Unstoppable Force vs Immovable Object or Jeremiyah Love vs Pitt's Front Seven - Breaking Down the Panthers' Defense
- Brenden Duffy
- Nov 13, 2025
- 9 min read
Photo via Notre Dame Athletics
No. 9 Notre Dame is set to make their 2025 ESPN College Gameday debut against the No. 22 Pitt Panthers on Saturday. The 7-2 Irish travel to Pittsburgh for a noon meeting, looking to keep their CFP hopes alive.
While the Panthers can afford a loss, like Head Coach Pat Narduzzi alluded to on Monday, and still make the CFP with an ACC Championship, there is no question he would love to upset the Irish.
Pitt Results (7-2):
61-9 vs Duquesne (W)
45-17 vs Central Michigan (W)
24-31 at West Virginia (OT L)
27-34 vs Louisville (L)
48-7 vs Boston College (W)
34-31 at Florida State (W)
30-13 at Syracuse (W)
53-34 vs NC State (W)
35-20 at Stanford (W)
As much as CJ Carr and the Notre Dame passing offense have impressed, it is no secret that the Irish’s bread is buttered with their run game. Irish RB Jeremiyah Love, a potential Heisman candidate, could be tasked with his biggest test since last season’s National Championship against Ohio State. While Pitt’s secondary has been prone to mistakes, their run defense is among the best in the country, with good run-stoppers at nearly every level. The Panthers’ ability to limit opposing teams' top rushers has no doubt been a factor in their current five-game winning streak.
Defensive Stats (National Rank):
21.8 points per game allowed (tied-43rd)
318.3 total yards per game allowed (25th)
4.67 total yards per play allowed (tied-16th)
80.89 rush yards per game allowed (3rd)
2.39 yards per carry allowed (1st)
7 rush touchdowns allowed (tied-14th)
237.4 pass yards per game allowed (97th)
10 interceptions (tied-22nd)
2.67 sacks per game (tied-18th)
7.78 tackles for loss per game (5th)
34.07% opponent 3rd down conversion rate (25th)
33.33% opponent 4th down conversion rate (tied-8th)
95.65% opponent red zone conversion rate (131st)
The Panthers’ defensive braintrust is made up of HC Narduzzi and Defensive Coordinator Randy Bates. Before Pitt, Narduzzi was the long-time DC for former Cincinnati and Michigan State HC Mark Dantonio from 2004-14. After helping the Spartans to an 11-2 record featuring a Cotton Bowl victory in 2014, Narduzzi was hired to be the HC at Pitt. Since taking over in 2015, the defensive-minded coach has led the Panthers to a 79-58 overall record with an ACC Championship.
Bates was brought in by Narduzzi in 2018 after former Pitt DC Josh Conklin accepted the HC position at Wofford. Before working at Pitt, Bates served as the LB Coach at Northwestern under Pat Fitzgerald from 2006-17.
Personnel:
Interior Linemen:
Francis Brewu - The first of three good interior linemen that Pitt features is this starting sophomore DT. Brewu has 24 tackles, four for a loss, one sack, and a forced fumble this season. The 6-2, 280-pound DT has at least one tackle in seven games, including a season-high of nine at WVU, where he also recorded a sack. Brewu has two missed tackles on the year. The sophomore has been good against the run, with 10 stops and no misses, and as a pass rusher, with 13 pressures, including two QB hits across 163 attempts.
Sean FitzSimmons - Next to Brewu is this redshirt junior DT. FitzSimmons has 20 tackles, two for a loss, and one sack this year. The 6-3, 295-pound lineman has at least one tackle in seven games, including a season-high of six at WVU, where he also recorded a sack. FitzSimmons has been good against the run with nine stops, but three of his four missed tackles have come here. The junior has also performed well as a pass rusher with 11 pressures, including two QB hits across 150 attempts.
Nick James - This redshirt junior starts off the bench but is a key rotational piece on Pitt's line. James, a pass-rush specialist, has 15 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, and one pass breakup this season. The 6-2, 280-pound DT has been good against the pass with 14 pressures, including four QB hits across 191 pass rush attempts. James has also been reliable against the run with seven stops, but both of his missed tackles this year have come trying to stop the rush.
Others to watch: Jahsear Whittington
Edge Rushers:
Jimmy Scott - Arguably, Pitt’s top pass-rusher is this redshirt junior DE. Scott has 15 tackles, 7.5 for a loss, four sacks, one pass breakup, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery this season. The 6-3, 260-pound edge rusher has at least one tackle in six games. He recorded a season-high two sacks with four tackles in his last game out at Stanford. The junior also impressed against Central Michigan when he tallied four tackles, a sack, and a pass breakup in the early-season win. Scott leads the team with 22 pressures, including six QB hits, across 248 pass rush attempts. Against the run, he has been solid with five stops; however, three of his four missed tackles have occurred here.
Isaiah Neal - The other edge rusher to keep an eye on is this redshirt sophomore OLB. Neal has 22 tackles, 3.5 for a loss, 2.5 sacks, and one pass breakup this season. The 6-2, 265-pound edge rusher has at least one tackle in each game, and tallied a season-high of five at FSU. A solid pass rusher, Neal has 14 pressures, including six QB hits on 197 attempts. The sophomore has been decent against the run with eight stops, but four of his six missed tackles have come trying to stop ball-carriers. Neal can, but rarely does, drop into coverage.
