The 2018 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Panthers were led by fourth-year head coach Pat Narduzzi and played their home games at Heinz Field. They were a member of the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). This was Pitt's sixth season as a member of the ACC.

Preseason

Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released Doak Walker AwardDarrin HallRBSRButkus AwardOluwaseun IdowuLBRS SRWuerffel TrophyDarrin HallRBSR

ACC media poll The ACC media poll was released on July 24, 2018, with the Panthers predicted to finish in fifth place in the Coastal Division.

Media poll (Coastal) 1 Miami 998 (122) 2 Virginia Tech 838 (16) 3 Georgia Tech 654 (8) 4 Duke 607 (1) 5 Pittsburgh 420 6 North Carolina 370 (1) 7 Virginia 257

Schedule The Panthers' schedule was released on January 17, 2018.

The Cathedral of Learning, which usually lights up after every Pitt sports win, was darkened following Pitt's 54–45 victory over Duke on October 27 out of respect for the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in nearby Squirrel Hill, which had occurred earlier that day.

Coaching staff 2018 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff Pat Narduzzi – head coach Charlie Partridge – Assistant head coach/defensive line Shawn Watson – Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks Randy Bates – Defensive coordinator Andre Powell – Running backs/special teams Rob Harley – Linebackers/recruiting coordinator Dave Borbely – Offensive line Archie Bollins – Secondary Tim Salem – Tight ends Cory Sanders – Safeties Kevin Sherman – Wide receivers   Support staff Chris Lasala – Associate Athletic Director/football operations Bob Junko – Director of player development and High School Relations Ben Mathers – Director of football operations Reed Case – Director of Recruiting Ben Cotton – Offensive graduate assistant Mike Caprara – Defensive graduate assistant Mike Perish – Offensive graduate assistant Josh Lott – Defensive graduate assistant   Strength and conditioning staff Dave Andrews – Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Freddie Walker – Associate Strength and Conditioning Coach Austin Addington-strapp – Assistant strength and conditioning coach Source:2018 PITT Spring football prospectus

Roster 2018 Pittsburgh Panthers football rosterQuarterbacks  3 Jeff George Jr. – junior (6'3, 220)  4 Nick Patti – freshman (6'1, 185)  8 Kenny Pickett – sophomore (6'2, 220) 12 Ricky Town – junior (6'3, 215) 14 Tyler Zelinski – sophomore (6'4, 210) 15 Justin Sliwoski – freshman (6'1, 190) 16 Jake Cortes – freshman (6'5, 240)

Tailbacks 7 Mychale Salahuddin – freshman (5'11, 190) 21 A.J. Davis – sophomore (6'0, 215) 22 Darrin Hall – senior (5'11, 225) 26 Todd Sibley Jr. – freshman (5'9, 215) 30 Qadree Ollison – senior (6'2, 225) 37 Cole Blake – senior (5'11, 210) 39 Kyle Vreen – sophomore (5'10, 190)

Fullbacks 34 Jason Edwards – freshman (5'10, 230) 35 George Aston – senior (6'0, 240) 47 Ryan Sliwoski – junior (5'11, 225) 48 Peyton Deri – sophomore (6'1, 225)

Wide receivers  2 Maurice Ffrench – junior (5'11, 190)  5 Tre Tipton – junior (6'0, 190)  6 Aaron Mathews – junior (6'4, 215)  9 Michael Smith – freshman (6'1, 215) 11 Taysir Mack – sophomore (6'2, 195) 17 Darian Street – freshman (6'1, 185) 18 Shocky Jacques−Louis – freshman (6'0, 180) 19 V'Lique Carter – freshman (5’9, 170) 40 Charles Chustckie – freshman (6'2, 190) 46 Michael Vardzel – sophomore (5'11, 190) 48 Kellen McAlone – senior (6'2, 210) 49 Alex Capstick – freshman (6'1, 205) 80 Cameron O'Neil – freshman (6'1, 185) 82 Rafael Araujo-Lopes – senior (5'9, 190) 83 John Vardzel – freshman (5'10, 175) 85 Garrett Bickhart – freshman (6'5, 210) 88 Dontavius Butler−Jenkins – freshman (6'0, 210)

