Pitt Defensive Line Situation.

Aaron Donald

               The Panthers have some talent on the defensive front, but not a lot of depth. The star of the group is Aaron Donald. Donald was named second team all Big East last season as a Sophomore, but garnered national attention as well. He will play one of the inside positions in the 4-3 alignment. He will be a focal point of the defense and could be looking at double teams all season long.  Khaynin Mosley-Smith will be the other tackle, and he will need to play well to offset Donald's double teams.  Mosley-Smith played some in 2011, but will have a much bigger role in 2012. He is a big guy at 305 pounds. The other tackles will be LaQuentin Smith and Terrell Jackson. Smith is a converted Linebacker that was tried at End, but has made the move to the inside recently. He is a tough hard nosed player that will be a good player for Pitt. He is only a Sophomore, but will definitely be in the rotation.  Terrell Jackson is a true freshmen, but will be forced into action due to lack of depth. The Defensive Ends have more depth, but they are not heavy on experience.  Bryan Murphy and TJ Clemmings are two fromer blue chip recruits that have disappointed so far. They are both entering their sophomore seasons and may finally be ready to contribute. Clemmings is a giant 6-6 290 presence, while Murphy is a strong 6-3 255 player. They will be pushed by Tyrone Ezell and Shayne Hale.  Hale is a senior that has never been a big time player. He may finally be a contributor. Ezell is a junior that has moved over from tackle.  The coaching staff thinks he can make an impact even with his 6-4 300 pound frame.

TJ Clemmings

             The future of this unit is bright for next year. The lone senior is Shayne Hale, everyone else should be back. Aaron Donald does not have pro size, but is a terrific college player. The two Ends in Murphy and Clemmings are exciting players. They were both supposed to be impact freshmen, but it never worked out. The talent is there is to play professionally if they put it all together. LaQuentin Smith is going to be a good one for the Panthers. Terrell Jackson and fellow true freshman, Darryl Render are promising players.  The lack of depth is still concerning, but the talent is there to be good for the future. Pitt has Tyrique Jarrett committed to the 2013 recruiting class. He is a big 6-4 310 pounder from the Pittsburgh city league.  He is currently in prep school.  The Panther defensive line could really be a strength now and in the future. The 2013 class still needs a few more prospects added.

Pitt Offensive Line Situation.

Ryan Turnley 

                  Pitt does not have a strong offensive line. They have a lot of question marks going forward into the 2012 season. The group up front consists of Chris Jacobsen, Ryan Turnley, Matt Rotheram, Cory King, and Ryan Schlieper. Turnley and Jacobsen are the best of the bunch going into the season. This will be Jacobsen's sixth year at Pitt and the senior has plenty of experience and talent. He is also the smallest guy of the group at 6-3 295 pounds. Ryan Turnley was thrust into the role of Center last season, and he played very well. Turnley will be a key figure up front. He is 6-6 320 pounds and fits the large linemen type Paul Chryst excelled with at Wisconsin.  Ryan Schlieper will start opposite of Jacobsen as a Guard. Schlieper saw some action in 2011 and at 6-5 310 pounds, he too is a large linemen Chryst likes. The tackle positions will feature two new starters. Juantez Hollins started all of 2011, but has a full year suspension on his hands. That leaves Pitt with Matt Rotheram and Cory King as the starters. Rotheram is a massive 6-6 335 pounds that was a well regarded recruit. He is just a Sophomore and had a strong Spring. Cory King is taking Hollins' spot. He is a 6-6 325 pound Junior. The worry is he will not have the athleticism to play tackle, but he at least has the size. This unit will be instrumental to Pitt's success. The second team appears to consist of Artie Rowell at Center. Tom Ricketts and Justin Virbitsky at Tackles, and Shane Johnson and true freshmen Adam Bisnowaty.

Dorian Johnson

                 Pitt will start two Juniors and a Sophomore in 2012. They are big and will fit well into the Paul Chryst offensive scheme. The future is still in question, though.  Tom Ricketts will certainly get a chance. The former North Allegheny product/Penn State transfer was a big recruit at the time, and could be an impact player for Pitt. Adam Bisnowaty is a true freshmen this season from Fox Chapel, and was also a four star recruit. CHryst has been recruiting some unknown linemen as well. The two committed to the 2013 class have very few offers, but have that size the is offense needs. The thought is that the coaches will be able to make them into good linemen. The common phrase goes, "you can't teach size" and both of these guys have size. Obviously Pitt would still like to add top talent up front. Dorian Johnson is a major recruit in Pitt's backyard. He committed to Penn State over Pitt a few months back, but has since opened up his recruitment.  Pitt needs to beat out Virginia Tech and Ohio State for his services. Many believed Johnson would be a Panther originally, so his second recruitment will be interesting.  The offensive line position is a position of great need for any college program, and Pitt is in need of some upgrades. The 2013 line may be more of a question mark than this season, and that is saying a lot.

