Pitt is in need of a significant positional retool at tight end as a result of graduation and transfer portal attrition.
Jake Overman and Justin Holmes burned through their remaining eligibility in 2025, and Malachi Thomas opted to transfer to LSU.
That leaves Pitt to replace a combined 51 catches for 571 yards and seven touchdowns.
On Friday, Pitt made a move to address its tight end shortage, as Oklahoma reservist Carson Kent committed. He was followed on Saturday by former UAB tight end Elijah Lagg.
Lagg (6-foot-4, 240 pounds) appeared in all 12 games with six starts last season for the Blazers, recording 20 catches for 164 yards. He previously played two seasons at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Mississippi.
Also on Saturday, 247Sports reported that the Panthers had signed Western Kentucky tailback La’Vell Wright and Illinois defensive lineman Jeremiah Warren.
Pitt has signed Western Kentucky RB transfer La'Vell Wright, @chris_hummer, @mzenitz and I have learned.
Wright rushed for 10 touchdowns this season. Was previously at Kentucky and Austin Peay.https://t.co/7hbw4R7Oxk pic.twitter.com/oy5hBL6qid
— Cody Nagel (@CodyNagel247) January 10, 2026
Pittsburgh has received a commitment from Illinois DL transfer Jeremiah Warren.
6'3, 310-lb Belleville (Mich.) native has two years of eligibility remaining.https://t.co/M3wXl5wr9O pic.twitter.com/lKuPknu1wv
— Allen Trieu (@AllenTrieu) January 10, 2026
Wright (6-0, 222) rushed for 471 yards (5.5 yards per carry) with 10 touchdowns last season.
Warren will be a redshirt junior in 2026. This past season at Illinois, the 6-3, 310-pounder totaled three tackles in 11 games.
After beginning his collegiate career at Kentucky from 2021-22, Wright spent 2024 at Austin Peay, where he took 115 handoffs for 643 yards and five scores.
Wright joins a tailbacks room at Pitt that will be led by Ja’Kyrian Turner, fresh off a breakout true freshman campaign, as well as incoming four-star prospect Damon Ferguson.
Juelz Goff entered the transfer portal, and All-American Desmond Reid declared for the NFL Draft.
Defensive tackle also recently became a portal priority position for Pitt, which lost Francis Brewu and Jahsear Whittington.
