Pitt is leaning on established veterans around whom to build this spring, while facing question marks at several positions.
The list of returning players expected to play large roles in 2026 includes Mason Heintschel at quarterback, Cruce Brookins at safety and Braylan Lovelace at linebacker, among others.
Also prominent within the team’s group of veterans are defensive end Jimmy Scott and offensive guard BJ Williams, both of whom are preparing for a final collegiate campaign.
“For so long, I’ve been looking up to other guys and kind of just playing an in-between leadership role,” Scott said. “Now, pretty much everybody’s looking up to me. So, setting a good example and being that guy younger guys can look up to.”
The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Scott has started a total of 25 games the past two seasons and is in line for a third straight prominent role in the trenches for Pitt.
Statistically, Scott’s best season came in 2024, when he recorded 30 tackles (12 for loss), six sacks, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.
Last year, he made 18 tackles (eight for loss) with 4.5 sacks.
“Everybody looks at sacks and TFLs,” Scott said. “Sometimes that doesn’t tell the whole story. It took me a while to learn that because every game, you want to get sacks and TFLs, but the biggest thing is disrupting the quarterback.
“We played a lot of teams last year, and we’re going to play a lot of teams this year, that know we can rush and get after the quarterback. They’re not dropping 7-8 yards. They’re not taking deep shots every single time just because they know we’re going to bring pressure.”
For Scott, part of the leadership equation this season will be helping along two position mates whose 2025 seasons were derailed by injury: Zach Crothers and Jaeden Moore.
Crothers, who suffered a season-ending injury vs. Louisville on Sept. 27, has not practiced yet this spring but shined last fall when he was healthy, posting 15 tackles (three for loss) with 1.5 sacks in parts of four games.
Moore’s potential remains to be seen. An Oregon transfer who was injured before fall camp broke, he went on to miss the majority of the season, appearing only sparingly in four contests.
“He’s definitely grown a lot maturity-wise and on the field,” Scott said of Moore. “I’m definitely excited for him to help us out this year and make some plays.”
As for Williams, he brings 32 starts to the 2026 season, all at right guard.
“I feel like I definitely improved (last) season, but there’s always room to get better,” said Williams, an was an All-ACC honorable mention selection last season. “My consistency definitely improved but I just want to carry that over to (this) season, have a great season and end it with a bang.”
At this early stage of spring, the uncertainties on Pitt’s offensive line appear to be exclusively left of center, a position now occupied by Ryan Carretta following Lyndon Cooper’s transfer to Vanderbilt.
Williams should slide in at guard next to him, with fellow returner Ryan Baer back at right tackle.
Granted, the Panthers do return Kendall Stanley, who played left guard and tackle in 2025, along with Keith Gouveia, Pitt’s starting left guard to begin the season before suffering a year-ending injury.
And so far into spring, Penn transfer Netinho Olivieri has appeared to have the edge at left tackle.
Like Scott, Williams recognizes his role is now bigger than himself.
Along with Pitt’s other veterans up front, Williams will prepare to assume the role of fire extinguisher, stabilizing a position group that’s striving for improvement from a year ago.
“We’ve got that chemistry now, so we know what we have to do,” Williams said. “We know that we have to be the leaders on that right side. If something’s going on on offense, we’ve got to be there to lead guys and pick them up.”