Devin Danielson grew up in the Pittsburgh area, played high school football at Thomas Jefferson, and now is on the verge of becoming the starter at defensive tackle for Pitt's defense.
I wrote on last Friday about how Danielson was one of Pitt's emerging younger players and Pat Narduzzi said Danielson's gotten a hold on the starting spot to replace Jaylen Twyman at defensive tackle.
Danielson spoke after practice today via Zoom from the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex about the opportunity for him to step up for the program.
"I really wanted to stay home," Danielson said about why he chose Pitt. "I love being close to my family and I love that they can come to my game. I love the coaches and the team here."
According to Narduzzi, the feeling was mutual from what he and the coaches saw at Thomas Jefferson. He credited former Pitt player and current head coach at Thomas Jefferson, Bill Cherpak, with helping in the recruiting process.
"Coach Cherpak was very instrumental of Devin getting recruited by Pitt," Narduzzi recalled. "I just remember a tough dude. Devin was a tough throwback defensive tackle that we knew was going to play a lot of football for us, so I just remember watching a tough guy on tape from a tough football program."
Cherpak also helped Danielson train over while he was away from the team so he could be ready for the 2020 season.
"I've learned a lot from Coach Cherpak," Danielson said. "He and his program showed me how to work out over the Summer, running hills and doing ladders every day."
That preparation was something Danielson learned he need to put more effort into after his redshirt freshman season in 2018. He says what he learned in 2019 was a big step in the right direction.
"Last year I really learned how to prepare for a game," Danielson recalled. My freshman year I got a couple plays in but I didn't know how to prepare for a true game week. Last year really taught me how to prepare going into a game."
Part of that preparation came from working with the player he's replacing, Twyman, who helped teach Danielson how to better study his opponents and himself.
"It was amazing," Danielson said of his time learning with Twyman. "Jaylen taught me how to watch film, truly watch film. Dive into the smallest details of an offensive lineman's stance. The keys to a good get off, a whole bunch of things."
You could see the details creep into Danielson skills little by little last year on film. He improved his burst out of his stance as the year progressed, playing in all 13 games and making one start against Ohio.
The only tackle for loss he recorded last year was against Boston College, and it's a good example of those skills creeping in. He's the left defensive tackle, No. 95, and you can see him get his pad level under the guard to control the point of attack. After Paris Ford puts an initial hit on A.J. Dillon, Danielson breaks free of his man and completes the stop with a solid tackle on a running back who was eventually drafted 62nd overall by the Packers:
But Danielson's growth is far from reaching his full potential. He continues to work with defensive line coach Charlie Partridge on improving different details in his game.
"You learn small little details you don't think matter at the time," Danielson said of how Partridge coaches him. "But then when you start doing them, everything comes together and you're a better player. Especially my stance. People don't really think about stance that often, but it affects your get off. But it really helps to nail in your perfect stance for hand placement and get off keys. Mainly footwork and getting the fundamentals sound and consistent. I want everything to be the same, every play.""
Finding that consistency will be key for closing in on being the starter, competition he says is a challenge every day against fellow redshirt sophomores Tyler Bentley, David Greene and redshirt freshman Calijah Kancey.
"It's a battle every day," Danielson said of his competition for the starting job. "Just going out there and working our hardest. Everyone's fighting for the spot."
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