The question in the headline spawned from my most recent Live Qs session, so a quick thank-you goes out to Asylum member BigFiddy for jump-starting my brain on the topic.
The transfer portal is an obviously massive part of today's college football landscape. Let's take this data from renowned transfer portal expert Mike Farrell as a prime example:
How many FBS scholarship portal players are currently available (12/14) per position?
— FarrellPortal (@farrellportal) December 14, 2022
RB: 83
QB: 65
WR: 155
TE: 43
OL: 107
DL: 129
LB: 116
DB: 203
Punters: 9
Kickers: 14
Long snappers: 5@mfarrellsports
Add those numbers up, and that is 929 available scholarship players from Football Bowl Subdivision which are available via the transfer portal, as of this posting.
(See, it is not just Pitt which is losing players to the portal!)
We have already seen quarterback Kedon Slovis, wide receivers Jaylon Barden and Jaden Bradley, and defensive end John Morgan III already announce their intentions to play next season away from Pitt.
This process, however, is transactional, and Pitt is sure to gain from the portal, as well, over the offseason.
But, Pat Narduzzi and his staff have to pick and choose their spots.
Here are five positions which I believe Pitt could dive into the transfer portal for:
1. Interior offensive line
The center is going to be the largest hole to fill over the offseason, with Owen Drexel for certain graduated and with the possibility of Jake Kradel forgoing his final season of eligibility. Kradel, should he remain at Pitt for his final year, would surely slide over as the new starting center, but him leaving would still create a void at both of the center and guard positions.
Blake Zubovic could also leave. With Marcus Minor graduating, the left guard, center, and right guard positions could all be up for grabs, and Narduzzi could look to multiple directions to fill in the gaps.
Currently set for the 2023 roster among interior offensive linemen include Jason Collier Jr., Terrence Moore, Ryan Jacoby, and walk-ons Dakota Peters, Matt Altsman, and Matt Metrosky, with 2023 commit BJ Williams, a three-star prospect, set to join the fray. A lot does change for this interior unit if Zubovic and/or Kradel stay, but the Panthers could benefit tremendously by adding one veteran interior offensive lineman in the similar vain which the All-ACC selection Minor was added prior to the 2021 season.
2. Wide receiver
It is also not 100% certain that Jared Wayne returns for his final season, but regardless of his status, it is blatantly obvious that Pitt needs depth at wide receiver. As mentioned near the beginning of this, Barden and Bradley are already in the portal, leaving Wayne, Konata Mumpfield, and Bub Means as the only three primary returning options for incoming transfer quarterback Phil Jurkovec. If Frank Cignetti Jr. wants to see his former protege thrive again, he is going to have to bring in some extra weapons for him to throw to. Zion Fowler already de-committed from Pitt, and the top recruit set to join in 2023 is Dallastown, Pa. native Kenny Johnson, a 6-foot-1 three-star prospect.
But beyond those four, there isn't much left. Unless Cignetti and receivers coach Tiquan Underwood are thrilled by the progress made by Addison Copeland III, Gavin Thomson, or Myles Alston, then they will have to address this position inside the portal.
An intriguing target here is Penn Hills product Dante Cephas, who seems like a perfect fit for Pitt out of the portal. The former Kent State receiver entered on Dec. 5 and already has a laundry list of offers, including from Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, Notre Dame, Georgia, and Colorado. The 6-foot-1 target had 48 catches for 744 yards snd three touchdowns this season for Kent State. In 2021, he racked up 1,240 yards on 82 catches with nine TDs while catching passes from Mid-American Conference Player of the Year Dustin Crum.
3. Outside linebacker
It worked for 2022, so conventional wisdom could suggest that adding another veteran transfer linebacker with starting potential could keep this unit elite into 2023. Tylar Wiltz and Shayne Simon were rock-star adds for Narduzzi this season, but Wiltz is done playing college football after the Sun Bowl, which leaves a depth piece in need for the next season.
Now, it is not entirely vital that another outside linebacker transfers in, because the Panthers' depth at that position runs well: Bangally Kamara, Solomon DeShields, Buddy Mack, Aydin Henningham, and Nick Lapi are due to step up next season -- we have already seen flashes from Kamara and DeShields -- but another veteran linebacker to shore up that room would be appreciated. SirVocea Dennis appears to be on the exit, as signified by his Senior Bowl invitation accepting, and with Brandon George missing a good chunk of the 2022 season with injury issues, perhaps one of Simon, Kamara, or DeShields slides into the middle in 2023. This unit thrives off of veterans running it, with Narduzzi entrusting senior linebackers with signal calling, and another veteran to pick up the advanced nature of how Narduzzi lets these players roam the field is a near necessary component to keeping this defense as a thriving one.
4. Tight end
If Cignetti wants Jurkovec to succeed as a quarterback, then Gavin Bartholomew will have to be utilized more in the 2023 offense.
That was given for Slovis in 2022, but will be even more of a bullet point for the 2023 offense.
But what about what is behind Bartholomew?
I think this offense would benefit tremendously from another tight end with pass-catching ability. Kyi Wright is in the portal, leaving 2022 transfers Karter Johnson and Dylan Deveney as the main options behind Bartholomew. Deveney has some pass-catching ability and could slide in as the secondary pass-catcher, but he and Johnson would likely be utilized as blockers, just as Johnson and Wright were this season.
I might be combining two thoughts into one, or this is wishful thinking, but I think Bartholomew would benefit tremendously from more snaps inside the slot in 2023. That could leave more options for a second pass-catching tight end to operate in 11 or 12 personnel alongside Bartholomew.
5. Punter
The Sam Vander Haar experiment was a great idea at first. Special teams coordinator Andre Powell had success with an Australian punter before in Kirk Christodoulou, and dipping back into the well from down under was a smart strategy into this season.
But, over time, Vander Haar struggled to develop into the American style of kicking, and as a result, the special teams unit began to struggle to flip the field. Vander Haar also missed two games, leaving Cam Guess and Caleb Junko to battle for punts. Vander Haar punted 29 times for an average of 39.0 yards, Guess kicked it 12 times for an average of 35.5 yards, and Junko had nine boots for a 43.3-yard average. This position shouldn't have been as much as a concern as it was this season -- the Panthers traveled three punters on more than one road trip this season -- but having a sure leg back to flip the field again would be a boost for the 2023 Panthers.
