University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Narduzzi Notebook: Pitt Sets Depth Chart for Season Opener against Miami (OH)
8/31/2026 1:53:00 PM | Football, General
Pat Narduzzi met with reporters this week for his first press conference of the 2026 season, previewing Saturday's noon kickoff against Miami (OH). Pitt released its first depth chart of the year, and the headline is stability — no returning starter lost their job, with Mason Heintschel entrenched at quarterback.
Still, Narduzzi's board wasn't without intrigue, with three position groups listed with co-starters and a pair of specialist battles still simmering under the surface.
"Our guys are ready to go," Narduzzi said. "They're ready to hit somebody else and just have a new opponent. We had great practice yesterday. Obviously I think we got a really really talented well-coached tough Miami team coming in here."
Three Spots, Two Names
Narduzzi opted to list multiple starters at three spots on the depth chart rather than commit to just one. Both defensive end positions saw this treatment, with Isaiah Neal and Zach Crothers sharing one side and Jimmy Scott and Jaeden Moore sharing the other. Scott and Neal started last season, while Crothers and Moore missed most of the year with injuries.
At wide receiver, Blue Hicks and Censere Lee locked down their spots outright, but Malik Knight and Tony Kinsler were both listed as co-starters at the remaining outside spot.
"Ors, as I always say, is a good thing," Narduzzi said. "Most of the ores are at the defensive end spot. We've got four guys that whoever has the best week of practice, pays attention to details and does all the tiny little things right are the guys who are going to step out there. I feel great with any of them. I don't care who starts. Those guys are all good."
Narduzzi pointed to Crothers' physicality and Moore's growth as reasons the defensive end room feels deep no matter who takes the first rep. On the outside at receiver, he singled out Knight's size and ball skills as the separator to watch heading into game week.
"Malik is a really good player," Narduzzi said. "We're excited to have him and see what he can do on game day. When the lights go on in game day, we're going to find out what he really has. But he's tall. He can go up and get the ball. You can get those 50-50 balls that we'll throw down the field and he's reliable."
Strader Edges Out at Corner
There was a tough battle at cornerback with two players returning Shawn Lee Jr. and Shadarian Harrison as well as Auburn transfer Raion Strader in the mix. It was Lee and Strader who ended up earning the starting spots.
That doesn't mean Harrison is off the field. He played extensively last season while Rashad Battle and Tamon Lynum struggled with injuries at various points.
Narduzzi credited Strader's consistency, dating back to his three seasons at Miami (Ohio), as the deciding factor in fall camp.
"Raion's had a great camp like we thought," Narduzzi said. "I'd say probably the most important thing is he's been healthy number one and he's been consistent. I know when Raion Strader walks out there I know what I'm going to get every snap and it's been consistent."
Lovelace Anchors a Committee at Linebacker
Braylan Lovelace returned as the clear No. 1 at linebacker, and Narduzzi settled the MIKE spot on Jeremiah Marcelin early in camp. Beyond that, the competition stayed open between Alex Sanford Jr., Damarco Ward and Cameron Lindsey. Sanford won the initial nod, but Narduzzi made clear this will be a rotation more than a set lineup.
He also noted the depth chart is a snapshot, not a fixed hierarchy, and that it could shift again before kickoff.
"You look at that starting group that's out there right now and again that's as of today," Narduzzi said. "That could change by Thursday. Cam Lindsey's got to get on the field. Damarco Ward needs to be on the field. We're going to be able to keep those guys fresh."
The plan, Narduzzi explained, is to rotate freely without fear of losing production, using sideline coaching between series to correct mistakes in real time rather than live with them for an entire game.
Specialists Still Auditioning
Narduzzi confirmed there was a genuine battle at both kicker (Antonio Chadha vs. Sam Hunsaker) and punter (Gabe Russo vs. Kaemon Tijerina) throughout camp.
Chadha and Russo came out on top, but Narduzzi was clear the competition doesn't end with a depth chart designation. Game-day performance will keep deciding playing time all season.
"The competition always goes on just like every spot," Narduzzi said. "Those are the guys we're lining up with this week and obviously it's an audition for those guys to say, 'Okay did the coaches make the right decisions or did they mess it up.' Because game days are game days right. They're totally different."
Narduzzi pointed to pressure-situation reps — the kind that come late in a scrimmage when a stalled drive forces a field goal try — as the clearest signal in deciding between Chadha and Hunsaker. He thinks the same live-game gap will eventually separate Russo and Tijerina once the season starts.
