Pitt acquired an enormous hometown switch in senior linebacker Todd Hill on Thursday to bolster the unit going into subsequent season.

Hill performed for Duquesne his first 4 seasons and had a stellar profession at native Metal Valley Excessive College in Munhall, Pa. He represents a constant development this offseason, and even years prior, of WPIAL gamers who begin their collegiate profession elsewhere and are available again to play at Pitt to complete out their collegiate profession.

Redshirt senior quarterback Phil Jurkovec, who starred for Pine-Richland in highschool after which performed for each Notre Dame and Boston Faculty in school, headlines the WPIAL gamers coming again in 2023, as he’s the beginning signal-caller for subsequent season.

Juniors in defensive again Donovan McMillon and operating again Derrick Davis Jr. had nice careers at Peters Township and Gateway, respectively, and likewise joined this offseason. McMillon performed for Florida and Davis performed for LSU as a defensive again initially, however transitioned to operating again the place he may even play for Pitt.

Pitt is establishing itself as a house for prime WPIAL gamers, albeit, not as soon as they begin their profession, however transferring again into this system afterward.

Pittsburgh Central Catholic linebacker John Petrishen is the primary participant to actually embody this development, as he spent 4 seasons with Penn State earlier than becoming a member of Pitt in 2019. Petrishen elevated his snap depend and improved upon his play over his three seasons at Pitt.

He would find yourself taking part in a big function for the 2021 ACC Championship staff, as he performed all 14 video games and began six at star linebacker. Petrishen had a team-high three interceptions together with defensive again Erick Hallett II, completed third with 74 tackles for the Panthers and earned Honorable Point out All-ACC honors.

Redshirt senior defensive again M.J. Devonshire is one other nice instance of a participant becoming a member of Pitt and enhancing throughout their time with this system. Devonshire starred for Aliquippa after which spent two seasons with Kentucky earlier than coming again in 2021.

Like Petrishen, he improved from taking part in as a reserve in 2021 to taking part in all 13 video games and beginning 9 of them at cornerback final season. Devonshire additionally served because the punt returner for Pitt in 2022, returning a punt for a landing within the win towards Rhode Island, whereas additionally main the ACC and ending No. 12 within the nation with a median of 9.7 yards per punt return. He completed final season with All-ACC Second Group honors as a return specialist and Honorable Point out All-ACC honors at cornerback.

The event of Petrishen and Devonshire ought to exhibit to potential WPIAL recruits which you could play for the “hometown” staff and see nice success. As an alternative of doing so later in your profession, why not simply be a part of early on?

Pitt nonetheless falls behind Penn State with regards to recruiting in Pennsylvania and even within the WPIAL. The Class of 2024 commitments in four-star Belle Vernon athlete Quinton Martin, the best rated participant within the state, and three-star linebacker Anthony Speca out of Pittsburgh Central Catholic present that continued dominance.

It additionally makes issues tough when huge time packages are available and put in nice recruiting efforts to deliver gamers from the vaulted WPIAL to their packages. McMillon and Davis each had huge time colleges provide them and it wasn’t shocking to see them attempt to succeed at huge time SEC packages.

For Pitt, preserving a technique of creating gamers long-term, significantly WPIAL gamers who want to rejuvenate their careers, is one which has introduced them success. Hill becoming a member of from Duquesne additionally presents a brand new profit for this system, as gamers which may not have made it onto the staff in highschool, now have the chance to succeed at a smaller faculty and be a part of Pitt sooner or later.

Head coach Pat Narduzzi and his workers have developed a proficient squad with gamers throughout the nation, main to 2 straight prime 25 finishes for the primary time in over 4 many years.

This system continues to enhance and for Pitt followers, they will solely hope to see extra Western Pa. gamers beginning out with this system, creating and main the staff to even better success sooner or later.

