Spring time is a special time of year.
It brings new beginnings, optimistic thoughts and no more snow. For Pitt fans it also brings spring drills for their football team and this year they have a lot to look forward to thanks to the emergence of three budding stars.
After a very promising first full season as the starter, quarterback Chad Voytik is looking to make the next step in his career. Last year as the starter Voytik completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,349 yards and 16 touchdowns which was good enough for a 140.2 rating. Coaches are very excited to see what this young arm can do next.
At the running back position Pitt has the reigning ACC Player of the Year recipient James Conner. Conner exploded onto the scene last year when he ran for 1,765 yards on 298 carries which gave him an average of 5.9 yards per carry. Conner placed third nationally with 26 touchdowns, fourth in scoring with 12.0 ppg and sixth in rushing yards per game with a 135.8 average. Even with all of Conner’s abilities he keeps level headed and focused on the team.
In a recent interview with ESPN Connor said, “All those individual things, those are cool and nice and I feel honored and blessed and humbled and all that, but I want to go to a championship game.”
Lastly but not least is the other half of the only returning 1,000 yard receiver/running back tandem in the nation. Tyler Boyd finished the 2014 campaign with 78 catches for 1,261 yards and eight touchdown receptions. Boyd was named first team All-ACC receiver for his impressive second season. He became the first receiver in ACC history to compile 1,000 receiving yards in his freshman and sophomore years.
All three players are entering their junior year together under new head coach Pat Narduzzi, and are looking to build something special at Pitt.
Pitt opened its first set of spring drills on March 15. Spring practice will conclude with the renewal of the spring game which will be played on Saturday, April 18 at 1 p.m.
Photo Credit: USA Today Sports
