Shortly before Panther team captain and star linebacker, Cam Bright, entered the transfer portal, Pitt had picked up a safety/linebacker in the transfer portal themselves. On December 31st, New Year’s Eve, Pat Narduzzi tweeted out the graphic, we’ve become all so familiar with, announcing that former Michigan State safety, Michael Dowell, was transferring to Pitt.
Dowell would certainly not replace a playmaker like Bright,
but he has experience against Power 5 competition and has two more years of
eligibility. He recorded 40 tackles in
11 games played as a junior last season for the Spartans, and had 27 tackles
with half a sack the season before.
Dowell could play both linebacker and safety, and would add to the much needed defensive back depth for the Panthers
in 2022.
Let’s Rock! https://t.co/ENnlR8wk6x
— Michael J Dowell (@10MDowell) December 31, 2021
Unfortunately, Dowell tweeted last night that “due to
unforeseen circumstances” he would no longer be transferring to Pitt and his
eligibility had been reopened. This was
certainly a surprise, and a tough shot to Pitt’s defensive depth.
There have been reports that Pitt’s linebacker coach, Ryan
Manalac, is not especially well liked.
However, if Dowell decommitted because of that, I’d hope it would have
taken a lot more than 15 days for him to grow a resentment for Manalac. I cannot imagine that as the reason for this
particular decision.
Due to unforeseen circumstances I will not be attending University of Pittsburgh. I am still in the transfer-portal looking for a destination. I am a grad transfer S/OLB with 2 years of eligibility left. Contact me for further information/interest.
— Michael J Dowell (@10MDowell) January 14, 2022
◦ pic.twitter.com/6oBE9LEu6k
It seemed from the tweet that Dowell’s did not make this
decision on his own behalf. There were also
rumors that Dowell did not meet vaccination requirements for the University of
Pittsburgh, and that the University was cancelling enrollments based on that. However, sources close to the university say
they have not heard of such happenings going on or cancellations
occurring. Regardless of the reason,
Pitt’s linebacker depth is dwindling, in what is otherwise a pretty stacked
roster going into the 2022 season.