When Pro Football Focus put out their Top 10 list of returning linebackers for the 2025 season only one program had two players ranked, the Pitt Panthers. Those linebackers, Kyle Louis and Rasheem Biles, are arguably the best linebacker duo in the nation.
The nickname “Sharks” was given to the linebacker group by linebacker coach Ryan Manalac due to the group’s relentless play. Louis’ high school team, East Orange High School, went undefeated his senior season. The team adopted the hand gesture, putting a hand on top of their helmet to resemble a shark fin, and Louis brought that to Pitt with Manalac’s naming the group the Sharks.
Louis mans the Star linebacker position, and while he has the size of a Safety, he’s a better fit at linebacker. The 6-foot, 225-pound redshirt junior from East Orange, NJ, can cover in the pass game but also is an elite pass rusher and run stopper.
In 2024, Louis led the Panthers in tackles for loss with 15.5 and sacks with 7. He was second on the team with 101 total tackles. Louis earned multiple All-American nods at the end of the season, including becoming the first Pitt sophomore defender to be named First-Team All-American since 1978. The last player to do that was Pitt legend Hugh Green. Louis was named First-Team All-American by The Sporting News.
Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi saw early in 2024 that Kyle Louis could be an All-American.
"We knew Kyle had All-America ability back in the spring," Narduzzi said after hearing of Louis’ First-Team selection. "He absolutely delivered on our lofty expectations with an outstanding year. His production and impact were incredible. On behalf of our entire program, we congratulate Kyle on this richly deserved honor from The Sporting News. The best thing is, Kyle Louis is going to be even better in 2025."
One of Louis’ more memorable moments of the 2024 season came against Syracuse. He finished with 6 tackles and an interception. That interception was returned 59 yards for a touchdown.
In that same game, Biles, who mans the Money linebacker position, had his best game of the season. Biles led the Panthers with 12 tackles against the Orange while chipping in a sack and a pick six of his own.
Biles finished third on the team in tackles with 82 and second in both tackles for loss with 15 and sacks with 6. The 6-foot-1, 220 pounder also led the Panthers with 9 pass breakups, showing he is very good in pass coverage.
After the game against Cincinnati on September 7th, while speaking with the media, Biles went into some of the “shark” mentality while describing his sack in the game.
“Our linebacker corps, shark, that’s our name,” Biles said. “Fourth quarter, third down is money down. That’s when players make plays, that’s when you get paid.”
Biles and Louis will have plenty of opportunities to make plays in 2025 that will get them paid. It wouldn’t be farfetched if both players make All-American teams. They both will assuredly be on just about every preseason list possible for defensive players.
The middle linebacker position will be manned by either junior Braylen Lovelace or sophomore Jeremiah Marcelin, with Lovelace having the inside track to winning that race. With a lot of the attention more than likely going to Louis and Biles these two middle backers may quietly have a solid season.
If the offense produces similar to what they did in the first seven games of 2024, this Pitt defense can lead the Panthers to an ACC Championship Game appearance. And then Pitt’s pair of “sharks” will really shine.
(photo courtesy of American Heritage School)