2011 PREVIEW The 2011 season should be quite a transformation for Pitt’s regular-season schedule features eight teams The Panthers will have two quarterbacks entering their Pitt football, which begins its fi rst year under the that advanced to bowl games last year. The non- fi rst active seasons following freshman redshirts. Mark leadership of new head coach Todd Graham. conference slate will be especially challenging with three Myers was a fi rst-team All-Ohio selection as a senior at Whereas past Pitt editions have been more BCS-caliber opponents in Iowa, Notre Dame and Utah. And St. Ignatius after throwing for more than 2,100 yards conventional in their offensive and defensive schemes, this year’s Big East race appears as wide open as ever. and 20 touchdowns. Anthony Gonzalez was a standout the Graham Era promises a break from the traditional. “The goal each year is to compete for and win the Big at Pennsylvania’s Liberty High, compiling 5,311 yards in The emphasis will be on, as Graham describes it, a East Conference,” Graham said. “We are excited about total offense and 61 TDs over his fi nal two seasons. “high-octane, high-energy approach” on both sides of the opportunities and challenges this season will provide.” the ball. The following is a positional look at the 2011 Panthers. “We want to snap the ball every fi fteen seconds on RUNNING BACKS offense,” Graham said. “Defensively we want to apply pressure on every down and make the momentum- THE OFFENSE Pitt’s backfi eld stable will need restocked with the changing plays that win football games.” departure of tailback Dion Lewis and fullback Henry Graham’s head coaching tenure at Tulsa refl ects the QUARTERBACKS Hynoski to the pro ranks. Junior Ray Graham could be blueprint he looks to implement at Pitt. Behind a prolifi c the Panthers’ next all-star performer at tailback. Graham offense and opportunistic defense, the Golden Hurricane rushed for 922 yards last year, averaging 6.2 yards on just Junior Tino Sunseri is the incumbent at quarterback, posted double-digit wins in three of his four seasons. 148 carries. Junior walk-on Desmond Brown received starting all 13 games a year ago. Sunseri connected on Twice they led the nation in total offense. signifi cant repetitions behind Graham during the spring 65% of his passes (223 of 346) for 2,572 yards in his Graham’s 2010 Tulsa team rolled up 505.6 yards per and will look to compete for a primary reserve role. fi rst season in a full-time role. He threw 16 touchdowns game to rank fi fth nationally and averaged 41.4 points Candidates for the vacated fullback spot include against nine interceptions while also showing the ability to rank sixth. The Golden Hurricane defense forced a junior walk-on Kris Wildman, redshirt freshman walk-on to make plays on his feet. In the Panthers’ BBVA Compass whopping 36 turnovers, the third highest total in Randy Morris and redshirt freshman Derrick Burns. Bowl victory over Kentucky, Sunseri rushed for 53 yards college football. The status of junior letterman Chris Mike for the 2011 on just four carries (13.3 avg.). “We’re a no-huddle football team,” Graham said. season is in question due to a knee injury he sustained “We’re going to operate extremely fast on offense. We’re at the end of spring drills. going to be high tempo, high octane and explosive. Our Adding to the running back competition will be an goal is to be the most explosive team in the country. infl ux of promising newcomers. Fifth-year senior Zach “On defense we want to attack. Our approach to Brown will be immediately eligible at Pitt after earning defense stems from our offseason training. We want to his degree from Wisconsin this past summer. Brown put fast and explosive players on the football fi eld and rushed for 1,152 yards and 11 touchdowns during his make game-changing plays. Our main focus will be career with the Badgers. Malcolm Crockett rushed for forcing turnovers and impacting the quarterback.” nearly 2,000 yards over his fi nal two seasons at Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington D.C. Corey Davis was an all-state performer who netted nearly 1,800 yards as a senior at Gladewater High in Texas. Despite an injury-limited senior year, Isaac Bennett led Booker T. Washington to the Oklahoma 5A title, averaging 9.6 yards a carry en route to nearly 1,400 yards. WIDE RECEIVERS Pitt will employ an array of three-receiver sets this season, maximizing the talents of a promising group of players. While two-time All-Big East performer Jon Baldwin has departed for the NFL, the Panthers return four lettermen and some intriguing underclassmen. Pitt will utilize sophomore Devin Street at the X receiver. Street played in every game last year, making four starts, and compiled 25 catches for 318 yards and Tailback two scores. He will be pushed by sophomore letterman Ray Graham Ed Tinker. Senior walk-on Todd Gilcrist will provide depth. 