Five Takeaways from Day 3 of Pitt Football Training Camp

Pitt strapped on the pads for the first time this training camp Friday, moving into a THUD-level practice where players work at full speed without full tackles to the ground.

It marked the first real test of physicality for a roster still sorting out its two-deep, and the results offered a glimpse of who's stepping up on both sides of the ball.

Here are five takeaways from Day 3.

1. Pads Bring Out Playmakers on Defense

The first day of contact gave the defense a chance to show out, and linebacker Alex Sanford Jr. made his presence felt early.

"It's a lot more plays that could be corrected, that could be better," Sanford Jr. said. "Maybe I could have triggered faster. I could have did a lot of things that are in my hands better."

Sanford Jr. still felt good about his day overall, and he expects the offense to adjust after watching the tape.

"I personally feel like I made a few plays today," Sanford Jr. said. "It is what it is. It's practice. We all gonna get better from it. The offense is gonna see what I did. They're gonna learn from it and they're gonna do whatever they do to stop me, [Braylan Lovelace and Jeremiah Marcelin].

2. Malik Knight Rounds Out His Game

Transfer receiver Malik Knight arrives at camp fresh off a strong spring, and with only one returning starter in the receiver room, there's significant playing time up for grabs. Knight has spent camp expanding his route tree beyond his natural strength as a downfield threat.

"I'm more of a down the field type of guy," Knight said. "But honestly this camp, Coach Kade [Bell], Coach JJ [Laster], they have been probably pumping me to really work on my shorter game, catching the ball shorter and running longer and things like that. So that's more of a role that I'm trying to step into."

3. Tight End Room Wide Open

Pitt returns no starters at tight end, leaving the competition wide open heading into pads. Transfers Carson Kent and Elijah Lagg have drawn attention since the spring, while younger players Max Hunt and Wyatt Villarreal continue adding depth behind them.

"We got the skill set. We got the guys in there to do the job," Narduzzi said. "We're gonna find out when the pads go on today. It's different when there's no pads on, so I think you'll find out."

Narduzzi pointed to experience as the separator among the group right now.

"I know Carson and Elijah are the two most mature guys. Wyatt and Max are younger guys, they're still putting weight on, still got to get stronger and all that," Narduzzi said. "But I think all four of those guys, when I think about the top four at this point, have an opportunity to go in there and help us this year if their number gets called. So we'll use them all."

4. Murray Chasing His First Takeaway Sticker

On Day 2, cornerback Rashan Murray was the only defender to earn a "TAKEAWAY" sticker on his helmet. He didn't see extensive snaps last season, but early signs point to a player ready to bolster the secondary.

"Rashan's done good," Narduzzi said. "We're gonna find out when the pads go on. I think his confidence is good. I think he lost his mojo a little bit last season for whatever reason, I won't get into that. But I think he feels confident. We got a plan for him to be able to maintain it through 12 games. So we're looking forward to seeing that."

5. Knight Sees No Drop-Off for the Offense

Pitt's offense will look different after losing Mason Heintschel's top two targets from a season ago, but Knight isn't buying into any concerns about a step back.

"I feel like we can contend," Knight said. "I feel like nobody can really mess with the receiving room we have. Just being able to have one goes down, the other one stands up, the other one gets up. It's very dynamic at each position. We got depth and I feel like that'll take us the long way."

Knight's confidence echoes what Narduzzi has repeated throughout camp: this offense isn't rebuilding, it's reloading.

"I feel like that's why we have a chance at the ACC championship with the offense," Knight said. "We have Boosie at running back, great o-line. I feel like we have a good offense."