Pitt Football Position Preview: The Secondary

Coach Pat Narduzzi has said he wants three starters at cornerback this fall, and he feels like he already has that — and maybe more.

Pair that depth on the outside with a safety room built on continuity rather than turnover, and Pitt's secondary looks like a group with real answers up and down the depth chart.

Cornerbacks

Shawn Lee Jr. and Shadarian Harrison headline the room after a pair of breakout seasons in 2025.

As a freshman, Lee turned heads across the league after his 13 appearances and 31 tackles — the most of any returning cornerback — and added an interception returned for a touchdown. His five pass breakups ranked second in the ACC among freshmen and he was the only true freshman in the league to record a pick six.

Harrison was called up when injuries befell the other older corners. He took advantage of his opportunities, setting career highs across the board in games played (12), starts (5), tackles (30), interceptions (1), pass breakups (4) and forced fumbles (1).

Behind them, Pitt brought in a pair of transfers to deepen the room. Raion Strader arrives from Auburn, where he started all 12 games last season and finished the year ranked third among all active FBS players in career passes defended.

Kanye Thompson joins from Slippery Rock, where his four forced fumbles last season ranked second-most in all of Division II. He was also an All-American sprinter in the 100-meter dash, a track background that shows up in his closing speed.

Rashan Murray has been a training camp talking point in his second season with the Panthers. After transferring from California University of Pennsylvania in 2025, he saw limited action, appearing in three games and totaling one tackle and one pass breakup. His time at Cal U was fairly decorated as he earned second-team All-American and first-team All-PSAC honors.

True freshman Kentrail McRae Jr. is also one to watch, bringing a reputation for disrupting passing lanes. In his senior year of high school, he had five interceptions, three of them coming in his final three games.

Safeties

Pitt didn't add a transfer at safety despite losing starter Javon McIntyre, leaning instead on the room it already had. Cruce Brookins was arguably the strongest performer in the secondary last season, starting eight of 10 games and finishing fifth on the team in tackles — second among all returners behind only Braylan Lovelace — while adding two interceptions.

Josh Guerrier is probably most known for his blocked punt against Florida State that helped Pitt regain possession deep in Seminoles territory. He's poised to take over at boundary safety after a true freshman season that included eight tackles and three pass breakups.

Tony Forney has been one of the most talked-about freshmen since spring, arriving with a high school résumé that included 81 career tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups over 25 games, along with return duties on special teams.

Allen Bryant and Cole Woodson give the room added depth, with Bryant appearing in all 13 games last season primarily on special teams and Woodson notching five tackles in limited defensive action.