The transfer portal window has officially closed, and for Pitt football, the whirlwind of roster turnover is finally beginning to settle. From walk-ons to All-ACC standouts, the Panthers saw a significant shake-up over the last few weeks-but now, with the portal shut and spring football on the horizon, the program can start focusing on what’s next.
Let’s be clear: Pitt didn’t just get nicked by the portal-they took some real hits. Losing 24 players to transfers is no small thing, and while some were depth pieces or walk-ons, others were key contributors.
The most notable departure? All-ACC linebacker Rasheem Biles, who’s headed to Texas.
That’s the kind of loss that stings, not just on the field but in the locker room. Add in 20 graduations and Kyle Louis declaring early for the NFL Draft, and you’re looking at a major roster overhaul.
But this isn’t a one-sided story. Pitt’s not just bleeding talent-they’ve been active in replenishing it.
The Panthers signed 21 high school recruits in December and brought in 17 transfers from the portal. That’s a pretty aggressive rebuild, and it speaks to a staff that’s not just reacting to losses but working to reshape the roster quickly and strategically.
Now that the dust has started to settle, it’s time to take stock of where things stand-position by position. Last week, the focus was on the offense. Today, we’re flipping the script and turning our attention to the defense, starting with the edge of the formation: the defensive ends.
This is a group that’s always been a cornerstone of Pitt’s identity under Pat Narduzzi. The Panthers have consistently churned out disruptive edge rushers who can get after the quarterback and set the edge in the run game. So the question now is: after all the movement, what does this position look like heading into spring ball?
With spring practice just about two months away, the defensive end room is going to be one of the most intriguing to watch. Who steps up?
Who fills the leadership void? And most importantly, who’s ready to carry on the tradition of defensive dominance that Pitt fans have come to expect?
We’ll be breaking that down in detail as we continue this series, but for now, one thing is clear: while the transfer portal brought plenty of change, Pitt isn’t standing still. They’re reloading, not rebuilding-and the defensive end position will be a key indicator of just how quickly they can bounce back.