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
Pitt tabs Savage as starting quarterback
The much anticipated quarterback competition that was supposed to take place during camp for the Pitt Panthers didn't turn into much of a competition after all. Tom Savage has been named the starting quarterback for the 2013 season, Pitt head coach Paul Chryst told reporters after practice Wednesday. Savage, who is in his final season of eligibility after transferring twice, beat out redshirt freshman Chad Voytik for the job and will be under center when the Panthers kickoff their ... Read More
Pitt’s Todd Thomas leaves team
The Pitt Panthers began training camp on Tuesday and it didn't take very long for the first major storyline to emerge. Pitt head coach Paul Chryst surprisingly announced on Wednesday that linebacker Todd Thomas has left the Panthers. Chryst was apparently sending a message Thomas' way on Tuesday when he made it known that redshirt freshman and Woodland Hills product Mike Caprara had begun camp ahead of Thomas, a redshirt junior, on the depth chart. If the move was to motivate Thomas, it ... Read More
PSAC West has nine players in D2 Top 100
The D2football.com list of Top 100 players was leaked in late July and the PSAC West was well represented. Of the 100 players, nine of them were from the PSAC West, including four in the top half of the list. Here's the list, with commentary from writer Josh Buchannon, from 100 on down. 93. QB Cody Harris, Edinboro, Sr., 6-1, 194 Harris isn’t very big but the mobile signal caller is a returning two-time All-PSAC West selection who threw for 2,823 yards and 20 touchdowns with just 8 picks ... Read More
Pitt Panthers Notebook: Tray Woodall to Play in Istanbul
The 2013 NBA Draft and NBA Summer League came and went without hearing the name Tray Woodall. Despite working out for a couple NBA franchises, it doesn't look as if there is a fit in the NBA at this time for the former Pitt point guard. With that being said, that doesn't mean Woodall won't be playing professionally next season as he has signed a deal to play with a team in Istanbul. That's good to hear as Woodall got much better during his time in a Panthers uniform and emerged as a ... Read More
Rushel Shell to transfer to WVU
It looks like we can finally close the book on the saga that has become Rushel Shell's collegiate football career. After close to six months of drama in which we have seen Shell walk away from his starting spot at Pitt to transfer to UCLA, only to walk away from the Bruins as well, Shell has apparently settled on a home in Morgantown. The leading rusher in Pennsylvania high school history announced Friday that he would be transferring to West Virginia to continue his college football ... Read More
CFL Round-Up: Western PA
The Canadian Football League has been gaining ground in the United States. Obviously, the NFL rules all but when the only news in the NFL is who's getting arrested or who's taking PEDs, any on-field action fans can get will do. The CFL has even put some games on national television on channels like CBS and ESPN. Players can use the CFL as a launching pad to the NFL or even find a comfortable home in Canada. There are a good bit of players in the CFL from Western Pennsylvania. Players from Cal U, ... Read More
Savage Will Get Nod, Signs Indicate
Pitt quarterbacks Tom Savage and Chad Voytik are still contending for the starting job, and at the end of spring drills, head coach Paul Chryst did not declare a winner. However, it appears as though the fifth year senior and former 5-star prospect has teammates on his side, including senior wide receiver Devin Street. It’s been a rocky road for the journeyman quarterback, who has been on the roster of three teams (Rutgers, Arizona and Pitt) in his 5 years as an NCAA student-athlete. He will ... Read More
Prospect Preview: Aaron Donald, Cory King
Pitt's Aaron Donald (Photo Credit: CBS Sports) With college football right around the corner, the beginning of the 2014 NFL Draft is tagging right along. Through this mini-series, we’ll review junior tape of potential prospects from Pitt and Penn St. We’ll continue with a pair of Pitt lineman – defensive tackle Aaron Donald and offensive tackle Cory King. *Obvious Disclaimer: With a full season to go, scouting reports of players can dramatically change. What is seen on a prospect’s junior ... Read More
Pitt’s Dan Mason’s downward spiral continues
Over the course of the past couple of seasons, if there was a story worth rooting for it would have been that of Pitt middle linebacker Dan Mason. Mason's triumphant return to the field after suffering a gruesome knee injury he suffered during an ESPN Thursday night game in 2010 against the Miami Hurricanes was one of heart and determination. But after two long years of rehab to make it back to the field last season, it appeared that Mason couldn't catch a break when he suffered a ... Read More