Pitt Tight End Situation.

Hubie Graham

                  The Tight End position is a strong one for the Panthers. They have four capable players on the roster. The starter will be senior, Hubie Graham.  Graham is a former 4 star recruit and is a transfer from Illinois. He played last year and did fairly well.  The offense of 2011 was not very Tight End friendly, but Sunseri was able to find Graham enough to make him a factor. I expect Graham to do well in his senior campaign. He has serious pro potential, but will be asked to block a little more this season. Drew Carswell brings a different element to the position and he could be a valuable asset for the offense. Carswell is only a Sophomore and had a productive Freshmen season. He is built more like a receiver and could find himself lined up on the outside at times. He is very athletic and will get plenty of playing time. Brendan Carozzoni is the third Tight End. He receiver little playing time as a Freshmen,  but got some game experience. He is another big target and will be good depth behind Graham and Carswell.  The final Tight End in the equation is JP Holtz. Holtz was one of Pitt's top recruits in 2012 and has a nice combination of size and athleticism. He has a very a promising future, but could see a redshirt this season. Pitt has three other Tight Ends and Holtz may not unseat any of them for playing time.

JP Holtz

              The future for Pitt Tight Ends is very bright. Hubie Graham will move on, but the position will be in good hands in 2013 and beyond. JP Holtz looks like a future star and a future professional. Paul Chryst has handled Tight Ends very well in his tenure at Wisconin, so Holtz will be in good hands.  Drew Carswell and Carozzoni are just Sophomores this year and still have room to grow into their own.  Pitt is bringing in another Pittsburgh area Tight End for 2013. Scott Orndoff was originally a Wisconsin commit before changing to the hometown Panthers. He is really big at 6-6 and is pretty coveted as far as prep Tight Ends go. Orndoff and Holtz are two good local prospects that could hold the position down for years.  Hubue Graham is a good reliable player for 2012, but the prospect of having guys even better down the line has to have Panther fans giddy.

Pitt Wide Receiver Situation.

Devin Street

                Pitt possesses some experienced starting receivers. The depth and future appear to be the questions moving forward. Devin Street is the most talented receiver on the roster. Street caught 53 balls last season and some actually see him as a future first round pick. He has the size and athleticism to be a big time target for Sunseri this season. HStreet needs to show consistency and not get lost like he did at times last season.  Mike Shanahan is a Senior and is a receiver with trusted hands. Shanahan stands at 6-5 and creates matchup problems for defensive backs with his size and positioning. Sunseri will be looking his way a lot. The duo forms a an experienced set of starting receivers and will be a strength of the team. After these two, it is anyone's guess. Cam Saddler has never had the breakout season he was expected to have. The former 4 star recruit from Gateway will get the first crack to be the slot receiver. Ronald Jones and Brenden Felder are two options that will see that slot position. Jones played various roles as a freshmen last season, and could be another trick play guy.

Robert Foster

              The future for the receivers will be an interesting one. Shanahan and Saddler will be graduating, and Street could potentially leave early. Ronald Jones,Salath Williams, and Brandon Ifill are just sophomores that could play a factor. Salath Williams is in the Devin Street mold, and Ifill impressed in the Spring game this season after converting from being a defensive back. Demitrious and Chris Davis are twin brothers that will be freshmen this season. The depth ahead of them could force them to redshirt. They both have plenty of talent and their versatility as runners will make them exciting players to watch in the future. Zach Challingsworth is a relatively unknown recruit, but he has committed for the class of 2013. He is believed to be a possession guy and will be a nice change of pace from all the quick, young receivers Pitt has.  The 2013 recruiting class can be made with receivers as well. Tyler Boyd and Robert Foster are two big time prospects right in Pitt's backyard. Landing either one, or both will be a huge get for Paul Chryst.  Pitt has some experience for the 2012 season, but beyond that is a question. Paul CHryst will need to recruit to replenish the position.

Pitt Running Back Situation.

Ray Graham

              The Running Back situation at Pitt appears to be the most stable position on offense, and perhaps the whole team.  The health of Ray Graham is important, but not detrimental to Pitt's success on offense. He may not be 100% to start the season, but will likely get there soon enough. That is not a problem as Pitt has some talented underclassmen that will be able to carry the team.  Isaac Bennett got to see action at the back end of 2011 and responded very well. He has a lot of promise and as a Sophomore will play a big role into the future as well as this season.  Rushel Shell is one of the most highly anticipated Pitt recruits ever. He is the state of Pennsylvania's leading rusher of all time. He boasted an offer sheet in High School of nearly every top program. Shell will most certainly be expected to come in and get his opportunities right away. Shell possessed college size  as a High School Sophomore. He is a unique talent that will factor into Pitt's success for the next three seasons. Ray Graham will be the go to guy as he was the leading rusher in the nation before his knee injury. Shell and Bennett will both get carries, and will battle for that number two spot. I believe there will not be much of a difference as Paul Chryst has found ways to get three Running Backs the ball at Wisconsin. The depth will be a good thing. Corey Davis will be safety valve for Pitt. He is a small scat back that could be a change of pace guy here and there.

