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Pitt defensive end John Morgan III, tight end Kyi Wright decide to enter NCAA transfer portal | TribLIVE.com
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Pitt defensive end John Morgan III, tight end Kyi Wright decide to enter NCAA transfer portal

Jerry DiPaola
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AP
West Virginia quarterback JT Daniels gets off a pass as Pitt defensive lineman John Morgan III closes in during the first half Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, in Pittsburgh.

Senior defensive end John Morgan III, a valuable member of Pitt’s pass-rushing unit that led the nation in sacks this season, announced Sunday morning on Twitter that he plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal and will play his final season of eligibility at another school.

Morgan, who participated in Senior Day activities at the last home game, played in 53 games, with eight starts, over five seasons. He has a sixth season of eligibility because of the bonus covid year allowed by the NCAA. He redshirted as a freshman in 2018 when he played in only three games.

The loss of Morgan (6-foot-2, 265 pounds) is significant for Pitt’s defensive line that also is expected to lose defensive ends Habakkuk Baldonado and Deslin Alexandre to the NFL Draft.

Morgan, whose hometown is Upper Marlboro, Md., recorded 73 career tackles (23 for a loss, including 14 sacks) during his time at Pitt. He made five starts this season, including the last two games when Baldonado was injured and unavailable. He recorded eight of his career sacks during the 2021 and ’22 seasons.

Also, junior tight end Kyi Wright, a graduate of Farrell High School with two years of eligibility remaining, has announced plans to enter the portal. Wright (6-3, 265) has four receptions for 37 yards in four seasons and 25 games (two starts in 2020).

Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.

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Categories: Pitt | Sports
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