Pitt mailbag: Will TE Malcolm Epps be a weapon? And should ACC add remaining Pac-12 schools?

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
AUG 8, 2023 11:24 AM
Welcome to the Pitt mailbag, where the Post-Gazette reporters Noah Hiles and Chris Carter answer all of your questions about the Panthers. If you have a question, tweet them at @_Noahhiles and @Cartercritiques or email them at nhiles@post-gazette.com and ccarter@post-gazette.com. Noah and Chris will answer your questions in full length each Tuesday on YouTube. You can read the condensed version of the discussion below.
Blake: Were there any freshmen that impressed during the first week of training camp? If so, who?
Hiles: The guy Narduzzi highlighted Monday was Kenny Johnson. It seems like all four of these true freshman wide receivers are in the mix for some serious playing time, but Narduzzi brought him up without us asking specifically about any freshmen. He along with Bub Means and Konata Mumpfield were making some big catches on deep balls over the weekend.
"Oakland Originals" is a new marketing initiative launched by Alliance 412, the preferred NIL collective of Pitt athletics.
Noah Hiles
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Carter: On Friday, Pat Narduzzi named a few guys on each side of the football. Zion Fowler-El is another receiver they seem to be very high on. The challenge with him is learning the playbook, because like Johnson, he didn’t report to campus until the summer. A defensive guy Narduzzi is high on is Cruce Brookins, the former standout at Steel Valley. Apparently he was able to workout all summer in the Pitt weight room, and it’s showing.
Joe: What is the expectation for Malcolm Epps, the USC tight end that transferred into Pitt this spring. How do they plan on using him?
Hiles: I originally looked at Malcolm’s size — 6-6, 255 pounds — and thought he’d be used as a blocking tight end. However, based upon some conversations I’ve had with both players and coaches, I think he could actually be more of a weapon in the passing game. While he might be 255 pounds, his frame is slim. He’s built more like Jimmy Graham or Darren Waller than, say, Rob Gronkowski. I’ve heard his blocking needs work, but people are really excited about his catch radius. His size and athleticism give Pitt a weapon the program hasn’t had in a long time — someone you can just throw a jump ball to in 1-on-1 coverage.
Carter: I think he’s going to be a fun option in the red zone. I think they’d be smart to line him up on the outside against a smaller corner, and like Noah said, just throw him a jump ball in the end zone. He’s a great addition to the tight end room, even if he’s used in a limited role.
Tom: Would the ACC benefit by bringing in any of the four remaining Pac-12 schools?
Hiles: I’m really note sure. I don’t see how any of those programs would add value to the league, other than it would show they’re able to follow the trend of expanding west. Stanford and Cal are great academic institutions. Oregon State should have a good team this year, and Washington State, well, has been decent here and there. I just don’t know what you’re truly gaining. Do any of those schools truly have a massive following? Are any of them legitimate powers that could compete year-to-year for a league title in football or basketball? I just don’t know if those four schools are worth adding all the extra travel, all the extra effort. However, if it does happen and I end up getting to make a few work trips out to California, you won’t hear me complaining.
Carter: Here is the real answer — none of us know how this is all going to unfold. It’s been a crazy few years and I don’t see it stopping anytime soon. I still think West Virginia, or other teams located closer to the East Coast, would be better additions than the four remaining Pac-12 schools. Those four schools almost have to be some sort of group package. It would make no sense for just one or two of them to be out, three time zones away from the rest of the league. Then again, a lot of these recent moves make no sense.
Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi applauds a play during the Blue-Gold spring game Saturday, April 24, 2021, at Heinz Field.
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Ross: Are either of you guys surprised that Pitt didn't crack the top 25 in the coaches poll? Do you think the Panthers will be ranked inside the AP top 25?
Hiles: Not really. Pitt came in at No. 30 in the coaches poll, which I think is a fair spot. I had them picked to finish fourth in the ACC and the coaches voted three teams ahead of the Panthers — Florida State, Clemson and North Carolina — to start the year. This is where I thought they’d be and probably where they deserve to be right now, until they prove some things on both sides of the football. I expect them to be a little lower, maybe at like 35 or so, in the AP Poll, because some voters don’t seem to respect the ACC as a football conference.
Carter: You look at a lot of the teams ranked ahead of Pitt, especially the ACC teams ranked ahead of Pitt, and the common theme is they have quarterbacks returning. Voters want to see what Jurkovec will do with the Panthers. If Pitt starts out 3-0, I think they’ll have a good shot to be ranked heading into the start of conference play against North Carolina.
Jim: How big of a loss is Ric'Darious Farmer to Pitt's 2024 class? It feels like many people didn't expect his commitment to hold through.
Hiles: It’s a big loss in the sense that Pitt doesn’t get many four stars, so losing one definitely hurts. However, this isn't a shock to anyone who was paying attention. Farmer verbally committed out of nowhere and continued his recruitment as if it were always open. He picked somewhere closer to home, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he changed his mind again. That’s just how recruiting goes in today’s world of college football. Verbal commitments mean less and less each year. I’ve heard that there have been other players that gave Pitt a verbal commitment this summer, privately, only to take another official visit and announce that decision publically. Some kids are clearly more sold than others. I don’t think guys like Cameron Lindsey or Jahsear Whittington are going anywhere, but until signing day, no one is safe.
Carter: That’s just the game. Farmer’s absence hurts, but if these four freshman receivers are as good as the coaches claim to be, perhaps his loss won’t be that big of a deal. I still think Pitt needs to land as many four-star talents as possible, but like Noah said, there were plenty of people who didn’t expect his commitment to last. Recruiting is a completely different world today. Things can change at any second.