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
Dual-threat: Conner could make impact on both sides of ball
Being a versatile player is a great thing in the world of college football, especially at running back. Running backs are asked to do a lot in many offenses. At the very least, they're asked to carry the ball, catch the ball and block. Some teams split them out at receiver. Some teams have them throw a pass here and there. And some teams put them at defensive end. Wait, what? Yes, you read that correctly: defensive end. Pitt head coach Paul Chryst has been having some fun with ... Read More
Carter Hill has Waynesburg thinking PAC championship in 2014
The Waynesburg University football team reported to camp on Wednesday with high expectations of a Presidents’ Athletic Conference championship. After coming close to winning the crown the past two seasons, the Yellow Jackets are once again expected to compete for the PAC title. Much of that falls on the arm of quarterback Carter Hill. After spending the 2011 season at Division II Tiffin University, Hill came to Waynesburg in 2012 where he grabbed the starting job in Week 6 of that season and ... Read More
Can Pitt adjust to life without Aaron Donald?
Some may look at Pitt defensive coordinator Matt House and feel he did an admirable job in his first season as the Panthers’ DC. However the true test will come in his second go around on the job as this year he will have to do it without Aaron Donald in uniform to anchor the defensive front. With Donald in a Panthers’ uniform, the Pitt defense wasn’t bad as they finished ranked 34th in the nation in average yards allowed (367.5) a season ago. Donald’s accolades and accomplishments are well ... Read More
Chad Voytik preparing to lead Pitt Panthers in 2014
It’s been quite some time since the Pitt Panthers football program has had a quarterback under center that has created the excitement that Chad Voytik created upon signing with the Panthers two years ago. While Panthers’ fans had to be patient and watch Voytik sit while Tino Sunseri bumbled around in 2012, Voytik used last year as a learning experience behind Tom Savage. When the youngster finally did get his number called in the Little Caesars Bowl, he quickly showed what all the hype was ... Read More
2014 PAC Preseason Poll: Big things expected from W&J and Waynesburg
As the Presidents’ Athletic Conference prepares to usher in a pair of new programs for the 2014 football season, it could be status quo at the top of the conference this season. Thomas More was tabbed the league favorites for the fifth time since joining the conference, at the annual PAC Media day this week. However by the end of the year a couple local programs could have something to say about that as Washington & Jefferson and Waynesburg finished second and third respectively in the ... Read More
Robert Morris’ Myles Russ helping Buffalo Bills in camp
As teams around the NFL begin training camp, several young coaches are getting the opportunity to teach at the NFL level thanks to a program originally introduced by former San Francisco 49ers head coach Bill Walsh. One of those just happens to be Robert Morris University assistant football coach Myles Russ, who is helping the Buffalo Bills' running backs during their camp at St. John Fisher College. Russ is currently the running backs coach for the Colonials and is one of three coaches ... Read More
Cal Pa. TE/WR Presley signs with Seattle
Another PSAC West player has found his way into the NFL. Former Cal Pa. tight end/wide receiver Morrell Presley has been signed by the Seattle Seahawks, according to reports. Presley was originally a USC commit as a five-star tight end when current Seahawks coach Pete Carroll was at the helm in Southern California. After decommitting from the Trojans, Presley went to UCLA. After various off-the-field issues took their toll on the big tight end, Presley transferred to Cal. While at Cal, ... 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
Schedule could make Pitt Coastal Division favorites
As Paul Chryst and the Pitt Panthers football team prepare for their second season in the ACC, they may not be presented with a better opportunity to win the Coastal Division than they currently have. That’s because their conference schedule works out perfectly for a potential trip to the ACC Championship Game. Pitt misses both Clemson and Florida State this season, allowing for much more wiggle room for a loss to a Coastal Division opponent. In addition, their toughest stretch of their ... Read More