It’s customary and commonplace for upperclassmen, especially seniors, to take on leadership roles and help younger players along.
But Pitt redshirt freshman tight end Max Hunt has assumed a reverse role among his position mates.
This spring, Hunt, Pitt’s lone returning tight end to record a statistic from a season ago, has found himself offering a helping hand to transfers Elijah Lagg (UAB) and Carson Kent (Oklahoma), both of whom are seniors.
“We’ve got new guys in the room but they haven’t been in the program, so I took pride in myself to try to show them the way and help them along and everything,” Hunt said. “Trying to be more of a vocal leader in helping this team.”
So far this spring, it’s been Hunt who’s often repped with the first-team offense, owing to his knowledge of the playbook, having joined the Panthers program in January of 2025 as an early enrollee.
Last fall, he preserved a redshirt, recording one catch for 20 yards in three games played.
On top of the seasoning the last year-plus with Pitt has provided him, Hunt has also drastically transformed his body.
Arriving at Pitt weighing about 198 pounds, Hunt is now at 223.
The process of tacking on mass was unpleasant at times, but something Hunt knew had to be done if he wanted to compete at the highest level and push for playing time.
“I was definitely staying up extra late to get that extra meal in, sometimes waking up early to get that extra meal in, sometimes just drinking a protein shake when you think you’re about to throw up — it’s just what you’ve got to do,” Hunt said. “It sucks in the moment, but you’ve just got to think to yourself that it’ll be worth it in the end.”
Last year, Pitt utilized three tight ends primarily: Jake Overman, Justin Holmes and Malachi Thomas, who hauled in a combined 51 passes for 571 yards and seven touchdowns.
Overman and Holmes graduated, and Thomas transferred to LSU, leading coach Pat Narduzzi to recruit Lagg and Kent, with true freshman Wyatt Villarreal joining Hunt in the tight ends room this spring.
Now the Panthers are hoping Hunt is ready to carve out a role for himself this fall.
“We knew it was probably going to be a year that it would take him, but Max has ability,” offensive coordinator Kade Bell said. “You’re taking about a guy who can really run, has great ball skills and him and (quarterback) Mason (Heintschel) kind of have this weird connection where somehow, they always complete the ball to each other.
“The special thing about Max is how football smart he is. You’re talking about a kid who didn’t get a lot of reps, because he didn’t play a lot. But he knows the offense like a quarterback. He’s one of the most football smart kids I’ve coached in a long time at the position.”
Hunt added some color to his relationship with Heintschel, a fellow member of Pitt’s 2025 recruiting class who enrolled early that January.
Before Heintschel ascended to the starting quarterback role, he and Hunt occupied similar positions well down the depth chart at their respective positions.
But from the time they arrived on-campus together, Hunt and Heintschel began to form a bond, which is flourishing as the Panthers progress deeper into spring ball.
“Mason’s probably one of the first guys I really connected with when I came here to Pitt,” Hunt said. “We were roommates our freshman year, so when we first came in early, we were always working together, going through the plays, getting extra work — from Day 1, we’ve always had a special connection.”
Owing to the extra pounds he put on, Hunt has undergone significant bodily changes in his time at Pitt.
On top of being stronger and a better blocker, Hunt believes another aspect of his development has been how he’s come to see the game of football.
“I think really just maturing not only physically but mentally, really understanding not just the plays but the concepts of what we’re trying to do, understanding what defenses are trying to do,” Hunt said. “Really feeling more comfortable out there on the field so I can play fast. I think that’s the biggest change.”