After losing three defensive ends in the transfer portal, including promising freshman Sincere Edwards, Pitt took a step toward restocking the position Saturday when Blaine Spires, formerly of Bowling Green and Utah State, said he plans to enroll.
Full Circle! You earned it H2P #1stcommit???? https://t.co/gK4I7hdcaB
— Ant (@anttt88) January 4, 2025
Spires (6-foot-3, 250 pounds) spent the past two seasons at Utah State, but his playing time was curtailed last season by a foot injury. He appeared in four games — all starts — and recorded eight tackles, three TFLs, one sack and two quarterback hurries.
A graduate of East High School in Youngstown, Ohio, Spires was productive in 2023, appearing in 12 games (three starts), with five sacks, eight TFLs, three fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, one pass breakup and a team-high 10 hurries.
Pitt will be Spires’ third school in seven seasons after he started 17 games for Bowling Green from 2019-22. In that time, he had 2 1/2 sacks and 10 TFLs, with a forced fumble, recovery and pass breakup.
Coach Pat Narduzzi also lost two other defensive ends since the end of the season, David Ojiegbe and Chief Borders. Defensive tackles Nahki Johnson and Elliot Donald have announced plans to transfer.
Meanwhile, the Panthers have added three other players from the portal — wide receiver Deuce Spann (Florida State), kicker James London (Murray State) and offensive lineman Kendall Stanley (Charlotte).
