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Pitt depending on younger players

By Stephen Flinn for The 6 min read
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Pitt will be depending on a lot of younger players to contribute this season. The Panthers only have eleven seniors on the roster but coach Paul Chryst feels the veterans and experienced players will be helping the younger players along the way.

“Everywhere I’ve been, the older guys will help the younger guys. That’s the culture you want,” Chryst said. “We can’t let youth be an excuse. We are who we are. We need to embrace that.”

The youth movement will start with redshirt sophomore Chad Voytik who will take over the starting quarterback slot. He will replace Tom Savage, who completed his eligibility last year and was drafted by the NFL’s Houston Texans. Voytik has never started a college game, although he helped lead Pitt to a 30-27 win in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl last year after Savage was hurt in the first half.

“Now it’s time to have all the hard work pay off,” Voytik said. “I’m trying to continue building as a leader and expand my knowledge base.”

Wide receiver Devin Street is another key starter from last year who departed for the NFL. Redshirt senior Manasseh Garner will take over for Street as a starting wide receiver. He played a pass-catching tight end last season.

“I’ve always had some receiver background. Transitioning back to receiver wasn’t too much for me. It’s a little more running than tight end, ” Garner said. “I think I’m a natural leader. My father was in the military. That has a lot to do with it.”

Garner will line up opposite sophomore Tyler Boyd, who set school freshman receiving records last year. Boyd should be an offensive weapon this season, but he feels the coaching staff will be able to design routes and packages to get him the ball.

“We need to go out on the field and show what we’re capable of,” Boyd said. “I think Coach Chryst is a real intelligent guy. He’s going to put me in a position where I can get open.”

Pitt returns eight starters on offense and four of them are on the offensive line — redshirt junior center Artie Rowell, redshirt seniors right tackle T.J. Clemmings and right guard Matt Rotheram, and redshirt sophomore left tackle Adam Bisnowaty. Sophomore Dorian Johnson also played last year and will round out the starting squad.

“It feels good (to enter camp as a starter). Now I can focus on leading the group and doing my part to help other people get ready for the season,” Rowell said. “We’re returning four starters on the offensive line and Dorian looks very good.”

Another sophomore, James Conner, should take over the starting running back role as his 250-pound frame fits Chryst’s power run game system. He is also expected to be the first Panther in over 30 years to play both sides of the ball. Some defensive packages have been installed where he plays rush end.

“I see myself as a down-hill power-runner. I’m also versatile so I can go over and play a little on defense,” Conner said. “Now that it’s year two, the team looks at me to be a leader.”

Boyd feels the offense will have more young weapons than himself and Conner.

“I think we got some young players coming in here that can help,” Boyd said. “It’s not just about me and James.”

Two of those freshman that could contribute this season are running back Chris James and wide receiver Adonis Jennings. Also, the Panthers return junior tight end J.P. Holtz and sophomore Scott Orndoff.

Five starters return on defense. Two of them are linebackers, redshirt seniors Todd Thomas and Anthony Gonzalez. Showing leadership is important for upperclassmen this season, according to Gonzalez.

“Since we have such a small senior class, we all have to be leaders and voice our opinions and what we need to do to be successful,” Gonzalez said. “We all need to play as a unit. Everyone needs to do their job. If we want to be a great defense, the linebackers will need to step up.”

They will line up at the outside linebacker slots with sophomore middle linebacker Matt Galambos taking over in the middle. He played in every game last year and started two, so he has playing experience as well.

Aaron Donald was the most-decorated defensive lineman in Pitt history last year. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the first round and will be irreplaceable. Chryst hopes his production will be replaced by a group effort this season.

“For us to be productive, we’re going to need to be playing in numbers,” Chryst said. “You’re not going to replace Aaron’s production with one guy. We’re going to need to make an impact collectively.”

Redshirt junior Khaynin Mosley-Smith and junior Darryl Render, along with sophomore Tyrique Jarrett, will rotate on the interior of the line. Mosley-Smith will return to action after being suspended last year.

“I come out every day and just try to lead by example,” Mosley-Smith said. “I can’t wait to get back out on the field this year.”

Redshirt senior rush end David Durham is the only returning starter on the line. Sophomore Shakir Soto, who saw action last year, will start on the other side.

Half of the defensive backfield returns including redshirt senior safety Ray Vinopal and junior cornerback Lafayette Pitts. Redshirt sophomore Trenton Coles is expected to take over the other starting cornerback spot and sophomore Terrish Webb is expected to start at strong safety.

Sophomore placekicker Chris Blewitt returns after starting as a freshman last year. Redshirt freshman Ryan Winslow will take over the punting duties.

The Panthers went 7-6 last year in their first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. They should be more acclimated in the ACC as they enter their second season in the conference’s Coastal Division.

The season opener is Aug. 30 against Delaware at Heinz Field followed by the conference opener, at Boston College on Friday, Sept. 5. Then the non-conference schedule continues with a road trip to Florida International on Sept. 13 and two home games, hosting Iowa on Sept. 20 and Akron the following week.

The conference schedule continues at Virginia on Oct. 4 before three home games, hosting Virginia Tech (Oct. 16) , Georgia Tech (Oct. 26), and last year’s ACC Coastal champ Duke (Nov. 1).

They travel to North Carolina on Nov. 15, play the final home game of the season by hosting Syracuse on Nov. 22, and play the final game of the season at Miami on Nov. 29.

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