Pitt Panthers running back Rachid Ibrahim will be lost of the season to an Achilles tendon injury, according to head coach Pat Narduzzi. The junior running back played in all 13 games in 2014 as a backup to James Connor, gaining 263 yards on 33 carries, for a stellar 8.0 yards per carry average. He also added 11 catches for 73 yards. Ibrahim was expected to split time behind Connor with sophomore Chris James in the Panthers backfield. His role will likely be assumed by true freshman Darrin ... Read More
Depth at running back a bonus for Pitt in 2014
As the Pitt Panthers football team enters their final week of training camp, one of the brightest spots so far for Paul Chryst and his staff has been the emergence of the running backs. Coming into camp, all eyes were on Isaac Bennett, who is recovering from injury, and James Connor, who will also be used on the defensive side of the ball. But there are so many more options for Chryst to turn to this season. Sophomore Rachid Ibrahim, who totaled 343 all-purpose yards and scored a ... Read More
Pitt’s Tyler Boyd and James Connor earn preseason honors
As the college football watch lists began to be unveiled on Monday, a couple of Pitt Panthers received some preseason honors. Sophomores Tyler Boyd and James Connor, who both made strong impressions during their freshman campaigns, were named to both the Maxwell Award and Paul Hornung Award watch lists. The Maxwell Award, one of the more prestigious awards out there, is given to the college football player of the year each season. Here's the entire watch list for the Maxwell Award: RB Ameer ... Read More
Pitt freshmen play big role in Little Caesars Pizza Bowl win
Paul Chryst and the Pitt Panthers football team gave the nation a glimpse of their future Thursday night and at least for one night that future looked very bright. Freshman Tyler Boyd, James Connor and Chad Voytik all played big roles as the Panthers ended their season on a high note with a 30-27 win over Bowling Green in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in Detroit. Boyd broke Larry Fitzgerald’s bowl record with eight receptions for 123 yards and also returned a punt 54 yards for a touchdown. ... Read More
Pitt’s Isaac Bennett returns to practice
Ever since Rushel Shell left the Pitt football program, the search has been on for who would step into the role as the Panthers' featured back. That job was presumed to go to junior running back Isaac Bennett, but things haven't necessarily played out that way. However there is a glimmer of good news on that front as Bennett returned to practice without the full-length leg brace on his injured right knee. The junior has been out of action since August 1o with a right knee injury, but it ... Read More