Spring is winding down, and Pitt football and men’s basketball are both in the middle of some real chaos. Football coach Pat Narduzzi just wrapped up spring camp, while basketball coach Jeff Capel is dealing with the wild world of the transfer portal.
Let’s take a look at where both programs stand, who’s leaving, and what might be next. Here are the main things to know, plus some questions and predictions about Pitt’s football and basketball teams.
Three Things We Know
Basketball Exodus
The Pitt basketball roster just got gutted—six players have jumped into the transfer portal. Roman Siulepa, Nojus Indrusaitis, Omari Witherspoon, Kieran Mullen, Brandin Cummings, and Papa Amadou Kante are all looking for new teams.
Top recruit Anthony Felesi is also gone, leaving Pitt with a bunch of holes to fill. Fans are definitely feeling uneasy, especially after a 20-loss season.
Now, all eyes are on Capel and his staff to see how they’ll rebuild through the portal and recruiting. It’s a tense, uncertain stretch for Pitt basketball.
The Plan for Rebuilding
Capel has to basically rebuild the whole roster. The aim? Put together a team that can actually compete by 2026-27.
He’s done this before—he flipped a roster and got Pitt to the NCAA tournament. But this time, it’s tougher, with even more departures and the transfer portal being what it is these days.
Pitt’s got $8 to $10 million to spend in the portal, so that’s something. Whether that’s enough comes down to smart scouting and a little luck. Capel and General Manager Jay Kuntz need to find the right guys and get them on board.
Quiet Spring for Football
Meanwhile, football’s been pretty calm. The quarterback spot is locked in, and there haven’t been any major injuries or exits.
That’s a relief for the team as they look ahead to the fall. The spring game is coming up, but it’ll be closed to fans because of some logistical mess.
The coaches have spent camp tweaking the roster, especially at running back and linebacker.
Two Questions We Have
Who Will Step Up on Offense?
The running back group has been a nice surprise this spring. Ja’Kyrian Turner is leading the way and looks much improved.
Behind him, La’Vell Wright and Synkwan Smith are making noise too. Wright, a transfer with good size, brings a different look to the group. Smith, a redshirt freshman, has a bit of that Des Reid spark—he’s explosive and fun to watch.
This trio could give Pitt a legit, balanced backfield. If the tight ends and receivers develop, the offense might actually have some bite.
Can the Linebackers Fill the Void?
Linebacker has been a big question after losing Kyle Louis and Rasheem Biles. Those two did a lot for the defense, so it’s a tough gap to fill.
Braylan Lovelace is back and moving to the Star linebacker spot. Jeremiah Marcelin, Alex Sanford Jr., DeMarco Ward, Cam Lindsey, Justin Thompson, and Davin Brewton have all stepped up, so there’s at least some depth and flexibility now.
Will this group match what Louis and Biles did? That’s a big ask, honestly. Still, there’s enough potential here to think Pitt’s defense could hold up.
One Prediction
Ed Conway Award Winners
Pitt plans to keep the Ed Conway Award tradition going, even with the new spring game format. Since 1975, this award has celebrated the most improved players on offense and defense during spring camp.
On offense, Mason Heintschel and Ja’Kyrian Turner look like strong contenders. Heintschel’s progress means a lot for the team’s outlook. Turner keeps grabbing attention with his bigger role and steady performance. Freshman Tony Kinsler has also made a leap, so he’s definitely in the mix too.
Defense brings its own set of names. The linebacker group—Braylan Lovelace, Jeremiah Marcelin, and Justin Thompson—has really turned heads. Their growth stands out, and honestly, it’s tough to pick just one. The linebackers’ depth and flexibility just make them even more likely to snag the Conway Award.
If you want more details or care to dive deeper, check out 247Sports.
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