Pittsburgh football 2022 season prediction, preview, awards, bowl game

Pittsburgh football is coming off an excellent season but change has hit the team hard this offseason. Can they rebuild quickly enough for 2022?

Pat Narduzzi has been in the headlines this summer chastizing USC for poaching. Now the focus has to be on getting his team ready to go again in 2022 despite some major departures.

Pitt exceeded expectations last year and they’ll have to do it again this time around.

The Panthers enter the season ranked No. 24 in the FanSided Top 50 Preseason Rankings.

Are they actually more than the stars they’ve lost?

Pittsburgh football 2021 season in review

Narduzzi produced his best campaign as Pitt’s head coach with an 11-3 record, an ACC championship and a pair of stars vying for national awards.

The Panthers lost close games to Western Michigan and Miami but stormed through the rest of their season, including victories over Clemson and Wake Forest to secure the conference title.

The magical season ended in disappointment with a loss to Michigan State in the Peach Bowl.

Previewing Pittsburgh Panthers offense for 2022 season

Returning starters (7): RB Israel Abanikanda, WR Jared Wayne, C Owen Drexel, RG Jake Kradel, LG Marcus Minor, RT Gabe Houy, LT Carter Warren
Notable newcomers: QB Kedon Slovis (USC), RB C’Bo Flemister (Notre Dame), WR Jerrod Means (Louisiana Tech), WR Konata Mumpfield (Akron), TE Dylan Deveney (Georgia Tech)
Impact player: Isreal Abanikanda

The Pitt offense took a few huge hits losing Heisman finalist Kenny Pickett and Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison. Jared Wayne, who was second on the team with 658 yards and six touchdowns, and tight end Gavin Bartholomew are the only returning players among the Panthers’ top seven pass catchers from last season.

The losses are significant but so are the returners and transfers while will try to keep things going in Pittsburgh.

It all starts with an offensive line that returns all five starters, all of whom received some form of All-ACC recognition last year. Left tackle Carter Warren was a second-teamer while right tackle Gabe Houy and left guard were third-teamers. Right guard Jake Kradel and center Owen Drexel were honorable mentions.

They’ll lead the way for three returning 500-yard running backs including Israel Abanikanda Vincent Davis and Rodney Hammond Jr.

The passing attack needs to be rebuilt. The ground attack could be the strongest it’s been in years, which will take pressure off USC transfer Kedon Slovis as he tries to fill Pickett’s shoes. He was once a Heisman candidate himself, so he could be up to the task.

Previewing Pittsburgh Panthers defense for 2022 season

Returning starters (7): DE Habakkuk Baldonado, DT Calijah Kancey, DE Deslin Alexandre, LB SirVocea Dennis, CB Marquis Williams, S Brandon Hill, S Erick Hallett
Notable newcomers: LB Shayne Simon (Notre Dame), LB Tyler Wiltz (Missouri State)
Impact player: Calijah Kancey

The Panthers return three of four starting defensive linemen to anchor a front that led the ACC by limiting teams to just 89.21 rushing yards per game while getting after the quarterback better than anyone in the conference with 54 sacks.

Calijah Kancey is the star of the front seven after earning All-ACC first-team honors in 2021.

He’ll get support from the linebacker corps headed by SirVocea Dennis, who led the team with 87 tackles. He added 10 tackles for loss and figures to bring more impact plays as a senior. However, transfers Shayne Simon and Tyler Wiltz will need to embed quickly as Pitt replaces five linebackers from last year.

The secondary has four starters back, including first-team All-ACC safety Brandon Hill. They shouldn’t take a step back.

Pittsburgh football players awards watch for 2022 season

The Panthers have seven players on preseason watch lists for national awards.

Calijah Kancey, Camp/Bednarik/Lombardi/Nagurski/Outland/Lott

The third-team All-American had 13 tackles for loss during his redshirt sophomore season. He should only get better as a junior with the eyes of seemingly every national award on him.

Israel Abanikanda, Hornung

Abanikanda’s versatility has allowed him to emerge as a threat on the ground, through the air and on kick returns. He’s a prime candidate for the Hornung Award for the most versatile player in the country.

Habakkuk Baldonado, Bednarik

Baldonado came up big on the big stage with seven tackles and a sack in the ACC Championship Game victory over Wake Forest. He’s looking to take his game to the next level.

Gavin Bartholomew, Mackey

As a freshman, Bartholomew showed out for the Panthers with 326 yards and four touchdowns. He could easily expand on his All-ACC honorable mention.

SirVocea Dennis, Lombardi

The do-it-all linebacker returns in 2022 with another All-ACC nod to his name. He could add some national silverware to the mix this year.

Brandon Hill, Thorpe

Hill was a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award in 2021 and got second-team All-ACC recognition. His successful season at safety could just be a precursor for bigger things.

Carter Warren, Outland

The left tackle was second-team All-ACC last year and will play a huge role in Pitt being able to bounce back from key personnel losses on offense.

Pittsburgh Panthers biggest game on 2022 schedule

This is easy. The Backyard Brawl is back for the first time since 2011. It’s Pitt vs. West Virginia the way it should be. It’s the season opener. College GameDay will be there. Nothing more needs to be said.

Pittsburgh football best-case scenario

Despite losing Pickett and Addison, the Panthers could retain their crown in the ACC by leaning on their ground attack and stout defensive front.

If Narduzzi’s squad remains formidable on defense while integrating their new starting quarterback quickly, there doesn’t need to be a significant drop-off.

Why not shoot for another 11-win season?

Pittsburgh football worst-case scenario

Losing Pickett and Addison could sink Pitt with the drop-off in the passing game not balanced out by growth in the rushing attack.

The thin linebacker corps could turn into a weakness that results in a step back on defense as well.

Watching a renewed Miami program run away with the Coastal Division without putting up a fight would be a bummer.