UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

September 17, 2026

Braylan Lovelace

Press Conference

Pitt 27, Syracuse 13

Q. Seemed like you were sitting on that route waiting for it to come right to you.

BRAYLAN LOVELACE: Yes, sir, we've been talking about it all week in our little third down package, just making sure we get on the hash ready for that route. I seen it coming and it was my time to make a play.

Q. (Indiscernible) tape past years against Syracuse knew that that's the look that they give you guys certain points?

BRAYLAN LOVELACE: Yes, sir.

Q. On a play like that when you're dropping back in coverage, were you watching the quarterback's eyes and surprised he doesn't see where you were?

BRAYLAN LOVELACE: Not really. I know the guys up front are giving him a lot of stuff to read and things like that. They're trying their best to get back there to the quarterback, put a lot of pressure on him so he makes throws like that. I just know there's a lot of things going on in front of him to make that mistake as my guys are up there making it happen.

Q. You guys were stuffing it up the middle with the run defense early. Seemed like they found some holes late as the game went on. Was it a bend not break kind of day chick check against the run today?

BRAYLAN LOVELACE: I think we can be a lot better. I don't think that's what -- what we put on tape is something we want to show, but I think we did good for what we had, but I think there's a lot of room for improvement for us. That's something that we take a lot of pride in, and that's something that just can't happen.

Q. Third quarter, Sean had that PBU and then FitzSimmons followed it up with a sack. Do you feel like moment or maybe a game -- changing couple of plays right there?

BRAYLAN LOVELACE: Yes, sir, most definitely if he makes that catch so that's a big play from a big-time player, one of those guys that's ready to go out there and make a play and FitzSimmons, that's just what he does up there, go make a play. I for sure think that was a momentum change, but I think that's what the defense brings. That's what we go out there and try to do, just bring momentum to the team so we put the offense in situations to go score a lot easier.

Q. You probably went up against him a bunch during training camp but what's your impressions of Damon Ferguson right now?

BRAYLAN LOVELACE: He's that guy. He's a young guy, but it don't matter what age you are. If you're a dog, you're a dog. As y'all can see out there, he's a dog. He came in, put his head down and just began to work, you know what I'm saying? Expect a lot more out of him.

Q. Without getting a takeaway last week there in the rain, what does it mean for you guys to get those two interceptions tonight, start to get those takeaways going?

BRAYLAN LOVELACE: That's big, that's something we talk about every week before every game, basically every day, actually, just creating more takeovers, turnovers, sorry, takeaways, turnovers, same thing. Just create more of those things, just to put 6 in a better situation so he can go put his guys in a better situation to make plays and score touchdowns. That's something that we're going to continue to improve on and something you're going to see more of.

Q. 11 tackles and Jeremiah had 10. Have you seen them get better every single game so far?

BRAYLAN LOVELACE: Oh, yeah, 100%. I can see their confidence continue to rise. The game is starting to slow down a lot more for them boys and they're just -- I'm seeing what I see in practice, you know what I'm saying? I can feel them getting a lot more comfortable out there. They're flowing out there, not as tense, they're getting it going.

Q. Down for a part of the second half there. How important is he on the back end for you guys?

BRAYLAN LOVELACE: He's one of our biggest leaders down there. As all y'all know, he's a guy. With him back there, there's a lot of leadership. You know, he's also a veteran of that group so there's a lot of leadership there and there's just a lot of energy and things coming from that back end when he's back there. Even without him, I know those young guys are going to go back there and take care of business because that's what they do, that's what they're coached to do and that's what they're about, back end just taking care of business. Thank you, guys.