Covert arrived as a freshman at Pitt in 1978.
He began his collegiate career on the defensive line and played in every game as a freshman, especially in goal line or short-yardage situations.
A shoulder injury sidelined him for the 1979 season and he was redshirted.
At the urging of offensive line coach Joe Moore, he switched to offensive tackle in the spring of 1980.
It was a decision that would lead Covert to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Covert was a starter on Pitt’s offensive front his final three seasons, surrendering just three sacks during that span.
As a consensus All-American his senior year, he did not give up a single sack. "
Jimbo is so good, it's like watching a clinic film,” Moore said. “
After a play, I'm never surprised to turn and see Jimbo and his man 10 or 15 yards downfield."

Pitt went 31-5 during Covert’s three years as a starter, finishing in the nation’s Top 10 each season.
The 1980 and 1981 teams each went 11-1 and finished as high as No.
2 in the national polls.
 In 1980, Covert played for an elite Pitt team that included future NFL stars Russ Grimm and Mark May as teammates on the offensive line, along with future Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino.
 "There were games when my uniform never got dirty," recalled Marino. "
There were games when I never hit the ground.
That's incredible."

His junior year, Covert was named a first team All-American by Football News and the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA).
As a senior, he earned consensus status by being named an All-American by no fewer than six different national selectors.
Following his final Pitt season, he played in the Hula Bowl and Senior Bowl all-star games.

Covert would ultimately be named to the University of Pittsburgh’s All-Time Football Team and he was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
His #75 jersey was retired by Pitt in 2015.
Covert arrived as a freshman at Pitt in 1978. He began his collegiate career on the defensive line and played in every game as a freshman, especially in goal line or short-yardage situations. A shoulder injury sidelined him for the 1979 season and he was redshirted. At the urging of offensive line coach Joe Moore, he switched to offensive tackle in the spring of 1980. It was a decision that would lead Covert to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Covert was a starter on Pitt’s offensive front his final three seasons, surrendering just three sacks during that span. As a consensus All-American his senior year, he did not give up a single sack. "Jimbo is so good, it's like watching a clinic film,” Moore said. “After a play, I'm never surprised to turn and see Jimbo and his man 10 or 15 yards downfield."
Pitt went 31-5 during Covert’s three years as a starter, finishing in the nation’s Top 10 each season. The 1980 and 1981 teams each went 11-1 and finished as high as No. 2 in the national polls.  In 1980, Covert played for an elite Pitt team that included future NFL stars Russ Grimm and Mark May as teammates on the offensive line, along with future Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino.  "There were games when my uniform never got dirty," recalled Marino. "There were games when I never hit the ground. That's incredible."
His junior year, Covert was named a first team All-American by Football News and the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA). As a senior, he earned consensus status by being named an All-American by no fewer than six different national selectors. Following his final Pitt season, he played in the Hula Bowl and Senior Bowl all-star games.
Covert would ultimately be named to the University of Pittsburgh’s All-Time Football Team and he was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003. His #75 jersey was retired by Pitt in 2015.
Jim Covert