Saleem Brightwell

Photo by: Jeffrey Gamza/Pitt Athletics

Position:
LB
Class:
Redshirt Freshman
Height:
6-0
Weight:
210
Hometown:
Paterson, NJ
High School:
Paramus Catholic

2019: Played in 11 games, making 10 starts at middle linebacker…missed the opening two contests (Virginia and Ohio) due to injury…totaled 62 tackles, 3.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks on the year…had a season-high 12 tackles at Duke…had seven stops, including a career-high two TFLs, and an eight-yard sack at Virginia Tech…in Pitt’s 35-34 win over UCF, pressured quarterback Dillon Gabriel into an errant throw that was intercepted by Phil Campbell…it was Gabriel’s first INT of the season and the Panthers’ parlayed the turnover into a 14-0 first-quarter lead.

2018: Played in all 14 games, making one start at Money linebacker…starting assignment came at Miami…made the shift to an outside linebacker position after playing in the middle during the 2017 season…totaled 35 tackles and one TFL…had a season-high five tackles in four different games (Albany, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame and the ACC Championship against Clemson).

2017: Started all 12 games at middle linebacker…finished second on the team with 73 tackles…also compiled five TFLs, one sack, two pass breakups, a forced fumble and an interception…had a career-high 13 stops at Syracuse…collected 10 tackles and had a key interception (returned 16 yards) to set up Pitt’s first touchdown in a 31-14 victory over Virginia…also logged 10 stops against Georgia Tech and North Carolina...had a sack against the Tar Heels...named to the All-ACC Academic Football Team.

2016: Played in 12 games, starting two at Money linebacker (North Carolina and Duke)...compiled 26 tackles, three TFLs, two sacks, one fumble recovery, one PBU and an interception on the year...had a season-high five tackles in each of his starting assignments against North Carolina and Duke...against the Tar Heels, added an 11-yard sack, a fumble recovery and a PBU...had his first collegiate interception in Pitt's 43-42 upset at Clemson...picked off Deshaun Watson at the goal line, returning it 70 yards to set up a Pitt TD in the fourth quarter.

2015: Redshirted as a true freshman.

HIGH SCHOOL: Highly decorated and productive linebacker who compiled nearly 200 tackles his final two seasons at perennial New Jersey power Paramus Catholic...first team All-New Jersey…first team All-New Jersey Non-Public…first team All-Bergen County…compiled 84 tackles, 12 TFLs and eight sacks as a senior…helped Paramus Catholic to a 9-2 record and its third consecutive Non-Public, Group 4 championship game…the Paladins finished fourth in the final NJ.com Top 20 (all classifications)…his junior year, had 100 tackles, six TFLs and 5.5 sacks in helping his team to the Non-Public, Group 4 title…started at strong safety as a sophomore…led team to a three-year mark of 29-6 (.829)…rated one of New Jersey’s top 25 overall prospects by ESPN (No. 11), Rivals (No. 18), Scout (No. 20) and 247Sports (No. 23)…played under Coach Chris Partridge.

PERSONAL: Saleem Azelle Brightwell, born 11/26/96, is the son of Attahllah and the late William Brightwell…has one brother and one sister…father played football at James Madison University…earned his bachelor's degree in media and professional communications and is pursuing a second major in legal studies.