Looking for help on the offensive line, Pitt signs former Michigan tackle/guard Jeff Persi

After Pitt ended the 2024 football season by losing its last six games, those within the program and others who follow it from the outside knew the truth: Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi needed to upgrade depth on the offensive line.

Narduzzi believes he took a third step in that direction Monday when he announced the signing of tackle/guard Jeff Persi, a transfer from Michigan. Previously, Pitt had dipped into the transfer portal for offensive linemen Kendall Stanley (Charlotte) and Keith Gouveia (Richmond).

In fact, Pitt has signed 13 players from the portal since the end of the season, and nine of them are offensive linemen, wide receivers or defensive ends (three at each position).

Persi, who has enrolled this semester and will be eligible to participate in spring drills, is a sixth-year senior. He took advantage of the covid year allowance (2020) and a redshirt to remain eligible for the 2025 season.

Persi (6-foot-8, 310 pounds) spent five seasons at Michigan, appearing 41 games with three starts at left tackle. He was part of the Wolverines offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award in 2022 and earned a championship ring in 2023 when Michigan won the national championship.

A graduate of JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., Persi was a four-star recruit, who was ranked the 28th overall prospect in California and the 35th offensive tackle in the nation in 2020.

He will join an offensive line looking for additional development from returning starters Lyndon Cooper, B.J. Williams and Ryan Baer, who manned the center, guard and tackle positions, respectively, last season.