Pitt wears full pads at camp for first time
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pitt donned full pads for the first time in training camp Wednesday – and the first brawl soon followed. Panthers sophomore nose tackle Tyre Young (6-0, 275) and freshman offensive guard John Simonitis (6-3, 290) mixed it up after Young bulled past Simonitis in a drill, then celebrated. They were separated by teammates before either could be injured.
“It’s all part of the game,” Young said. “We try to keep it up at a high intensity, so that can happen. But they’re coming out hard, and we’re coming out hard.”
Coach Walt Harris praised Young’s improvement.
“Tyre is in much better shape, and our defense became much better once he understood that position (last year),” Harris said.
Pitt has two more practice days before its first intrasquad scrimmage Saturday at the practice complex it shares with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Meanwhile, freshman quarterback Tyler Palko missed practice for a second straight day because of swelling in his throwing hand. The left-handed Palko met with a hand specialist, but initial tests were inconclusive.
Harris said missing a few workouts might hamper Palko, but he won’t become concerned unless the injury lingers or worsens. Palko’s hand was tightly wrapped with an ice bag on it Wednesday.
“He’s put a lot of time in, more than any other freshman that I’ve been around, and he appears to be a very natural football player,” Harris said. “So I really don’t think it’ll be that big of a deal.”
Palko is likely to take a redshirt season, but Harris won’t decide that until later. For now, Palko is competing with quarterback front-runner Rod Rutherford, a redshirt junior; redshirt sophomore Pat Hoderny and fellow freshman Luke Getsy.