Pitt has just about arrived at the magic number (85) required for being scholarship-compliant ahead of the 2024 season.
Dorien Ford — a 6-foot-4, 320-pound redshirt junior offensive lineman from Pittsburgh, Pa. — entered the transfer portal Thursday morning, 247Sports reported.
“I want to start by thanking God for blessing me with the talents I have today. Thank you to the University of Pittsburgh for the opportunity to play for my hometown. I want to thank my teammates & coaching staff for helping me develop into a better person not only on the field, but off the field as well! Thank you to my family for always supporting me & holding me accountable.
“With that being said I am entering my name into the 2024 transfer portal with 2 years of eligibility.”
Ford arrived at Pitt as one-third of the WPIAL trio (alongside Elliot Donald and Nakhi Johnson) but wasn’t able to carve out a spot on the defensive line. He switched to the offensive side of the ball ahead of the 2023 season, making the switch from defensive tackle to offensive guard, but he only recorded 16 snaps last season.
He took all 16 of those snaps in the season opener against Wofford. He worked primarily with the second team unit last season, but with the additions through the offseason, it became clear that his spot in the rotation was tenuous.
Pitt returns Ryan Jacoby, BJ Williams, Jason Collier Jr. from last season, and it appears likely that one of the younger lineman will step up on the interior.
Ford is the … Pitt Panther to hit the portal this spring, following defensive end Dayon Hayes (Colorado), linebacker Solomon DeShields (Texas A&M), quarterback Christian Veilleux, defensive end Antonio Camon, wide receiver Israel Polk and tight end Cole Mitchell.
Pitt, after figuring out what happens with Nate Temple’s scholarship this season, is at the 85 scholarship threshold after Ford’s exit.
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