A strong case can be made that the 2025 Pitt Panthers are being a bit underrated by the national media. In most cases, star power leads to success and Pat Narduzzi’s team this coming season have a handful of players that can be viewed like that. In fact, three of those players were recognized by […]
A strong case can be made that the 2025 Pitt Panthers are being a bit underrated by the national media.
In most cases, star power leads to success and Pat Narduzzi’s team this coming season have a handful of players that can be viewed like that.
In fact, three of those players were recognized by the respected out, Pro Football Focus/College. Max Chadwick from PFF/College published a story listing the Top 10 players at each position and 3 Pitt Panthers were named.
On the offensive side of the ball, it comes as no surprise that Pitt senior running back Desmond Reid made the list.
Chadwick ranked the dynamic Reid as the No. 8 running back this season in college football and calls him the best receiving running back in college football. Last season, Reid led ball backs with 580 receiving yards and his 540 YAC yards were second best, behind only former Arizona State star Cam Skattebo.
One other interesting number listed by PFF dealing with Reid is that he tied for 4th among ACC backs with a 23% forced missed tackle rate. In other words, if you get him the ball in open space, there’s a good chance that he’s going to make the defender miss.
The second 2025 Pitt player to be listed is junior Kyle Louis. Chadwick ranks Louis as the No. 5 linebacker in 2025. Last season, Louis became the first Pitt sophomore to be named an 1st-team All-American.
The native of East Orange, New Jersey led Pitt last season in tackles for loss (15.5), sacks (7), interceptions (4) and recorded 101 tackles. PFF/College lists Louis as one of just six FBS linebackers to earn 80.0-plus grades as a run defender and in coverage. Louis led Power Four linebackers with 22 tackles for loss or no gain.
The dynamic playmaker will once again lead Pitt’s defense and certainly has a future beyond college when he makes the decision to take his talents to the NFL.
The exciting thing for Pitt and a problem for opposing offenses is that Louis isn’t the only great linebacker on the Panthers defense.
PFF/College also puts Biles in the Top 10, placing him at No. 10. With Louis and Biles, Pitt will have the best linebacker duo in college football this season.
Biles collected 6 sack, 15 tackles for loss or no gain and forced five incompletions, tied for the most among returning Power 4 linebackers.
Category: General Sports