Rushel Shell

                 The future for Pitt Running Backs is in good hands. Rushel Shell and Isaac Bennett will be around for the next few years. Pitt also has Corey Clement committed for 2013. He is from New Jersey and runs a lot like former Panther, LeSean McCoy. Running Back has always been a strong position for Pitt as they have produced Hall of Famers like Tony Dorsett and Curtis Martin. There has been a strong stretch of late also. LaRod Stephens-Howling,LeSean McCoy, and Dion Lewis are all in the NFL and had successful Pitt careers.  Ray Graham, Isaac Bennett, Rushel Shell, and Corey Clement have the ability to follow in the footsteps of recent Pitt Running Backs for successful college careers and perhpas future professional careers. Paul Chryst has had some special Running Backs at Wisconsin, but there likely will not be any drop off with the talent he has at Pitt.

Pitt Quarterback Situation.

Tino Sunseri

              The Quarterback situation for Pitt just got a little bit more interesting.  Mark Myers, the presumed back-up to Tino Sunseri has left the team. Myers was a former 4 star recruit out of Cleveland. He never seemed to grasp any of the Pitt coach's systems and will take his career to an unnamed Division III school. The departure by Myers leaves Pitt in a bit of a bind. Tino Sunseri will enter his third season as the Pitt starting Quarterback, and it will be the third straight season with a new offensive scheme.  Sunseri has played alright at times in his career (seriously) but when he is bad, he is bad. He will be the starter all season unless injury or he really falters with his play. (Which I doubt will happen.)  Pitt's only other QB's are Sophomore Trey Anderson and Freshmen Chad Voytik. Anderson is a former walk-on that struggled in the little amount of playing time he received last season. Voytik is a four star incoming freshmen that will likely be Pitt's Quarterback of the future.
           The obvious scenario for Pitt is for Sunseri to play well and stay healthy and keep Voytik red shirted. Injuries and unforeseen things happen in football. Sunseri may not be able to go all 12 games. Will Paul Chryst burn Voytik's redshirt? Will he go with the average talent in Anderson?  Or will he call on Anthony Gonzalez back to the QB position from his current home as a Safety?  This will be an interesting situation if things come up.  An inconsistent Senior, a Sophomore that could be in over his head, and a true Freshmen does not sound like a sound Quarterback situation.

Chad Voytik

          The 2013 future for Pitt Quarterbacks looks better. Voytik is a talented freshmen that is expected to do big things. Tom Savage will have one year of eligibility next season. Savage is a former Rutgers QB, who was once a heralded recruit. Pitt also has Tra'von Chapman verbally committed for 2013. Chapman is a four star from Ohio and plans to enroll in January. Pitt technically still has Chandler Kincade as a verbal commitment. Kincade is a 2014 prospect (HS Junior) that committed to Todd Graham last season.  Kincade is from Blackhawk High School near Pittsburgh and is expected to garner national recognition.  The Quarterback situation of the future looks a lot better than the present. The key to Pitt in 2012 will be how Sunseri plays. It has an impact on this season and beyond.

Panthers Add a Forward

               The 2013 Basketball recruiting class for Jamie Dixon got off to a good start Saturday as Mike Young pledged to the Panthers. Mike Young becomes the first commitment for Coach Dixon in 2013, and could be the start of another solid recruiting class.  Mike Young is a talented 6-8 Power Forward that projects well as a three-four year player. He is regarded as a top 100 type talent and fills an area of need for Jamie Dixon. Pitt is thin at the Power Forward spot after 2012 with Dante Taylor graduating and leaving Talib Zanna as the only option, and he will be a senior. The 2013 recruiting class seems to have room for only two players as Travon Woodall and Dante Taylor are the lone seniors. The prospect of a transfer or Steven Adams leaving early could obviously change that.
             Mike Young is coming home of sorts. Young is a McKeesport native that played a season at Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh. Young transferred to St. Benedicts of New Jersey to get more exposure and obviously that move paid off. Young got to play better competition and also played in better AAU circuits. Western Pennsylvania is not a Basketball hotbed, and New Jersey could be considered the best state for High School Basketball. Young is the most highly regarded Pittsburgh basketball player since DeJuan Blair His hometown relations obviously played a factor into his decision.
            Pitt still has one scholarship to play around with for 2013, but it is very evident that the talent of Pitt is going up. The 2012 class of Steven Adams and James Robinson could be a special group that could carry Pitt to that coveted Final Four appearance. The commitment of Young could call for Pitt to try to land an off guard shooter of sorts. Pitt could also look to find another Center to backup Steven Adams and replace him in the event of an early departure.    Either way, Jamie Dixon has been recruiting very well of late and Pitt looks to be gearing up to be an elite ACC team moving forward.