CHARLOTTE (EYT) — With the start of the season just six weeks away, the Pitt football team is excited about what could be in store for them in 2016.
(Photo of James Conner. Photo courtesy of Pitt Athletics)
Second-year head coach Pat Narduzzi is probably most excited about his senior class.
Leading those seniors is quarterback Nate Peterman, who took over the reigns as the starting signal-caller last year and put in a solid year that so him throw for 2,287 yards and 20 touchdowns while tossing just eight interceptions and completing 61.5 percent (193 of 314) of his passes.
While Peterman loses his top receiver — Tyler Boyd — he does return second-leading receiver Dontez Ford (26 catches, 505 yards, 2 touchdown) and maybe more importantly gets back running back James Conner, who saw his junior season cut short after just one half of football in 2015 because of a knee injury and a subsequent cancer diagnosis.
But Conner is back strong having beaten Hodgkin lymphoma and the knee injury and is looking to return to the form that saw him named the ACC Player of the Year and a first-team All-American in 2014 when he rushed for 1,765 yards and 26 touchdown on 298 carries.
“It’s going to be awesome (having James back),” Peterman said. “Just seeing his work ethic while he still had cancer and was beating it as well as fighting to be the best player he can still be while he’s got cancer to now where he’s completely recovering trying to get back in shape, it’s been awesome to witness that. I know it will be a special moment once he gets that first touch, and for all of us to get inspiration from him that first day, really throughout the summer, with how great a competitor he is.”
Peterman and Conner will be under the direction of a new offensive coordinator in 2016, as Matt Canada is now calling the plays for the Panthers.
“Coach Canada has been great,” Peterman said. “Ever since I had that first conversation with him on the phone right before he was hired, we’ve really gelled together nicely, really built a great relationship together so far. I can only see better things happening.”
Peterman said Canada is a very knowledgeable coordinator.
“He’s an extremely creative guy,” Peterman said. “This spring, it was really just a joy to get to learn all these new things, the new way of things that he does, his play-calling and things. It’s been fun. It’s been very teaching, a teaching experience. I’ve just been enjoying it.”
On defense, where Pitt gave up 26.1 points per game, Narduzzi believes there will be improvement this year.
“Josh Conklin, our defensive coordinator, second season, did a tremendous job a year ago,” Narduzzi said. “I think we continually will make strides on defense and get better every year. You’re playing different offenses every week. I just think not only our players’ knowledge of this defense, but our coaches’ knowledge is that much better.”
Sophomore defensive back Jordan Whitehead returns to lead the group after being named the ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2015 when he made a team-high 109 tackles to go with an interception.
Whitehead, from nearby Central Valley High School, is joined on the defense by another local product, Ejuan Price from Woodland Hills. Price led the team with 19 ½ tackles for a loss last year, including a team-best 11 ½ sacks.
“It’s definitely an edge for us, practicing against our offense,” Price said. “I believe we have one of the best offensive lines in the country. Just going against those guys every day, sharpening our tools against them, and vice versa, it’s definitely an edge we get to experience that every day. I don’t think we’ll see one better. Going against that every day is definitely a plus for us.”
Narduzzi believes team chemistry is going to be a big factor in how Pitt fairs this season.
“I think it all comes down to that,” Narduzzi said. “People say, What kind of football team are you going to have? I think we have enough talent to reach our goals, to do the things we want to do as a football team at the University of Pittsburgh. It comes down to team chemistry. That’s all developed when camp starts.
“I think our players have developed it. They went to Sandcastle. We had an event at our house. My wife Donna was nice enough to invite them over. Half the pool was empty when they left from all the waves.”
Pitt opens the season at home Sept. 3 vs. Villanova before resuming its rivalry with Penn State at Heinz Field the following week.
“Being a younger guy, I never got to experience the rivalry,” Price said. “But getting the atmosphere from older people, the fans, you can tell it’s a big deal we want to put on for the city. Even though we have a game before that we’re not overlooking, we’re definitely amped up and pumped for that game and ready to show up.”
