Pitt Adding True Freshman to D-Tackle Rotation for Georgia Tech
PITTSBURGH — Once a five-man rotation, the Pitt defensive tackle room was down to three options last week against Notre Dame.
Heading into the Panthers’ massive ACC clash against No. 16 Georgia Tech, head coach Pat Narduzzi says they will be elevating a true freshman into the defensive tackle rotation.
“The other guy that’s come on the last couple weeks is Trevor Sommers on defense. Just at the d-tackle spot, he’s been physically big, he’s athletic. So we’re excited about watching him, and he’s gonna play Saturday as well,” Narduzzi said.
Adding Sommers to the defensive tackle rotation comes after starter Sean FitzSimmons missed the Notre Dame game with an injury. His status is still unknown heading into Georgia Tech.
Francis Brewu and Nick James started at defensive tackle, while redshirt freshman Jahsear Whittington played 35 snaps against the Fighting Irish. Redshirt sophomore Isaiah Neal, who moved to defensive end due to a flurry of injuries at the position, is also a possibility to play back inside as well.
Sommers, who stands at 6-foot-2, 270 pounds, has appeared in three games this season against Duquesne, Central Michigan and Boston College, where he logged his lone tackle of the season. This will be his fourth game and the maximum he can play during the regular season if the Panthers look to redshirt him.
The Davie, Fla. native was a three-star recruit coming out of St. Thomas Aquinas. He enrolled early in January. Sommers became the first commit in Pitt’s 2025 class, selecting the Panthers over offers from Colorado, West Virginia, UCF, Indiana, Syracuse and more.
Beyond Sommers, Pitt also has redshirt freshman Ty Yuhas as its other scholarship defensive tackle at its disposal.
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