WPIAL Gamers on the 2023 Pitt Roster

12 months/Place/Identify/WPIAL Excessive College/Eligibility Remaining

Graduate linebacker Todd Hill-Metal Valley (Duquesne)-one yr

• Redshirt senior defensive again Dante Caputo-North Allegheny (Wisconsin)-one yr (Stroll-On)
• Redshirt senior defensive lineman Devin Danielson-Thomas Jefferson-one yr
• Redshirt senior defensive lineman David Inexperienced-Pittsburgh Central Catholic-one yr
• Redshirt senior quarterback Phil Jurkovec-Pine-Richland (Notre Dame/Boston Faculty)-one yr
• Redshirt senior offensive lineman Jake Kradel-Butler-one yr
• Redshirt senior offensive lineman Blake Zubovic-Belle Vernon-one yr
• Redshirt senior defensive again M.J. Devonshire-Aliquippa (Kentucky)-Two years
• Redshirt senior quarterback Eli Kosanovich-Aliquippa-Two Years (Stroll-On)
• Senior defensive lineman Dayon Hayes-Westinghouse (Metropolis League)-two years
• Redshirt junior offensive lineman Matt Altsman-Pittsburgh Central Catholic-three years (Stroll-On)
• Redshirt junior punter Cam Guess-Belle Vernon-three years (Stroll-On)
• Junior defensive again Donovan McMillon-Peters Township (Florida)-two years
• Junior operating again Derrick Davis Jr.-Gateway (LSU)-two years
• Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Elliot Donald-Pittsburgh Central Catholic-three years
• Redshirt sophomore tight finish Trevor Faulkner-Avonworth (Air Pressure)-three years (Stroll-On)
• Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Dorien Ford-Baldwin-three years
• Redshirt sophomore defensive again Stephon Corridor-Central Valley-three years
• Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman-Nakhi Johnson-West Mifflin-three years
• Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Matt Metrosky-Greensburg Central Catholic-three years (Stroll-On)
• Redshirt first-year tight finish Josh Altsman-Pittsburgh Central Catholic-four years (Stroll-On)
• Redshirt first-year Sean Fitzsimmons-Central Valley-four years
• Redshirt first-year linebacker Abe Ibrahim-Chartiers Valley-four years (Stroll-On)
• Redshirt first-year extensive receiver Lorenzo Jenkins-Beaver Falls-four years (Stroll-On)
• Redshirt first-year extensive receiver Caden Smith-Franklin Regional-four years (Stroll-On)
• First-year defensive again Cruce Brookins-Metal Valley-four years
• First-year linebacker Braylan Lovelace-Leechburg-four years
• First-year extensive receiver Devin Whitlock-Belle Vernon-four years (Stroll-On)
• First-year operating again Caleb Williams-Montour-four years (Stroll-On)

I’ll admit I did a double take when Todd Hill instructed me that Pitt wished him as a defensive lineman, along with linebacker. I imply, he’s 5-foot-10, 240 kilos.

He’s stout, for positive, however even for Pitt’s requirements, he doesn’t have the peak. So, as I listened, I knew what I wished to ask. “Have you ever performed d-line up to now? I imply, that’s a fairly large soar…”

“Yeah, effectively, outdoors linebacker.”

“Oh!”

Oh. Effectively, that does make extra sense. I’ll begin by saying I just like the addition of Hill to the linebacking corps, however I don’t know what to think about him at this level. He’s not a Mike or a Star, that’s for positive. And he’s not likely a Cash, however that’s the place he’ll play.

If there’s a spot for him proper this second, as soon as he rehabs totally from his pec harm, it’s as a situational cross rusher. If he comes out because the Star within the Delta bundle on a third-and-long, he’s quick sufficient and powerful sufficient to create issues.

His dimension, in fact, has already led to considerations. However he led the FCS final season in tackles for loss and was third in sacks, all with a torn pec, so I believe he has the disruptive chops to make an influence on the FBS degree.

I used to be a bit shocked that PFF has superior stats available for FCS colleges, however I wasn’t shocked to see that Hill was far and away the highest-rated participant on Duquesne’s roster final season.

In 591 defensive snaps (294 run protection, 274 cross rush and 23 protection snaps), he recorded an 88.9 defensive grade — which features a 74.2 run protection grade, 91.8 cross rush grade and 65.7 protection grade.