16 MEDIA INFORMATION TIGHT ENDS & H-BACK OFFENSIVE LINE Sophomore Brock DeCicco and redshirt freshman Pitt returns four players with starting experience on Brendan Carozzoni will be the chief competitors for the the offensive front. starting tight end assignment. DeCicco, who lettered as Forming the unit’s nucleus are three battle-tested a redshirt frosh last year, had only two receptions but seniors in Chris Jacobson, Jordan Gibbs and Lucas Nix. 2011 PREVIEW both went for touchdowns (totaling 19 yards). The trio owns a combined 49 career starts. Junior Hubie Graham could be a newcomer of impact Jacobson, a starter at left guard last year, will move at H-Back. Graham enters his fi rst active season to center in 2011. Given the heavy utilization of the following his transfer from Illinois. He will compete shotgun formation in Todd Graham’s offense, Jacobson’s with redshirt freshman Drew Carswell, who is successful positional switch was one of the most transitioning from wide receiver. important developments of the spring. Pitt will welcome freshmen Sam Collura Nix, the most experienced of Pitt’s offensive linemen COACHING STAFF PANTHER and Steve Williams for training camp. One of with 25 career starting assignments, will man the right Maryland’s top tight end prospects, Collura tackle spot. Gibbs will start at left tackle. averaged more than 20 yards per reception as a The leading candidates for the starting offensive guard senior for perennial power DeMatha Catholic. positions are senior Greg Gaskins, a part-time starter last Williams, who projects as an H-Back, rushed for year, and sophomore Cory King. Depth and competition nearly 2,400 yards his fi nal two seasons at at guard will come from junior Ryan Turnley (who could Calvary Day School in Georgia. also get a look at center), sophomore Ryan Schlieper, and a trio of redshirt freshmen in Matt Rotheram, PROFILES Shane Johnson and Arthur Doakes. Wide Receiver Also vying for time at tackle will be sophomore Mike Shanahan Juantez Hollins, junior Justin Virbitsky and mid-year junior-college transfer Zenel Demhasaj. Depth at center will come from Turnley and incoming freshman Artie Rowell, an all-state performer at 2010 SEASON IN REVIEW Pennsylvania’s Central Dauphin. At Y receiver, junior Mike Shanahan returns after posting career-best numbers in a starting role last year. Shanahan was the team’s second-leading receiver behind Baldwin with 43 catches for 589 yards and one score. RECORD BOOK PITT HISTORY PRO FOOTBALL THIS IS PITT Salath Williams enters his fi rst active season following a freshman redshirt and boasts excellent size and playmaking ability. Redshirt frosh walk-on Brett Zuck is also in the mix at Y. Junior Cameron Saddler is the most experienced returnee at Z receiver, lettering the past two years as a top reserve. Redshirt frosh Kevin Weatherspoon enters his fi rst active season looking to earn time in the receiver rotation. Sophomore walk-on Jake Delmonico will also look to earn reps at Z. Four newcomers will try to impact the receiver depth chart upon their arrival for preseason training camp. Joshua Brinson was one of the top wideouts in the California JUCO ranks and could be ready to make immediate contributions. Big and rangy target Justin Offensive Lineman Jackson starred at Alabama 6A champion Daphne High. Lucas Nix While he will play receiver at Pitt, Ronald Jones was actually an all-state quarterback at Florida’s Fort Meade. Darius Patton was one of Ohio’s top receiver prospects at Poland, twice earning all-state. 17 2011 PREVIEW THE DEFENSE At defensive end, Pitt boasts one of the country’s most The “spur” plays opposite the Panther and is a productive defenders in senior Brandon Lindsey, who combination linebacker and safety. Heading into training began last year as a reserve but ended the season as an camp, top candidates to seize this starting role are DEFENSIVE LINE All-Big East performer. Lindsey collected 51 tackles and sophomore letterman Kevin Adams and redshirt freshman led the team with 17.5 TFLs and 10 sacks. Strong and Eric Williams. Quality competition will come from Pitt returns an experienced foundation on its defensive experienced depth will come from senior Justin Hargrove sophomore Carl Fleming and promising redshirt frosh line despite the departure of two national-caliber ends in and sophomore T.J. Clemmings. Todd Thomas. Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard to the NFL. At Sam linebacker, senior Tristan Roberts and A pair of seniors, Chas Alecxih and Myles Caragein, sophomore Shane Gordon will be the most experienced returns on the interior.