Brandon George feels ‘sense of urgency’ as he preps for final season at Pittsburgh

Brandon George looks at this upcoming season as his last in college football.

Sure, after taking a redshirt last season at the University of Pittsburgh he’ll have eligibility remaining; he doesn’t want to consider that possibility.

The fifth-year senior out of Berks Catholic is laser-focused on 2023 and making it his best, and last, season with the Panthers.

“All in,” he said the other day between reps at Garage Strength. “I’m putting everything in it. This is it.”

He has already graduated – with degrees in marketing, business information systems and supply chain management. He began pursuit of an MBA in May.

Given his preference he won’t put that degree or any of the other three to use anytime soon. He has his sights set on playing pro football.

If that doesn’t pan out he may open his own gym and go into the strength conditioning business. He’s already started down that path, interning with Pitt’s Olympic Sports program where he has worked with swimmers, baseball players and track athletes.

Playing football is still foremost on his mind. He’s not ready to see his journey end but knows the clock is ticking. His time in the game could end soon.

That’s why he’s working so hard – as he always has – to reach the top of the game.

“There’s a sense of urgency,” he said.

Ask him about his expectations for this season and he’ll tell you about his team, not himself. That’s the way George operates; always has. When he was in high school and the Division I offers started pouring in he was reluctant to talk about them; he felt that would be bragging or showing off.

All that matters is how the team does.

Period.

Stats, personal honors, they’re nice, but not as important as championships. That’s why his coaches and teammates respect him so much and why he’s in consideration to be selected a team captain.

He’ll do whatever it takes for his team to achieve. That’s why he’s thrown himself into the special teams mix. He loves running downfield to cover a kickoff or punt and knows how vital it is.

“It’s a third of the game, and one of the most important thirds of the game,” he said. “You can win or lose the field position battle real quick with a blocked punt, anything like that. It’s a necessity and I feel a lot of people need to take more pride in it.”

George was all-everything at Berks Catholic. He overpowered the average high school player with his size, power and speed. He was the Berks Player of the Year as a senior, a two-time All-State pick and rushed for over 2,700 yards and 41 touchdowns.

He helped the Saints become the first Berks team to win three straight District 3 football championships and helped them Berks records for scoring (45.3 points) and margin of victory (41.3 in the regular season, 34.3 over the full season) in 2017, when he was a junior.

The most important stat: 47-8.  That was the Saints’ record during his four seasons. Few Berks players have won more often.

His success hasn’t been so dramatic or overwhelming at Pittsburgh. He found himself on a football field with a bunch of guys just as big and fast and (nearly as) smart.

He’s had to work hard to get playing time.  He was emerging as a team leader and set for a big season in 2022 when he went down with torn ligaments in his ankle on the first day of contact drills. That required surgery and a month of rehab.

He returned at midseason only to reaggravate the injury his third game back and get sidelined for the remainder of the regular season.

When Pitt earned a spot in the Sun Bowl his season was extended and he used that extra time to get back on the field. With Butkus Award semifinalist SirVocea Dennis opting out of the bowl game George got starters reps in the 37-35 win over UCLA.

“It was definitely emotional,” he said of his second chance. “It was exciting being able to play again.”

He enters this season expecting to split time at middle linebacker along with Shayne Simon, a fifth-year senior. Both could see time at the “Money” (outside) linebacker spot, as well.

He has cut a few pounds – he played at 252 in the Sun Bowl – in order to enhance his endurance.

“I’m in better shape,” he said of a season in which he played in just four of 13 games. “I feel bigger, faster, stronger. As a unit, we’re looking really good; our linebacker core is looking (good). And our defense looks phenomenal again.”

George scrunches up his face when it’s mentioned that Pitt is being picked to finish fifth or sixth in the ACC and not among the nation’s Top 25 teams. Some prognosticators, he believes, are sleeping on his squad.

“Everybody has their reasons for picking certain teams,” he said. “We know what we have. We know what we’re capable of. Time will tell.”

George’s goal for what he hopes is his final college season is simple.

“I just want to be the best,” he said. “I want to win – no one achieves anything if your team goes 1-11. Your goal is obviously to win the ACC championship and keep playing well into January. That’s my first and foremost thought: How can I help the team win.

“If All-ACC honors come with that, All-American, whatever, that’s part of the journey. As long as I end the day with a ring on my finger – that’s the end goal.”

No matter how it ends for George, it’ll be a win.

“This has definitely been one heckuva journey,” he said of his college experience. “There’s certain stuff you’ll never forget, like winning an ACC championship (in 2021). It’s (been) better than I could’ve hoped. You don’t know what you’re getting into as a high school guy. You don’t really know until your feet are in it. It’s definitely been something I’ll cherish forever.”