Others to watch: Joey Zelinsky, Nate Temple, Blaine Spires (missed last game with injury)
Linebackers:
Braylan Lovelace - The heart of this Pitt defense is undoubtedly the linebacking core, specifically Lovelace and Louis. Lovelace, a junior LB, has a team-high 55 tackles, with 3.5 for a loss, one interception, and a pass breakup this season. The 6-2, 220-pound interior backer has at least two tackles in each game, and recorded a season-high of 10 tackles against Louisville and then at FSU. Lovelace also had a nice performance in the loss at West Virginia, when he racked up nine tackles with an interception and a pass breakup. While the junior does lead the team in tackles, he also leads the Panthers with 13 misses. Regardless, Lovelace has proven to be an elite run-stopper with a team-high 23 stops with eight misses. The LB has been decent in coverage, with 157 yards allowed on 13 receptions across 17 targets. He has also performed as a good pass rusher, with 20 pressures, including six QB hits across 119 attempts. Lovelace will affect Saturday’s game; how much of an effect may be the difference between a win and a loss.
Kyle Louis - My favorite player to watch on the Panthers' defense is this redshirt junior LB. Louis, at 6-1 and 220 pounds, offers versatility for the Pitt defense. While mainly lining up as an ILB, the junior is capable of rushing off the edge or playing coverage out of the slot. In eight games played this season, Louis has 53 tackles, 5.5 for a loss, two sacks, three pass breakups, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble. The LB left the Syracuse game in the first quarter with an injury and then did not play the following game against NC State. Louis has at least five tackles in seven games and has had multiple impressive performances. In his return from injury two weeks ago at Stanford, the LB recorded 11 tackles, two pass breakups, and an interception. In the season-opener against Duquesne, Louis recorded a season-high two sacks in a six-tackle outing. Against Boston College, he had five tackles, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble and recovery in a dominant win. Finally, the star LB recorded eight tackles and an interception in the overtime loss at WVU. All-around, Louis has been good. He has 13 stops against the run, with two of his missed tackles coming here. In coverage, he has allowed 26 receptions for 222 yards and a touchdown across 37 targets. As a pass rusher, Louis has recorded 12 pressures, including three QB hits on just 69 attempts.
Cameron Lindsey - While Louis and other depth LB options have dealt with injury, this versatile redshirt freshman has stepped up. Lindsey, who can rush off the edge, made his first start against NC State. The 6-1, 210-pound LB has 25 tackles, five for a loss, two sacks, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble this season. He has at least one tackle in six games and two missed tackles on the year. In his second start at Stanford, Lindsey tallied a season-high eight tackles with a sack and a pass breakup in the road win. The freshman has been solid in coverage, with 11 receptions allowed for 97 yards and a touchdown on 15 targets. It appears Lindsey has learned from his upperclassmen LBs because he has been great against the run with seven stops and no misses. He has also added six pressures on just 48 pass rush attempts this season.
Others to watch: Rasheem Biles (has been out since week 8 with injury), Nick Lapi (has been out since week 9 with injury)
Defensive Backs:
Javon McIntyre - One of Pitt’s starting safeties is this redshirt senior. McIntyre, who can play some slot corner, has 28 tackles, one interception, and one pass breakup this season. The 6-1, 195-pound S has at least one tackle in eight games, including a season-high of seven against Central Michigan. In the Panthers' last outing at Stanford, McIntyre hauled in his first pick of the year while adding two tackles in the win. Overall, the senior has played decently with 274 yards allowed and three touchdowns on 22 catches across 29 targets in coverage. He has come up with four run-stops, but three of his six missed tackles have come against the rush.
Kavir Bains-Marquez - The other starting safety for this defense is the UC Davis grad-transfer, who also can play some slot corner when needed. Bains has 39 tackles, three pass breakups, and one interception this season. The 5-10, 175-pound S has at least one tackle in eight games, including a season-high of 13 at FSU. Bains recorded his interception at Syracuse, where he also tallied five tackles in the road win. The grad-transfer has five missed tackles on the year. In coverage, Bains has been decent with 293 yards allowed, including a touchdown, on 26 receptions across 33 targets.
Shadarian Harrison - Starting out wide at CB is this redshirt sophomore. Harrison has tallied 26 tackles, one pass breakup, an interception, and a forced fumble in eight games played. He did not play at Syracuse. The 6-1, 190-pound CB has at least one tackle in each game played, including a season-high of nine against Central Michigan. Harrison’s interception occurred against Boston College, where he added two tackles in the win. The sophomore has allowed 204 yards and a touchdown on 15 receptions across 27 targets in coverage this season. He has also come up with three stops against the run, but two of his four missed tackles have come here.
Shawn Lee Jr. - Pitt’s freshman CB has put the seatbelts on everyone in front of him this season. Lee has 22 tackles, 3.5 for a loss, four pass breakups, and an interception this season. He has at least one tackle in eight games, including a season-high of five at WVU. In his last outing at Stanford, the 5-10, 180-pound CB recorded two tackles, a pass breakup, and a 30-yard pick-six in the win. Lee has missed three tackles this year. The lockdown CB has allowed 10 receptions and a touchdown for just 28 yards across 25 targets. This weekend will be a big test for the freshman, who should be receiving more national recognition than he currently is.
Tamon Lynum - The final player to highlight is this sixth-year CB. In six games played, Lynum has 16 tackles, one pass breakup, and an interception this year. He missed a three-game stretch with an injury but is back healthy. The CB has at least one tackle in each game played, including a season-high of four at Stanford. Lynum has no missed tackles this season and hauled in his interception at Syracuse. The graduate has been decent in coverage, with 51 yards and two touchdowns allowed on five catches across eight targets. He has been good against the run, though, with four stops and no misses.
Others to watch: Josh Guerrier, Cruce Brookins (missed last game with injury), Rashad Battle (exited last game with injury)
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