University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt’s Baldonado, Kancey on All-ACC Preseason Team
7/27/2022 2:00:00 PM | Football
PITTSBURGH – Pitt defensive linemen Habakkuk Baldonado and Calijah Kancey were named to the 2022 All-ACC Preseason Football Team, the conference office announced Wednesday.
Baldonado, a senior defensive end, and Kancey, a junior defensive tackle, were both All-ACC players last season and return for a Pitt pass rush that led the conference with 54 sacks in 2021.
Baldonado (Rome, Italy/Clearwater Academy International (Fla.)) comes back for the Panthers as one of the nation's most feared edge rushers after recording nine sacks last season.
The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Italian started all 14 games for the ACC champions in 2021 and compiled 11.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery as well to garner second team All-ACC honors. Baldonado was at his best in big moments, tying a career-high with seven tackles and adding a sack in the ACC Championship Game against Wake Forest; he also posted sacks against Virginia Tech, Clemson, Miami and North Carolina in crucial conference games.
Kancey (Miami, Fla./Miami Northwestern) established himself as one of the most productive defensive tackles in the nation last season, pacing Pitt in tackles for loss (13) and ranking second in sacks (seven). He earned first team All-ACC and received third team All-American recognition by the Associated Press.
The 6-foot, 280-pound disruptive force helped the Panthers win their first outright conference title in program history with several big plays in ACC games, including sacks versus Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Virginia. Kancey remarkably recorded a TFL in eight consecutive games down the stretch for Pitt through the ACC Championship Game against Wake Forest and forced a fumble against Clemson.
Kancey's combination of quickness and power has drawn comparisons to another former Pitt standout defensive tackle: three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald.
Baldonado, Kancey and the Panthers open the 2022 campaign with the highly anticipated renewal of the Backyard Brawl against West Virginia on Sept. 1 at Acrisure Stadium. ESPN's College GameDay will provide coverage from one of the marquee contests of the first full week of the college football season.
Pitt football season tickets, which start at just $180, are currently on sale at PittsburghPanthers.com. For pricing, seating maps, season ticket holder benefits and more, click here or call (800) 643-7488.
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Baldonado, a senior defensive end, and Kancey, a junior defensive tackle, were both All-ACC players last season and return for a Pitt pass rush that led the conference with 54 sacks in 2021.
Baldonado (Rome, Italy/Clearwater Academy International (Fla.)) comes back for the Panthers as one of the nation's most feared edge rushers after recording nine sacks last season.
The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Italian started all 14 games for the ACC champions in 2021 and compiled 11.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery as well to garner second team All-ACC honors. Baldonado was at his best in big moments, tying a career-high with seven tackles and adding a sack in the ACC Championship Game against Wake Forest; he also posted sacks against Virginia Tech, Clemson, Miami and North Carolina in crucial conference games.
Kancey (Miami, Fla./Miami Northwestern) established himself as one of the most productive defensive tackles in the nation last season, pacing Pitt in tackles for loss (13) and ranking second in sacks (seven). He earned first team All-ACC and received third team All-American recognition by the Associated Press.
The 6-foot, 280-pound disruptive force helped the Panthers win their first outright conference title in program history with several big plays in ACC games, including sacks versus Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Virginia. Kancey remarkably recorded a TFL in eight consecutive games down the stretch for Pitt through the ACC Championship Game against Wake Forest and forced a fumble against Clemson.
Kancey's combination of quickness and power has drawn comparisons to another former Pitt standout defensive tackle: three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald.
Baldonado, Kancey and the Panthers open the 2022 campaign with the highly anticipated renewal of the Backyard Brawl against West Virginia on Sept. 1 at Acrisure Stadium. ESPN's College GameDay will provide coverage from one of the marquee contests of the first full week of the college football season.
Pitt football season tickets, which start at just $180, are currently on sale at PittsburghPanthers.com. For pricing, seating maps, season ticket holder benefits and more, click here or call (800) 643-7488.
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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