Update on Former Pitt LB Solomon DeShields; Teams Interested and Visit Set

A couple days after entering the NCAA Transfer Portal, former Pitt linebacker Solomon DeShields has already arranged a weekend visit.

Matt Zenitz from 247 Sports is reporting that DeShields will travel to Texas A&M this weekend for a visit, his first since departing Pitt.

In addition to Texas A&M, DeShields tells Pittsburgh Sports Now that other teams that contacted him include Washington, Iowa State, Syracuse, Colorado, Virginia and Memphis.

The 6-foot-3, 225-pound fifth-year linebacker from Millville, N.J. was expected to serve as the leader of the Pitt linebacking corps in 2024, playing either Star or Money in the defense.

DeShields broke out as a starter in 2023, playing the Star linebacker in the system, and he recorded 58 tackles (27 solo), 8.0 tackles for loss, two sacks and a pass breakup in 12 games — basically 11 games after leaving the Wake Forest loss after the opening kickoff.

He recorded 594 defensive snaps in 2023, the most of any linebacker and fourth-most on the defense, and he graded out as one of the top-rated players on the defense. He was one of the more impactful pass rushers (14 pressures and 10 hurries) and better run defenders — 28 stops and just five missed tackles.

In four seasons at Pitt, redshirting in 2020, DeShields finishes with 85 tackles (40 solo), 13 tackles for loss, six sacks, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.

Pitt is reasonably well equipped to deal with the loss of DeShields, considering Kyle Louis, Rasheem Biles, Braylan Lovelace and Jordan Bass are all returning (we assume) at outside linebacker, but it’s still a tough blow for what was expected to be a defensive strength.

DeShields is the second Pitt athlete who had announced a deal with Alliance 412, the preferred NIL collective, but as is the case in the new age of college football, nothing is ever a sure thing — especially when NIL is involved.