Mason Heintschel’s rise last season — from third-string quarterback, to starter, to becoming arguably the single-most important player on Pitt’s roster — was nothing short of meteoric.
Heintschel, a true freshman who took over under center in Week 5 of the 2025 campaign, handled things quite well, going 6-3 as starter.
But as the Panthers get underway with spring practices, Heintschel is looking to demonstrate growth as a leader, which he hopes will translate accordingly on the field.
“One of my biggest things coming into this offseason was just trying to be the leader,” Heintschel said. “Try to step into that role and grow into that mold of taking that next step as quarterback. I think there were things we did well as an offense last year, and I think we could have taken it to the next step if we had more of that leader at the quarterback position. I think that was on me.
“As a freshman, that’s a tough thing to do, but that comes with the job description and taking that next step this year is going to be very pivotal to having a successful season.”
Given the massive dice roll it was to turn to an underrecruited signal caller without collegiate experience to take over Pitt’s offense mid-season, coach Pat Narduzzi must have been largely pleased with how Heintschel performed once named starting quarterback.
Yet, lopsided defeats to elite programs like Notre Dame and Miami, which knocked the Panthers out of the national conversation and relegated them to the Military Bowl — where they fell to East Carolina — constituted major disappointments.
Here in spring, Narduzzi also views Heintschel’s taking on more leadership responsibilities as having the potential to be a major factor for Pitt in 2026.
Judging by Heintschel’s winter offseason, Narduzzi has liked what he’s seen.
“His progression in Year 2 is going to be critical,” Narduzzi said. “He’s so smart and he works at it so hard — I don’t know if there’s anybody that works at it as much as he does. We’re going to see the mental and physical part of it get a lot better, without a doubt. He’s special.”
Elsewhere on Pitt’s roster, others are also embracing expanded leadership roles.
Linebacker Braylan Lovelace was one of Pitt’s most consistent players last season, emerging as a full-time starter and appearing in all 13 games.
But position mate Kyle Louis was the undisputed leader of the defense, buttressed by fellow standout Rasheem Biles.
With Louis working his way toward being an NFL Draft pick and Biles having transferred to Texas, it’s now on Lovelace to step up more, especially in guiding along the Panthers’ younger linebackers.
“Just taking on the more leader role, trying to be more vocal and leading by example, getting here much earlier — things like that, so they can see when they’re at my age and years that they’re on that same track that I am, trying to become the best they can become,” Lovelace said of his approach.
This spring, Lovelace has a pair of pupils in true freshmen linebackers Desmond Johnson and Marcus Jennings, whom each enrolled early at Pitt.
Pitt’s linebackers are also led by a new face, as Joe Bowen (formerly Buffalo’s defensive coordinator) was hired to replace Ryan Manalac, who departed to become UConn’s coordinator.
Lovelace knows firsthand what it’s like to pick the brains of older players. Since joining the Panthers in 2023, he’s been able to learn from the likes of Louis, Biles, Shayne Simon, Bangally Kamara and Brandon George.
Now, Lovelace is in position to be the resource that those linebackers once were for him, to the betterment of his position group and Pitt as a team.
“It’s nice to see when I help out one of the younger freshmen and they go out there and succeed,” Lovelace said. “It’s good to see that my helping is getting them on the right track.”
The leadership styles of Heintschel, Lovelace and whomever else emerges for Pitt heading into the 2026 season are sure to differ. That’s only natural, as some gravitate toward leading more by example while others prefer getting amped and vocal.
Regardless, leaders being able to set standards that the rest of the team emulates will be key for the rest of spring and beyond.
“We’re only successful as our weakest link,” Heintschel said. “Pushing each other to be better every day starts with me.”