University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Five Takeaways from Day 2 of Pitt Football Training Camp
8/6/2026 2:46:00 PM | Football
Pat Narduzzi and the Panthers were back on the practice fields for Day 2 of training camp, and the storylines from Wednesday only got clearer. Here's what stood out.
Crothers ahead of schedule
Zach Crothers appeared in four games last season before a season-ending injury against Louisville sidelined him, limiting his spring reps heading into this summer. But Narduzzi was surprised by how far along the defensive end already looks.
"I saw Zach walking down the hallway this morning, and I was like, 'Man, hell of a day yesterday,'" Narduzzi said. "When I talked to [the media] yesterday, I hadn't really watched the tape yet. But Zach Crothers had a good day, coming off the injury he had. I thought it was going to take a week or two, to be honest with you."
With Jimmy Scott and Isaiah Neal both back as starters, Crothers' progress adds valuable rotational depth to the defensive end room.
Olivieri holding down left tackle
Left tackle was a trouble spot for the Panthers a year ago, but Netinho Olivieri's name has come up again and again this spring and through the first two days of camp. He's the only projected starter at the position who isn't a returner, and the chemistry has been evident early.
"Netinho is a beast," Narduzzi said. "Every evening at 6:45 as a staff we meet, then we have a team meeting at 7:45, and we go through personnel — what they did well, what they didn't do well. And Olivieri just continues to come up. His game is different. I've noticed in walkthroughs, the way he's bending his knees, knocking people off the ball. This guy takes the game serious. He's special."
Protecting Heintschel's blind side
Mason Heintschel spent more time on the ground last season than the offense wants to see again, and cutting down on sacks starts up front. For Olivieri, protecting his quarterback's blind side is personal.
"I understand it's a little bit more important on my side when it comes to keeping him safe, because he can't see as much," Olivieri said. "So it's definitely a little bit of pressure, but it feels good — I feel good being on his blind side."
Lee stacking BLURRR stickers
Pitt's offense hands out stickers for the "BLURRR" helmets after explosive plays in practice, and through two days, only two players have earned them: freshman Bryan Hamilton and Censere "CJ" Lee — with Lee already picking up three.
Lee missed most of last season with an injury, but Narduzzi has liked what he's seen all summer, not just through two days of camp.
"I can't say enough good things about him, not just one day of practice, but really all summer," Narduzzi said. "He's more mature. He had a great play yesterday. I think he can be a different guy than he was last year. He knows this is his opportunity, and I think he's going to take it and go with it."
A crowded room behind Turner
Ja'Kyrian Turner is the clear No. 1 back, but the depth behind him is wide open. La'Vell Wright, the elder statesman of the group, is running alongside a young mix that includes Synkwan Smith, Damon Ferguson and Jaylin Brown — and the competition has raised the room's overall level.
"It's exciting to see all the young guys," Wright said. "They're just eager to go to work, eager to learn, eager to wake up every day, get here at five o'clock in the morning before everybody else and just go to work. That's our main goal right now."
