In the first bowl game after Christmas, the Pittsburgh Panthers and Toledo Rockets go above and beyond the call in the GameAbove Sports Bowl. With this game weeks after the fall semester ended and the transfer portal opening, will Pitt and Toledo be full strength?
Top Pittsburgh Players Not Playing in Hawaii Bowl
Thanks to the CFN Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, we know which players from the Panthers won’t be in action in the GameAbove Sports Bowl.
- Ty Dieffenbach, QB (transfer portal)
- Nate Yarnell, QB (transfer portal)
- Eli Holstein, QB (injury)
- Rodney Hammond Jr., RB (transfer portal)
- Montravius Lloyd, RB (transfer portal)
- Lamar Seymore, WR (transfer portal)
- Daejon Reynolds, WR (transfer portal)
- Thomas Aden, iOL (transfer portal)
- Terrence Moore, iOL (transfer portal)
- Elliot Donald, DL (transfer portal)
- Nahki Johnson, DL (transfer portal)
- David Ojiegbe, EDGE (transfer portal)
- Jordan Bass, LB (transfer portal)
- Noah Biglow, CB (transfer portal)
- Jaremiah Anglin Jr., S (transfer portal)
Pitt was set to be without both backup quarterback options, as Diffenbach and Yarnell hit the portal, but the day of the game saw the Panthers receive some less-than-positive news. Starting QB Eli Holstein was declared out just hours before kickoff and Pittsburgh will have to turn to walk-on QB David Lynch.
Lynch has played in two games this year, stepping in for Holstein against Louisville and attempting three passes in the regular-season finale against Boston College. He’s completed 6-of-9 attempts for 46 yards with one interception to his credit this year.
As bleak as their quarterback situation is, the Panthers will heavily have to rely on the services of dual-threat RB Desmond Reid as Hammond and Lloyd are also out. Reynolds was the team’s fifth receiver, but their offensive losses are obviously headlined by the quarterback situation.
On defense, the biggest loss to the portal was Bass at linebacker. Combined, with all of their defensive losses, Pittsburgh will be without over 40 total tackles among the seven players in the portal — 14 of which belonged to Bass himself.
Bass also contributed a sack and a pass breakup as a vital role player in their linebacking corps. However, this defense shouldn’t be the issue against Toledo.
Top Toledo Players Not Playing in Hawaii Bowl
Similarly, thanks to CFN’s Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, the Rockets expected to miss the game are easy to find:
- Larry Stephens, WR (transfer portal)
- Tysen Smith, TE (transfer portal)
- Zach Potter, DL (transfer portal)
- Jay’Quan Bostic, S (transfer portal)
Compared to their opponents, the Rockets are in a relatively great place.
Stephens is a talented receiver who will likely get his shot elsewhere after falling on the Toledo depth chart. Anthony Torres is one of the nation’s best tight ends and Smith played sparingly this year behind him.
On defense, both Bostic and Potter were too far down on the depth chart to make much of an impact this year.
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