Pitt basketball announced in a release on Wednesday that sophomore guard Josh Newkirk has undergone arthroscopic knee surgery to repair the lateral meniscus in his left knee. The surgery will hold Newkirk out for 4-6 months of workouts, according to the release. “We expect Josh to make a full recovery and rejoin his teammates for the upcoming 2015-16 season,” Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. “The surgery was a success, and we know that Josh will work hard during the rehabilitation ... Read More
Brown F Rafeal Maia transfers to Pitt
Jamie Dixon landed his second graduate transfer in a week’s time on Sunday when it was reported that Brown power forward Rafael Maia would be transferring to Pitt. Maia, like Coppin State guard Sterling Smith, who transferred to Pitt last week, will be eligible to play right away. He stands 6-foot-9 and last season averaged 9.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, shooting 53.8 percent from the field. He should be able to help the Panthers on the glass, which was a weak spot of the team last ... Read More
Pirates lose again in extra innings 3-2, swept by Cardinals
Someone should have sent a memo to the Pirates that the marathon was supposed to take place in Pittsburgh, not St. Louis. For the third straight game of the series, the Pirates (12-13) took the Cardinals (18-6) to extra innings before falling, this time a 3-2 loss in the 14th inning off a Kolten Wong walk-off home run. This was the fourth straight game against the Cardinals the Pirates lost in walk-off fashion. Pirates starter Vance Worley was strong in defeat as he went six strong ... Read More
2015 NFL Draft: Steelers get defensive on final day
For all the championship teams in NFL history the draft is where the journey begins. Teams address needs and hopefully select players that wind up being game changers. The Pittsburgh Steelers probably more than any team know the importance of a good draft because the draft has played a major role in their six Super Bowl Championships. That being said let’s take a look at the action from rounds 4-7. The Steelers focus in this year’s draft was on the defensive side of the football. The ... Read More
Steelers select Louisville safety Gerod Holliman in seventh round
With the No. 239 overall pick in the draft the Pittsburgh Steelers selected free safety Gerod Holliman out of Louisville. Holliman started one year for Louisville but definitely made it count. In that one year he racked up 37 tackles, one sack, 17 passes defensed and recorded an amazing 14 interceptions in only 12 games. His 14 interceptions led the FBS in 2014 and tied the FBS record. As a result of his impressive season Holliman received the prestigious Jim Thorpe Award which is given to ... Read More
Steelers add defensive line depth in sixth round
At this point in the NFL Draft the Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to solidify and add depth to their roster. The Steelers main focus in this draft has been to address the weaknesses on the defensive side of the ball. The Steelers drafted defensive tackle Leterrius Walton with the No. 199 overall pick. Walton played four seasons for Central Michigan. In 2013 he started all 12 games at defensive tackle accumulating 34 tackles and led the team with 9.5 tackles for loss. In 2014 Walton once ... Read More
Steelers select Penn State TE Jesse James in fifth round
The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t get the tight end that they were hoping to get in the second round in Minnesota’s Maxx Williams, but they got around to adding depth at the position in the fifth round by selecting Penn State tight end Jesse James. James, who was in for a visit during the offseason, caught 38 passes for 396 yards and three touchdowns last season for the Nittany Lions. He declared for the draft after his junior season, finishing with 78 receptions for 1,005 yards and 11 ... Read More
Steelers take Ohio State CB Doran Grant in fourth round
The Pittsburgh Steelers addressed some needs during the first two days of the 2015 NFL Draft by grabbing Kentucky linebacker Bud Dupree, Ole Miss corner Senquez Golson and Auburn wide receiver Sammie Coates. They did the same to start day three of the draft when they nabbed Ohio State cornerback Doran Grant with the No. 22 pick of the fourth round, No. 121 overall. Depth at cornerback was a need coming into this draft and the Steelers gabbed a pair among their first four ... Read More
Pitt’s T.J. Clemmings falls to fourth round; drafted by Vikings
It was a much longer wait than anyone would have anticipated, but finally on Saturday Pitt’s T.J. Clemmings realized a dream. Clemmings was take with the No. 11 pick of the fourth round by the Minnesota Vikings, the No. 110 pick overall. Once perceived as a surefire first-round pick, a stress fracture discovered in his foot only a couple weeks prior to the draft, scared teams away from Clemmings and as a result he slid all the way to the third day of the draft. Clemmings, viewed by many ... Read More
Steelers select Auburn wide receiver Sammie Coates in third round
The Pittsburgh Steelers targeted some holes on the defensive side of the ball during the first two rounds of the NFL draft with Kentucky linebacker Bud Dupree and Ole Miss cornerback Senquez Golden. They switched to the other side of the ball in the third round by selecting Auburn wide receiver Sammie Coates with the No. 23 selection of the third round, No. 87 overall. Coates hands are often questioned, but there is no doubting that he has plenty of talent. He stand 6-foot-1 and is a ... Read More