Talkin’ Pitt: Veterans and Fresh Faces Set the Tone for 2025
8/26/2025 3:46:00 PM | Football
Straight from the podium: What Pitt’s coaches and players are saying ahead of this week’s matchup.
PITTSBURGH— With Week 1 underway, Tuesday's media availability featured assistant head coach and safeties coach Cory Sanders, team captain and linebacker Kyle Louis, and offensive lineman Jeff Persi as they previewed Pitt's season opener against Duquesne at Acrisure Stadium.
Sanders: "We call them takeaways, not turnovers."
Sanders made it clear that the standard for Pitt's secondary isn't just getting hands on the football—but finishing the play.
"When that ball's in the air, you have to treat it like it's yours. It's not the receiver's," Sanders said. "We call them takeaways, not turnovers."
He also praised veteran safety Javon McIntyre, calling him a steadying presence in the back end.
"I sleep at night knowing Javon is back there," Sanders said.
Sanders also highlighted the emergence of true freshman Josh Guerrier, who he believes is the first true freshman in at least eight years to break into the two-deep at safety.
"This might be the first time we've had a true freshman in the two-deep in eight years, and he earned it."
Louis: "I was always going to lead this defense."
Louis begins the season as Pitt's lone non-senior captain and the first underclassman voted to that role since 2019.
"Captain or not, I was always going to lead this defense," Louis said. "My teammates see the work I put in—first in the building, extra film, extra reps. Now it's time to bring more guys along."
Louis also commented on quarterback Eli Holstein's progression entering Year Two.
"Last year, sometimes he'd hesitate or wouldn't pull the trigger," Louis said. "This year, he's letting it fly. He's becoming more of a gunslinger."
Persi: "Competing in that room made all of us better."
After transferring from Michigan, Persi earned the starting left tackle job following a strong camp performance.
"I just tried to put my best foot forward every day," Persi said. "Competing in that room made all of us better."
He credited center Lyndon Cooper for setting the tone up front.
"Coop does everything right. He's a leader by example, and with his voice. He sets the tone for our whole group."
Persi believes the offensive line has both the talent and the mindset to play at a high level.
"We have the talent and the want-to. We've just got to execute—and I think we will."
