UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

October 31, 2026

Raion Strader

Press Conference

Pitt 34, Georgia Tech 11

Q. Raion, you had a couple breakups there. You were able to limit their passing game. What did you lock into this week after a rough week last week?

RAION STRADER: We really focused on taking away explosives and getting off the field on third down, just really buckling down in those situations, playing a lot of situational ball in practice. That was really the biggest part we played in this week. It showed out on the field.

Q. Was that a cramp or ankle?

RAION STRADER: It's something minor. It will be all right. A little ankle.

Q. What did you execute well to get off the field on third down?

RAION STRADER: If you watch the game, our defensive line and the pass-rush, they were getting to it. They was corralling the quarterback, making him one-dimensional. Those quick looks on the back end just make those quick reads, too, that ultimately helped us get off the field.

Q. What is that feeling like when you look in the backfield, you notice they got the quarterback, I can stop covering?

RAION STRADER: It's a great feeling. It was getting fast, too. I'm looking back thinking I got my guy covered. Where is the ball? He's on the ground already. It is great knowing they are going into second-and-long, third-and-long. No, that's our time to shine.

Q. Walk us through the sack today.

RAION STRADER: Great play call. I'm going to say that. Shout-out to Coach Sanders. Great play call. Braylan Lovelace came off the edge, I went through the middle, wide open crease. I'm thinking he is seeing me. Trying to get the ball out real quick.

I'll take the sack, though (smiling).

Q. You almost had another?

RAION STRADER: Yeah.

Q. What did you see from your team's offense today, specifically with Damon?

RAION STRADER: They were really dominant, rush game. I looked up, I seen about 271 yards rushing. They almost went 300. They could have if they really wanted to.

They were controlling the ball a lot I would say. They were good in the pass. They controlled the game in the rush.

Q. What did the secondary learned about itself heading into the bye week?

RAION STRADER: Just have to stay levelheaded, stay until the next play, leave all the black and white noise in the back. We are who we are. We're competent guys. We're ball players at the end of the day. We're here to make plays. Some things happen. You give, you take. You got to take more than you give, though.

Q. Your first year here. What has impressed you about Damon?

RAION STRADER: You really don't see that from a freshmen too many times. Especially we have early enrollees. He wasn't even an early enrollee freshman. He came in the summertime, just burst onto the scene. You could see it in practice, too. The way he runs the ball, I knew he was going to be a really good player.

He stepped up into that role where most freshmen kind of struggle. No, he came with open arms, open mind. He's dominating.

Q. He has a very funny, joking manner. How important is it to have guys with that sort of energy in the room?

RAION STRADER: Yeah, yeah, it brings a lot of light to the room. Keeps the energy going. Just keeps everybody lifted. It's really good, yeah, to have a healthy mixture in the room, to keep everything level.

Q. Talk about how the team responded coming from a three-game losing streak.

RAION STRADER: We didn't blink. That's one of the things we talked about all week, man, there isn't no being happy. We got to go win. Still don't be happy. We got to win again. We got to keep moving on through the weeks and keep chopping wood.

Thank y'all.