In line with PFF, Hill racked up 54 pressures (35 greater than the second most), 27 hurries and 13 quarterback hits. It is smart contemplating he lined up on the road 547 occasions, virtually solely as a cross rusher.

He was Duquesne’s finest run-stopper as effectively, recording 28 run stops with simply seven missed tackles (in 294 run protection snaps), however it was his cross rush that allowed him to reach as a first-team All-NEC defender. He boasted a 20.5%-win proportion and 29.5%-win proportion in strain conditions.

Suffice to say, Hill was one of many absolute best cross rushers within the FCS final season. Simply.

And now he enters a Pitt linebacking corps in determined want of depth. Hill presents some critical intrigue and depth, and contemplating he isn’t going to be the following Tylar Wiltz, that’s okay. Wiltz was profitable in solely totally different areas. However there shouldn’t be these speedy comparisons.

If Hill does one factor, and just one factor, as a cross rusher, he needs to be profitable. If he can develop into a real Cash linebacker, will probably be an enormous success.

Formally within the Portal as a Grad Switch with 1 12 months of remaining eligibility.

3x NEC All Convention
Blueblood All American
PFF: 89.0
2023 Stats: 11.5 Sacks 22 TFL 60 whole
Careers: 144 Complete 138 TFL 15.5 Sacks
Prime 5 within the FCS in Sacks&TFLs pic.twitter.com/7qzJN9sitY

— ☦odd ♓️ailing (@Toddhill_9) March 1, 2023

So, the place does Pitt’s linebacking corps stand proper now?

Mike is fairly safe. With Shayne Simon and Brandon George, the center is ready. That’s a strong duo. The surface spots are extra unstable. Bangally Kamara and Solomon DeShields are fairly locked in at Star and Cash, respectively, however it’s been very skinny behind them. As of the conclusion of the spring recreation, true freshman Braylan Lovelace and walk-on Nick Lapi crammed the reserve roles.

So, that leaves Lovelace at Star (which is an efficient factor in the long term) and Lapi at Cash (which, to be truthful to Lapi, you shouldn’t need to depend on walk-ons). Yeah. The linebacking corps wants extra. Hill presents extra. He will not be an ideal match within the system, a Wiltz, however he presents a really enviable ability. He can get after a quarterback.

Simon, Kamara and DeShields provide a powerful base. George is a powerful reserve. Lovelace has loads of potential. Rasheem Biles will probably be arriving quickly, and I totally count on Jordan Bass to power his approach into the lineup as a real freshman.

Kyle Louis and Aydin Henningham are the one different linebackers on the roster and till seen in any other case, it doesn’t seem that both will probably be utilized a lot in 2023.

Early Depth Chart

Star: Bangally Kamara — Braylan Lovelace/Jordan Bass

Mike: Shayne Simon — Brandon George

Cash: Solomon DeShields — Todd Hill/Nick Lapi

As Wiltz instructed me a couple of weeks in the past, it took him fairly some time to adapt to Pitt’s defensive system. However as soon as he did, he turned a linebacker who wasn’t capable of be taken off the sector. It stays to be seen if Hill will make the identical influence that Wiltz made, however their particular person impacts may very well be comparable in very other ways.

The place Wiltz was a key Star linebacker, serving as that man to drop again and function a 3rd security, Hill is the exact opposite. If there’s a linebacker to assist Pitt push for one more season in main faculty soccer in sacks, it’s him.

Even when it takes a few weeks to really study a posh defensive playbook, Hill is the form of massive, bodily linebacker so as to add to Pitt’s historical past of getting after the quarterback.

It stays to be what his true position within the linebacking corps will probably be going ahead, whether or not he can develop into a real Cash linebacker, however at least, he ought to have the ability to add one other edge rusher.

And I really feel like regardless of an ‘undersized’ body and lack of expertise, Hill presents such an intriguing mix of pace and energy — and familiarity with the present protection — that he ought to have the ability to feed off guys like Dayon Hayes, Nahki Johnson and Donovan McMillon.

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