Back on Jan. 1, Pitt football was grappling with major roster defections that saw the Panthers lose key players such as linebacker Rasheem Biles and receiver Kenny Johnson to the transfer portal.
Cornerback Shawn Lee, who completed his true freshman campaign in 2025, wouldn’t have ranked as the worst loss Pitt suffered in the offseason, but when he announced on New Year’s Day that he’d be hitting the portal, it was nonetheless disappointing for the Panthers.
However, within a few days, Lee reversed course, opting to remain with Pitt, as the Panthers hung on to a key young player.
“It’s always been that I want to be a Pitt man when I graduate,” Lee said of his decision. “I just love everything that we have here, the culture and the coaches and everything. Ultimately, coming back for another season to win an ACC championship — that’s our biggest goal around here. I wanted to continue to come in and get the coaching from our coaches. Being able to come in every day and gain that knowledge, that’s a big thing for me.”
Lee, who enrolled at Pitt in January of 2025, appeared in all 13 of the Panthers’ contests last fall, making 31 tackles (4.5 for loss) with a pick six scored against Stanford, plus five pass breakups.
For his efforts, Lee garnered honorable mention All-ACC accolades.
As Pitt approaches the end of spring ball, coach Pat Narduzzi has liked what he’s seen out of the rising sophomore.
“I think Shawn Lee’s had an excellent spring, really has,” Narduzzi said. “He actually got a little safety work in last (week). He can play corner, he can play safety — he’s very versatile and he’s smart. He’s a football player.”
Lee seeing some reps at safety is notable.
Due to injuries at defensive end last season, Pitt coaches converted tackle Isaiah Neal to the outside, showing they would not hesitate to challenge players to demonstrate some versatility.
In Neal’s case, the position change was made out of necessity.
Narduzzi said Lee was inserted at safety not due to injury but in large part to add depth behind projected starters Cruce Brookins and Josh Guerrier.
“It’s competition, and then all of the sudden you throw a guy in there and he does well with minimal reps, it makes you look in the mirror,” Narduzzi said.
Lee added some more color to Narduzzi’s remark about doing well with minimal reps.
“(Playing safety) is something new that the coaches brought up to me last week,” Lee said. “I was able to get a few reps and actually got an interception from a safety rep I got. So that was a good thing and I was excited about that. Wherever they need me at.”
Lee may well have given Narduzzi and his staff something to think about by seamlessly sliding into the safety position. But for the time being, he’s still considering himself a cornerback first, safety second.
Nor is Lee oblivious to what he’ll need to do for the remainder of spring and beyond to position himself for a strong sophomore season.
“Being a freshman last year, there’s so much more I’ve got to work on in all aspects,” he said, “whether that’s being able to cover guys better, being a leader on our defense going into my second year, knowing the system — just learning the defense and becoming a complete cornerback.”