New Pitt Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi suffered his first big blow when it was announced on Thursday that sophomore offensive tackle Jaryd Jones-Smith will miss the 2015 season with a right knee injury.
Jones-Smith was injured during an offseason conditioning session. He’s scheduled to have surgery on Thursday.
He played in all 13 games for the Panthers a year ago, making three starts. He was expected to be a starter this season as he was expected to replace All-ACC right offensive tackle T.J. Clemmings. Jones-Smith is the Panthers biggest offensive lineman, clocking in at 6-foot-7, 335 pounds.
“We are incredibly disappointed for Jaryd,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said in a statement. “Our entire team will rally behind him as he works to overcome this challenge. Jaryd is a great young man and a tough competitor. Even though he is sidelined this year, he is going to remain an important member of our team this fall.”
For now it looks like redshirt sophomore Aaron Reese could be penciled in as the starter as he is listed as Jones-Smith’s backup on the depth chart.
However a likely scenario would be to move one of the Panthers’ guards to tackle.
Pitt has great depth on the interior and both starting guards- redshirt freshman Alex Bookser and junior Dorian Johnson- can both play tackle. Pitt also has a pair of quality centers on the roster in redshirt senior Artie Rowell and redshirt sophomore Alex Officer. One of them could move to guard to free Johnson or Bookser to move outside to tackle.
The loss of Jones-Smith will certainly hurt the Panthers, but unlike years of the past, Pitt has better depth on the offensive line which should help them get by just fine, even though there is no obvious replacement at right tackle and some shuffling up front will need to happen.
Last season Pitt running back James Conner ran for 1,765 yards and 26 touchdowns behind a solid offensive line.
If the Panthers are to have any success during Narduzzi’s first season, the offensive line is going to have to be very good even without Jones-Smith.
Pitt begins training camp on August 10. The Panthers will open the season against Youngstown State at Heinz Field on September 5.
Photo Credit: Pete Madia
