University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Carretta Named to Rimington Trophy Watch List
8/6/2026 12:00:00 PM | Football
PITTSBURGH—Pitt redshirt junior offensive lineman Ryan Carretta has been named to the 2026 Rimington Trophy Watch List, the award committee announced Thursday.
The Rimington Trophy is presented annually to the most outstanding center in NCAA Division I football. Carretta is one of 40 players, and one of three from the Atlantic Coast Conference, selected for this year's preseason watch list.
Carretta appeared in 11 games during the 2025 season and made a career-high seven starts at left guard. He played in all 13 games in 2024, contributing as a reserve guard and on Pitt's field goal and PAT units. He was also named to the All-ACC Academic Football Team.
The Galena, Ohio, native did not play in any games during his first season at Pitt in 2023 and redshirted.
Carretta arrived at Pitt following a decorated career at St. Charles Prep. He earned first-team All-Ohio Division II, first-team All-Central District and Columbus Dispatch first-team All-Metro honors as a senior. He was also a National Honor Society member and served as student body president.
The Rimington Trophy committee collaborated with Pro Football Focus to identify this year's top 40 centers. The watch list was constructed using nominations from schools and PFF's play-by-play performance data. Additional players may be nominated during the season based on merit.
The trophy's recipient is determined through voting associated with three All-America teams: the Walter Camp Football Foundation, Sporting News and the Football Writers Association of America.
Named for former Nebraska center Dave Rimington, the award has raised more than $5 million for the Boomer Esiason Foundation since its inception.
