#53

Zach Crothers

DL · Pittsburgh · R-Jr. · #53

Returning to Pittsburgh for 2026
R-Jr. · Weston, FL → Chaminade-Madonna Prep
via pittsburghpanthers.com ↗
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Zach Crothers

DL · Pittsburgh · Fr · #53

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#1226 national
CFB
College
Pittsburgh
2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2025Pittsburgh8-5HC: Pat Narduzzi · Balanced

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Pittsburgh1543.01.5------
Career1543.01.5------

How he plays

Play style

Wins his gap play after play.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Pittsburgh

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Defensive line · Pittsburgh

Returning around him

  • 75% of 2024 offensive production back (Strong continuity)
  • 1 Pittsburgh player drafted to NFL
  • Transfer portal: -5 net (16 in / 21 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Pittsburgh · Last season: 8-5 (AP #24) · Talent rank #56 · 2026 recruiting class #44

DNA match

Player DNA

Two-Gap Base

Stout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number.

IDL

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Kyle King’s 2022 season.

Kyle King

90%match

Ball State · 2022

#2

Vontroy Malone

Tulsa · 2024

84%
#3

Jalen Thompson

Michigan State · 2023

84%
#4

Nahsir Taylor

Maryland · 2025

78%
#5

Moso'oipala Tuitele

New Mexico · 2024

77%

Matches Kyle on

Sack rate
TFL rate
Class year

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Kameryn Fountain's freshman season at USC (2024).

USC · 2024

#2

Nahsir Taylor

Maryland · 2025

77%
#3

Jayden Woods

Florida · 2025

75%
#4

Landen Thomas

UNLV · 2025

74%
#5

Marco Jones

Texas A&M · 2025

73%

Matches Kameryn on

Weight
Hurry rate
TFL rate

Differs from Kameryn on

Class year (lower)

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #7569

Final rank
#7582
Avg #7662.0
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #7569 this season.

Background

2025: Appeared in four games before sustaining a season-ending injury against Louisville…totaled 15 tackles, three tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks…had a breakout game with career highs in tackles (7), TFLs (2.0) and sacks (1.5) vs. Central Michigan…logged the first sack of his career in the second...

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