Those hoping that freshman quarterback Tra’Von Chapman would have a positive impact on the Pitt football team for the next four years may want to think again.
Panthers’ head coach Paul Chryst announced on Friday that the youngster has been dismissed from the team.
Chapman was one of the prized recruits of the Class of 2013, but spent three days in jail last month after pleading guilty to an April assault on a former girlfriend in Kent, Ohio.
“We believe it is in everyone’s best interest that Tra’Von pursue his academic and athletic careers at another institution,” said Pitt coach Paul Chryst in a statement. “We wish him the best.”
His dismissal marks the fourth time this year that Chryst has cut ties with a player that could have potentially helped the team in the long run.
Chapman was a four-star recruit who graduated early from Theodore Roosevelt High School in Kent, and was considered a high-character player after taking part in spring drills.
The timing is bad for the freshman as his dismissal comes just three days before the start of Pitt’s new semester and at the end of training camp for most college teams. That will make it very hard for Chapman to find a new school this season.
His joins the likes of running back Rushel Shell, tight end Drew Carswell and safety Eric Williams as players that Chryst has dismissed.
Shell enrolled at West Virginia after attempting to transfer and come back to Pitt and Carswell and Williams have enrolled at Division II Indiana (Pa.) after they were charged with a drug offense in April.
Photo Credit: Lisa Dejong – The Plain Dealer
