Pitt’s first official depth chart of the 2026 season arrived Monday, and the two-deep offers a clean look at where the Panthers stand heading into the opener.
On offense, the layout is mostly straightforward. Mason Heintschel is listed first at quarterback ahead of Holden Geriner, while Ja'Kyrian Turner opens at running back with La'Vell Wright OR Damon Ferguson behind him.
At wide receiver, Malik Knight OR Tony Kinsler are listed at one spot, Censere Lee is paired with Tyreek Robinson at another, and Cataurus Hicks leads a group that also includes Bryce Yates and Cam Sapp. Carson Kent and Elijah Lagg are the tight ends.
The offensive line shows Netinho Olivieri at left tackle, Kendall Stanley at left guard, Ryan Carretta at center, BJ Williams at right guard and Ryan Baer at right tackle, with backups listed across the board. One thing to watch is the receiver alignment behind Lee, where Bryce Yates is listed behind Cataurus Hicks instead of in his usual slot role behind Lee. Another point of interest is freshman running back Damon Ferguson, who impressed during training camp and is listed as an OR starter with transfer La'Vell Wright.
The defense brings more of the intrigue. At defensive end, Jimmy Scott OR Jaeden Moore and Isaiah Neal OR Zach Crothers headline the group, with Josh Pittman and Reston Lehman listed as top backups. That makes the edge spots especially worth monitoring, since the OR designations include the returning starters and the freshmen Pittman and Lehman are already near the top of the rotation.
The interior defensive line is set with Sean FitzSimmons, Jeremiah Warren and Ty Yuhas at one tackle spot, and Nick James, Eliyt Nairne and Lincoln Hoke at the other. Hoke is one of two freshmen on the defensive two-deep, joining safety Tony Forney.
At linebacker, Pitt’s top three remain the same group it has used since spring camp: Braylan Lovelace at star, Jeremiah Marcelin in the middle, and Alex Sanford at money. Lovelace is backed by DeMarco Ward and Jayden Bonsu, while Marcelin has Davin Brewton OR Justin Thompson behind him. Sanford has Cameron Lindsey as his backup.
In the secondary, transfer cornerback Raion Strader is listed ahead of returning standout Shadarian Harrison, with Shawn Lee Jr. and Rashan Murray on the other side. The safety spots have Cruce Brookins and Tony Forney at strong safety, and Josh Guerrier, Cole Woodson and Allen Bryant at free safety.
Special teams also has some competition resolved, at least for now. Antonio Chadha is listed first at placekicker over Sam Hunsaker, while Gabe Russo is the starting punter ahead of Kaemon Tijerina.
Tijerina is also listed as the holder, with Angelo Renda as the backup. Justin Schmidt is the long snapper, backed up by Alex Rudolph.
The kicking battles started in spring camp and ran through August, and this depth chart suggests Chadha won the placekicking job while Russo came out on top at punter. Those races could still carry into the regular season.
Cam Sapp shows up in multiple places on special teams, listed as the kickoff returner alongside Tyreek Robinson and as the punt returner with Cataurus Hicks. Pitt also listed Sam Hunsaker and Antonio Chadha on kickoffs.
In Other News...
Pitts Defense Is Bringing Back The Identity Fans Crave
Pitts defense is leaning hard into a familiar formula this fall, and it starts with the kind of homegrown toughness fans in Western Pennsylvania have always loved. Sean FitzSimmons on the defensive line, Braylan Lovelace at linebacker, Cruce Brookins at safety and Raion Strader at cornerback all come from the region, giving this group a local core that feels tailor-made for the way the Panthers want to play. Their high school rsums already suggested players who could handle pressure and physical football, and now they are carrying that edge into a defense that is trying to reestablish its identity.
FitzSimmons, a four-year starter, has grown from a reliable piece into one of the voices setting the tone, and his connection to his roots remains part of what makes him fit so naturally in this group. Coaches have pointed to the grit associated with players from Western Pennsylvania, and this bunch gives Pitt a chance to put that reputation on the field in a very visible way. For a program looking to bring back the feel fans crave, the defensive side of the ball has plenty of local markers already in place. [Read more 🡒]
Pitt Defense Faces An Early Miami Test As Crothers Returns
With an unfamiliar opponent on deck, Pitt spent part of its week focused on the basics that tend to decide September football. Defensive coordinator Cory Sanders framed the challenge around early downs and run defense, the kind of work that keeps a defense out of chasing mode and lets the Panthers dictate terms instead of reacting to them.
Zach Crothers return adds another layer to that buildup, with the defensive lineman speaking openly about the long road back from rehab and the patience it took to get himself ready to play again. On the other side of the ball, Malik Knight talked about the chemistry he has built with the quarterback and how he wants to use his speed when the offense gets opportunities, a reminder that Pitt is trying to sharpen both sides of the ball before a test that should tell the staff plenty. [Read more 🡒]