Tight ends 10 Will Gragg – junior (6'4, 250) 19 Jake Zilinskas – sophomore (6'2, 230) 81 Jim Medure – junior (6'2, 235) 84 Grant Carrigan – freshman (6'7, 280) 86 Tyler Sear – sophomore (6'4, 250) 98 Kaymar Mimes – freshman (6'5, 235) Offensive linemen 52 Devon Davis – junior (6’4, 325) 53 Jake Kradel – freshman (6'3, 290) 55 Chase Brown – junior (6’5, 305) 56 Brandon Ford – sophomore (6’5, 305) 57 Gabe Houy – freshman (6'6, 310) 59 Carson Van Lynn – freshman (6’5, 290) 60 Owen Drexel – freshman (6'3, 290) 63 Nick Stazer – freshman (6’3, 295) 66 Mike Herndon – senior (6’4, 310) 67 Jimmy Morrissey – sophomore (6’3, 300) 68 Blake Zubovic – freshman (6’4, 300) 69 Kenny Rainey III – freshman (6'3, 320) 70 Stefano Millin – senior (6’5, 300) 71 Bryce Hargrove – sophomore (6’4, 310) 74 Jerry Drake Jr. – freshman (6’5, 305) 76 Connor Dintino – senior (6’3, 315) 77 Carter Warren – freshman (6'5, 320) 78 Alex Bookser – senior (6’6, 315)

Defensive linemen  2 David Green – freshman (6'0, 255)  5 Deslin Alexandre – freshman (6'4, 270)  6 John Morgan – freshman (6'2, 250)  8 Dewayne Hendrix – senior (6’4, 265) 10 Keyshon Camp – sophomore (6’4, 285) 17 Rashad Weaver – sophomore (6’5, 260) 34 Amir Watts – junior (6’3, 290) 36 Chase Pine – sophomore (6’2, 250) 40 James Folston Jr. – senior (6’4, 250) 45 Noah Palmer – freshman (6'3, 215) 50 Tyler Bentley – freshman (6'2, 300) 55 Jaylen Twyman – freshman (6'2, 300) 68 Brian Burgess – freshman (6’2, 290) 87 Habakkuk Baldonado – freshman (6’5, 230) 90 Rashad Wheeler – sophomore (6’3, 285) 91 Patrick Jones II – sophomore (6’5, 265) 93 Shane Roy – senior (6’4, 280) 95 Devin Danielson – freshman (6'1, 290) 96 Chris Maloney – freshman (6’2, 235)

Punters 97 Ethan Van Buskirk – freshman (5'10, 220) 98 Kirk Christodoulou – freshman (6'1, 210) Linebackers 9 Saleem Brightwell – junior (6’0, 225) 23 Oluwaseun Idowu – senior (6’0, 230) 25 Elijah Zeise – senior (6’2, 240) 28 Anthony McKee Jr. – junior (6’2, 220) 29 Albert Tucker – freshman (6'1, 225) 35 Chase Villani – freshman (6’1, 220) 37 Jackson Henry – freshman (6’2, 225) 38 Cam Bright – freshman (6'0, 220) 39 Wendell Davis – freshman (6’2, 235) 44 Elias Reynolds – sophomore (6’2, 235) 47 Kyle Nunn – freshman (6'3, 225) 52 Jack Hansberry – freshman (6’1, 210) 58 Quintin Wirginis – senior (6'2, 250)

Defensive backs  3 Damar Hamlin – junior (6’1, 195)  4 Therran Coleman – sophomore (6’0, 200)  7 Jazzee Stocker – junior (6’2, 190) 11 Dane Jackson – junior (6’0, 185) 12 Paris Ford – freshman (6'0, 195) 14 Marquis Williams – freshman (5’8, 160) 15 Jason Pinnock – sophomore (6'0, 195) 16 Damarri Mathis – sophomore (5'11, 190) 20 Dennis Briggs – senior (5’10, 195) 22 Kollin Smith – freshman (5'10, 180) 24 Phil Campbell III – sophomore (6’1, 200) 26 Judson Tallandier – freshman (6'0, 180) 27 Bricen Garner – sophomore (6’1, 190) 31 Erick Hallett – freshman (5'11, 175) 32 Phillipie Motley – senior (5’10, 180) 41 Colin Jonov – senior (5’9, 195) 46 Rimoni Dorsey – junior (6’0, 205)

Placekickers 49 Jake Scarton – freshman (6'3, 195) 97 Alex Kessman – sophomore (6'3, 195) 98 Will Connelly – freshman (6'2, 220)

Long snappers 51 Grey Brancifort – freshman (6'1, 225) 94 Cal Adomitis – sophomore (6'1, 225)

Game summaries

Albany

Penn State

Georgia Tech

At North Carolina

At UCF

Syracuse

At Notre Dame

Duke

At Virginia

Virginia Tech

At Wake Forest

At Miami (FL)

Vs. Clemson (ACC Championship game)

Vs. Stanford (Sun Bowl)

2019 NFL draft

Player Position Round Pick NFL club Qadree Ollison RB 5 152 Atlanta Falcons

References