The Panther-Lair Podcast

Could Eli Holstein have a monster year? Who is footing the bill for the back pay? Which underrated WPIAL recruit could be the best? And what's up with the comically oversized hat? Answers to those questions and more in this week's Morning Pitt Mailbag.

Tight end has been the weakest position at Pitt under Pat Narduzzi. Why is that? Today we're looking back at the history of Panther tight ends in the last 10 years to figure out why that position has been such an issue.

With a returning All-American, the best production in a long time and some real results on the recruiting trail, linebacker has become Pitt's strength. How did it happen? And what does it mean for the future? We're taking a long look at the linebackers on today's Morning Pitt.

Pitt's second official visit weekend of June was another success, as the Panthers landed four more commitments for the 2026 recruiting class plus a new commitment in the 2027 class. On today's Morning Pitt, we're breaking down the newest commits and more from the weekend. Note: While four recruits from the official visits committed to Pitt over the weekend, only three announced their commitments before we recorded this episode of the Morning Pitt, so we limited our discussion to those three.

We're covering a lot of ground in this week's Morning Pitt Mailbag, with questions from Pitt fans ranging from the Panthers' chances at the ACC title game to landing a pair of teammates and more.

After landing commitments from three Western Pa. recruits over the weekend, is Pitt making progress with local prospects? We're looking at the Panthers' efforts, success and more in the WPIAL on the Tuesday edition of the Morning Pitt.

Pitt's first official visit weekend had some hits, as the Panthers landed 10 commitments to triple the size of their 2026 recruiting class. Who committed to Pitt? We've got the full breakdown on the Monday edition of the Morning Pitt.

How many commitments will Pitt get from this weekend? How many passes will the tight ends and running backs catch? And which rivals were the most entertaining? All that and more in this week's Morning Pitt Mailbag.

From tight end production to WPIAL recruiting, we've got five things we're thinking about on today's Morning Pitt.

In this week's Morning Pitt Mailbag, we're taking questions on how transfers develop, whether there's a panic level with Eli Holstein and a lot more. Plus: a send-off to long-time Pitt SID E.J. Borghetti.

We're talking depth and improvement on today's Morning Pitt. Which positions on the 2025 roster are the thinnest and the deepest? And which position is our pick to improve the most this season? All that and more on today's Morning Pitt.

Pitt's running back room is a study in extremes, and on today's Morning Pitt, we're asking a simple question: are you concerned about what the Panthers' backfield looks like?

Has the Pitt coaching staff changed its philosophy with recruiting linebackers? Should Jeff Capel be worried about visa issues? And how will the Panthers' kicking game do this year? We've got answers to those questions and more in this week's Morning Pitt Mailbag.

Yesterday we counted down the top five Pitt players of the century. Today we're narrowing the focus a bit: who are the top 10 players of the Pat Narduzzi era at Pitt? It's trickier than it looks, but we're counting them down on today's Morning Pitt.

Pitt has had some great players in the last 25 years, but who are the best? The top two might be easy to name, but filling out the rest of the top five is tougher. That's what we're doing on today's Morning Pitt.

In 10 years with Pat Narduzzi as head coach, Pitt's quarterback position has been a mixed bag, ranging from the success of Kenny Pickett in 2021 to something quite a bit less than success in other years. On today's Morning Pitt, we're looking at the history of quarterbacks under Narduzzi.

What are the chances that Pat Narduzzi leads Pitt to the playoffs? And can the Panthers' run game improve in 2025? Answers to those questions and more in this week's Morning Pitt Mailbag.

There were points in 2024 when Pitt's offense looked unstoppable - and points when the Panthers were very much stoppable. What will it be this season? What should we expect? Should we be optimistic or skeptical? We're breaking it down on today's Morning Pitt.

There are breakout players every year, and on today's Morning Pitt, we're looking at five Panthers who could be on the verge of breakout performances - and how those performances could impact the Pitt football team this season.

Pitt has plenty of open starting jobs to fill this season, and on today's Morning Pitt, we're breaking down the top five position battles on the team, from the left side of the offensive line to the safeties and more. 

We're turning our focus to Pitt football this week, and we're starting off with five players who we should be talking about more than we are.

We've got some great questions in this week's Mailbag. How did Pitt do in the transfer portal? How will this season's offense stack up against previous years? And how much does a competitive roster cost? All that and more in this week's Morning Pitt Mailbag.

Pitt landed another receiver for the 2026 recruiting class this week, continuing the ongoing process of rebuilding the receiver room. How have Kade Bell and the Panthers' offensive coaches approached that process? We're breaking it down on today's Morning Pitt.

Pitt Athletic Director Allen Greene has been on the job for six months, and there are a few things Pitt fans would like to hear from him. What are the biggest questions Greene needs to answer? We've got a few on today's Morning Pitt.

Pitt landed another developmental prospect over the weekend. Is that what the Panthers needed? We're talking about the latest addition and how he fits for 2025-26 and beyond on today's Morning Pitt.

How does Pitt's quarterback room compare to previous seasons? Is the 2025 roster better than the 2024 roster? Should the Panthers move to Highmark? Answers to those questions and more in this week's Morning Pitt Mailbag.

