're at."

Tylar Wiltz and Shayne Simon enter as veteran transfers, and Bangally Kamara, Solomon DeShields, Aydin Henningham, and Nick Lapi are vying for playing time as returners at the position. With the outside linebackers, Bates alluded to six and potentially seven working in at given points.

"I think the biggest thing and the nicest thing is they have to come to practice, they have to come to play every day," Bates said. "If they don't, they know somebody's going to step in front of them. Every day is a competition. We don't just star a guy as a starter. If a guy's playing better than another guy, that's the guy who's going to play."

Kamara is expected to have a larger role in the 2022 defense, after playing mostly on special teams last season. He tallied 11 tackles and two sacks while playing parts of all 14 games. 

Narduzzi said Kamara "stood out" during the Panthers' first fall scrimmage by making a nice interception, and has been playing "at a high level" throughout camp.

He also offered praises for Lapi, who has "had an outstanding camp" and has played his way into the rotation, after being mostly considered as a special teams player.

But, all of this mixing-and-matching is possible with Dennis being the nucleus.

Dennis is in a unique position on the defense, where Haba Baldonado and preseason All-American Calijah Kancey occupy the front, and Brandon Hill and Erick Hallett II occupy the spaces behind him as fellow constants to their respective positions and levels of the field. 

Pitt doesn't run the flashy, exotic looks with linebackers getting into 3-point stances often, and they rely on their linebackers to play smart, make correct decisions, and be where they're supposed to be in order to support those talents on the upper and lower levels of the field. Dennis isn't just a middle linebacker, either. He'll have more freedom than any other to play some outside linebacker and get up on the line of scrimmage in blitz packages.

"Wherever coach needs me to play, and wherever I can be to win games, I'll be," Dennis said.

Loading...
Loading...