Pitt Defensive Back Situation.

Jarred Holley

               The Defensive Backfield could be the best unit on the Panthers' team. They have experience and highly skilled players across the board. The Safety position in particular is absolutely loaded with four players that could start. The best player of the unit is Jarred Holley. Holley is coming off and All Big East caliber season, and is in the running to gain national recognition this season.  He will man the one Safety position without a doubt, but the other spot remains a mystery. Jason Hendricks comes into his junior season with some valuable game experience. He has started games in each of the past two seasons, but missed the end of last year with an injury. He will look to rebound and provide depth and challenge for the starting spot.  Andrew Taglianetti is a great program player. He has played the Nickel position and has been a special teams demon with 5 blocked punts in his career. He started some after Hendricks went down, and will be on the field in a variety of ways. Ray Vinopal is the final name in the group. Vinopal is a transfer from Michigan and he started six games as a true freshmen while playing for the Wolverines. He is just a Sophomore and will be a big time player for Pitt the next few years.

K'waun Williams

            The corner back position has some depth and talent, but it is unproven. The one slot is filled by returning starter in K'waun Williams. Williams is a junior and had a successful 2011. He will be counted on to play the opponent's best player every game. He has plenty of talent and pro potential, his biggest thing is consistency.  The other spot has a good two way battle for the starting position.  Lafayette Pitts is a redshirt freshmen out of the storied Woodland Hills program. He was a good high school player, and his athleticism is rather impressive. He could be a very good one for the Panthers. The other competitor is Cullen Christian.  Christian is a local guy but started his career at Michigan. He was the top rated corner back coming out of high school and played some as a true freshmen with Michigan. He has the size and tools to be a productive corner back. Lloyd Carrington is the fourth guy in the race and will be there for depth. He is a sophomore from Dallas and played some in 2011.

Titus Howard

             The future of the Pitt secondary is in good hands. Jarred Holley and Andrew Taglianetti are the only seniors in the group. Hendricks and Vinopal should be solid moving forward, and the corners return the top four, unless Williams were to leave school early. The talent does not stop there. There is currently four very talented true freshmen on the roster. Bam Bradley,Trenton Coles, Ryan Lewis, and Jahmal Pardner could all turn out to be solid players. Coles is tall at 6-3 and is a great athlete as he hails from the Pennsylvania powerhouse, Clairton High School. Bam Bradley could end up being a Linebacker with his size and hitting ability, he is going to be fun to watch.  The 2013 recruiting class has two commitments so far. Another Clairton standout in Titus Howard, and an unknown player from Ohio named Tony Harper. Neither player was highly recruited, but Titus Howard keeps that pipeline into Clairton, which is turning into the new Aliquippa.