We're talking Pitt and the NFL Draft on today's Morning Pitt. How did the Panthers do this year? How will they do next year? Who have been Pat Narduzzi's best Draft picks? All that and more on today's Morning Pitt.

There have been some interesting developments on the Pitt basketball front, with a pair of high school recruits shedding light on what Jeff Capel and his staff are working on. We're breaking down all the latest news on today's Morning Pitt.

Pitt didn't just have movement at quarterback over the weekend; the Panthers also landed two other transfer commitments. On today's Morning Pitt, we're talking about those two transfers, what they mean for the 2025 roster and a lot more.

Pitt's quarterback situation was really interesting coming out of spring camp, but with two bits of transfer news - one coming and one going - on Saturday, things got even more interesting. We're breaking it down from all angles on today's Morning Pitt.

Did Pitt improve its offensive and defensive lines enough this offseason? How do transfers get ranked? Which receivers will be on the team in 2025? And how do the new hoops transfers fit in? Answers to all of those questions and more in this week's Morning Pitt Mailbag.

After a week off, the Morning Pitt is back and we're catching up on everything we missed - from transfer departures to a rather quiet stretch for the Pitt basketball team. Check it all out on today's Morning Pitt.

Spring camp ended on Saturday with the Blue-Gold Game at Acrisure Stadium. That now camp is over, let's look at the offense. What did we learn on that side of the ball? What positions answered some questions and what positions still have them? All that and more on today's Morning Pitt.

We've got some great questions in this week's Mailbag. Should Pitt add another quarterback? What's the latest on the GM situation? Which players have we underestimated over the years? What can the tight ends do? Answers to those questions and more right here.

We're talking hoops and football on today's Morning Pitt. First, we're breaking down Pitt's latest transfer loss after Papa Amadou Kante entered the portal. Then, we've got a preview of Saturday's Blue-Gold Game at Acrisure Stadium. There's a lot to discuss on the Thursday edition of the Morning Pitt.

As the new world of college sports gets closer, there are big questions facing every program. On today's Morning Pitt, we're looking at the five biggest questions facing Pitt's Athletic Department - and how the Panthers can survive in a changing landscape.

Pitt landed its second transfer from Iowa State on Monday when guard Nojus Indrusaitis committed to the Panthers. What will Indrusaitis bring to Pitt? How does he fit with the roster? And what's next on the list for Jeff Capel? All that and more on today's Morning Pitt.

Pitt landed its first commitment from the transfer portal over the weekend, and there are some interesting questions to consider after Iowa State center Dishon Jackson announced that he'll be a Panther. We're breaking down Jackson's commitment and more on today's Morning Pitt.

Which positions are going to make the biggest statistical leap this season? How do the defensive ends look? Where will the hoops team end up? Answers to those questions and more in this week's Morning Pitt Mailbag.

As the world of college sports continues to evolve, Pitt will need to evolve with it. Does that mean hiring a GM? On today's Morning Pitt, we're looking at the pros and cons of adding a person in that position. 

Pitt lost a big piece to the transfer portal on Tuesday, as Jaland Lowe has decided to leave the Panthers. What kind of hole does that leave on Pitt's roster? We're breaking down the news from all angles on today's Morning Pitt.

Pitt's recruiting efforts this spring have brought a number of WPIAL and City League prospects to the South Side. Where do the Panthers stand with their local targets? We're looking at the situation in Western Pa. on today's Morning Pitt.

Pitt's offense had a rough outing in the Panthers' first scrimmage last weekend; did Eli Holstein and company bounce back at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday? We're talking about Pitt's offense and more on the Monday edition of the Morning Pitt.

We've got some great questions in this week's Morning Pitt Mailbag. How would you spend $200 million on Pitt athletics? What would make a good offseason for Pitt hoops? Who's standing out in spring camp? Answers to those questions and more in the Morning Pitt Mailbag.

As the Pitt coaches continue to navigate the transfer portal, we've got thoughts on who they lost, who's still here (for now), what they need and a lot more on today's Morning Pitt.

Pitt had three more departures for the transfer portal on Tuesday, and they were fairly notable, as Amsal Delalic and Guillermo and Jorge Diaz Graham all left the Panthers. On today's Morning Pitt, we're talking about the latest transfers, what's left on the team and more.

Pitt is (almost) at the halfway point of spring camp. What have we learned so far? What has stood out? Which players have gotten our attention and which players still have some work to do? We're breaking it all down on the Tuesday edition of the Morning Pitt.

With one Pitt basketball player going into the transfer portal and two football recruits committing to the Panthers, there was a lot that happened this weekend. Get caught up on everything with the Monday edition of the Morning Pitt.

In 10 years of Pat Narduzzi football at Pitt, what have been the three best positions? On Today's Morning Pitt, we're breaking down the top three, looking at some honorable mentions and considering how this year's team stacks up.

Eli Holstein is back after missing most of the second half of the season last year due to injury. What does Pitt need from the redshirt sophomore quarterback? We're talking about how Holstein played in 2024 and what he needs to do in 2025 on today's Morning Pitt. 

Pitt starts Week Two of spring camp today, and we've got five big storylines for the week on today's Morning Pitt.