Pitt Early Enrollee Linebackers Learning All-American Mindset

As the Pitt linebackers took over games for the Panthers, Thompson watched from home in awe.

“Last season shocked me for sure. I loved how they played, especially the linebackers. The Syracuse game of course, four picks and three pick-sixes. That said everything that needed to be said right there,” Thompson said.

With Louis, Biles and Braylan Lovelace carving the path, Thompson is ready to follow it to success.

“You just need to work hard. Braylan, me and him have been very close since the OV. He my OV host, so he stayed in contact with me the whole time just checking in on me. Then coming here, then meeting Kyle and Rasheem just going over plays with them. Hard on me in the weight room, hard on me on the field just learning what it takes to be an All-American. Rasheem and Kyle, just taking on what they have taught me and instilled in me.” Thompson said.

Thompson, a Good Counsel High School (Md.) product, is working primarily at ‘mike’ linebacker. He finds he is at his best when he is blitzing, which is something Pitt defensive coordinator Randy Bates does not shy away from.

“I’d say the aggressiveness and how much they blitz. That’s one thing my high school at Good Counsel, we blitzed a lot. That was my d coordinator, coach Sal [Gorgone], all we did was blitz. Same thing with coach Bates, all we do is blitz, so that’s what I love to do.”

The opportunity to blitz also appealed to Taylor, a talent out of Green Run High School in Virginia who projects at the ‘star’ linebacker position.

“Their blitzing and aggressiveness. That’s what caught my eye. I love to hit, I love the physicality of football and that’s really what brought me here,” Taylor said.

Pitt linebacker Emmanuel Taylor with Ryan Manalac. Photo courtesy of Taylor’s X account.

Taylor has used the extra time as an early enrollee to maintain and add some weight, which is something that he struggled with in high school, but linebacker coach Ryan Manalac saw right through it.

“I feel like their personality never switched on me. Because I was an undersized dude, he never disbelieved in me like other coaches would. Coaches would fall in and out with me because my weight would always fluctuate. Coach Manny kept that same communication and was still him at the end of the day.””

Since arriving on campus, Taylor has added 10 pounds, now sitting at 200. He hopes to get into the 215-pound range before the season. As he continues to spend time in the weight room, he is looking to pick up tips elsewhere for his game from the All-American linebacker and sharks.

“Their technique and the little, small things they do in their footwork,” he said.