Talkin’ Pitt: Trust, Timing and Taking the Next Step
9/3/2025 3:21:00 PM | Football
Straight from the podium: What Pitt’s coaches and players are saying ahead of this week’s matchup with Central Michigan.
PITTSBURGH— With Week 2 underway, this week's media availability featured special teams coordinator and tight ends coach Jacob Bronowski, linebackers coach Ryan Manalac, wide receivers Cataurus "Blue" Hicks and Kenny Johnson, linebacker Cameron Lindsey, and defensive back Shawn Lee as they previewed Pitt's upcoming game against Central Michigan at Acrisure Stadium.
Manalac: "Now it was time for him to step up."
Linebackers coach Ryan Manalac wasn't surprised to see redshirt junior Kyle Louis voted as one of Pitt's captains as a non-senior.
"Kyle's got a gregarious, competitive personality that draws guys to him," Manalac said. "Last year he led by example, working his tail off. Now it was time for him to step up and be more vocal, because once you become a playmaker, eyes are on you."
Manalac also praised his consistency and preparation: "He's in there early watching film, making sure he knows what he's doing. He's dialed in every day."
Johnson: "Go find space."
Johnson spoke about his chemistry with quarterback Eli Holstein, especially when plays break down.
"It's just kind of one of those things," Johnson said. "Go find space—and find the space that Eli likes. I know certain throws are more comfortable for Eli, certain spots in general for ball path and stuff like that. So it's just finding those dead areas and running away from people."
Lee: "I was ready to compete."
True freshman Lee said film study showed clear takeaways from Week 1.
"Something I've got to work on definitely is tackling. A lot of guys are bigger now, the game's faster," Lee said. "And playing the corner position, I've got to be able to cover. So those are two things I'm definitely focused on in the film room."
But when it came to stepping onto the field for the first time, Lee said he felt ready.
"When they put me out there, I wasn't surprised, I wasn't nervous. I was just ready to compete and play ball for my team."
Bronowski: "This guy's got it."
Special teams coordinator Jacob Bronowski praised both Sam Carpenter and freshman kicker Trey Butkowski for their performances in Week 1.
"Sammy—what a great teammate. Great human being. So proud of how he's handled everything since the spring," Bronowski said. "And really awesome to see him go out there, handle kickoff duty, and take advantage of that opportunity."
As for Butkowski?
"You talk about a freshman who's only been on campus for two months, coming out there, winning the job the way he did, being steely-eyed on game day," Bronowski said. "I went up to Coach Duzz and said, 'Man, this guy's got it.'"
Lindsey: "Just trust in our details."
Lindsey said the key to Saturday lies in execution up front and belief in what they've repped all week.
"It's going to be a big game for us up front," Lindsey said. "Just really trust in our details and trust in what we've been seeing on film and going over in practice. I feel like with just trusting in each other, not letting each other down, and just playing 'we-fense,' I think we should be good."
Hicks: "We're just getting started."
"Blue" Hicks kept it short and sweet when asked about his early chemistry with Holstein.
"It's good. We're just getting started," Hicks said. "We didn't even do anything yet, for real. We're just—we're just getting started."
