The Pitt Panthers have released their two-deep roster for their Week 1 match-up against Albany. The Panthers open their season up this Saturday against the Albany Great Danes at Heinz Field. The is set to start at 3:30 p.m.

Defensively, the Panthers look to be the strongest at the linebacker position. They return several linebackers who saw a lot of playing time during the 2017 season. Oluwaseun Idowu and Saleem Brightwell will be leaders in that unit. The defensive backfield also returns a several players including Dane Jackson, Damar Hamlin and Dennis Briggs.

Despite losing a few starters on the offensive line from last year’s team due to graduation, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi is confident in his team’s depth at that position. Coach Narduzzi had a few things to say about his offensive live during a post-practice interview with the media on Aug. 23.

On if there is a position he feels better about than before camp:

“I still say that offensive line. I still feel it starts up front. I felt good about the defensive line, but I feel better about the offensive line as a whole, just with what they’re doing and how they’re doing it. We’ll find out on game-day. It may be disappointing, but right now I’m excited with where we are.”

On if he’s excited about the starting offensive line or the depth:

“More of the first guys in some of those key (roles), that sixth man and seventh man in, that first guard or center-type guy and that tackle coming in. So, it’s the first seven guys. We talk everyday about getting three percent better. Everybody is making the jumps, so in the long run it’s going to help us, whether it’s in week two, week five or week eight. It’s going to help us continue to get better.”

Pitt's two-deep roster for Week 1 vs. Albany (starters in BOLD)

1ST Kenny Pickett

2nd Ricky Town

3rd Nick Patti

Running Back

1st Darrin Hall and Quadree Ollison, A.J. Davis

Fullback

1st George Alston, Jim Medure

Tight End

1st. Tyler Sear, Will Gragg, Grant Carrigan

Wide Receiver

1st Aaron Mathews, Dontavius Butler-Jenkins, Michael Smith

1st Rafael Araujo-Lopes, Maurice Ffrench, Darian Street

1st Tre Tipton, Shocky Jacques-Louis

Left Tackle

1st. Stefano Millin, Carson Van Lynn

Left Guard

1st, Connor Dintino, Brandon Ford

Center

1st Jimmy Morrissey, Owen Drexel

Right Guard

1st Mike Herndon, Bryce Hargrove

Right Tackle

1st Alex Bookser, Gabe Houy, Jerry Drake

Defensive End

1ST Rashad Weaver, Patrick Jones, James Folston Jr.

Nose Tackle

1st Shane Roy, Rashad Wheeler

Defensive Tackle

1st Keyshon Camp, Amir Watts, Jaylen Twyman

Defensive End

1st DeWayne Hendrix, Chase Pine, Deslin Alexandre

Money (Linebacker)

1st Elijah Zeise and Saleem Brightwell

Middle Linebacker

Quintin Wirginis, Chase Pine, Elias Reynolds

Star (Linebacker)

Oluwaseun Idowu, Anthony McKee, Cam Bright

Cornerback

1st Phillipie Motley, Dane Jackson, Marquis Williams

Cornerback

1st Damarri Mathis, Paris Ford, Jason Pinnock

Strong Safety

1st Dennis Briggs, Phil Campbell III

Free Safety

Damar Hamlin, Jazzee Stocker, Bricen Garner

Punter- Kirk Christodoulou

Placekicker - Alex Kessman

Long Snapper - Cal Adomitis

Kickoff Returner - Maurice French and Paris Ford

Punt Returner - Rafael Araujo-Lopes