From panthersprey.blogspot.com
How Pitt has improved and what they need in 2013
Quarterback: Obviously this is a position of need in both talent and depth. Chad Voytik is a breath of fresh air in terms of talent and leadership. Ideally, he would be redshirted or at least play little. Either way, he has the ability to play a lot of football for the Panthers.
2013: Ideally the Panthers would land two quarterbacks, one elite level player and maybe a promising local kid who just wants to play for Pitt. One intriguing option would be athletic 6'1" Ohio lefty Malik Zaire. He will be a priority for Ohio State but with Braxton Miller only a sophomore and 2013 elite recruit Jalin Marshall being given a chance at the position, Zaire may decide to take his chances battling Voytik. And he loves Paul Chryst and Joe Rudolph so it's not crazy to think the Panthers can't pull it off.
Running Back: With Ray Graham coming back and Isaac Bennett and Malcolm Crockett among others returning, the position wasn't a dire need this season. But that's okay because the Panthers went out and landed a potential superstar anyway in Rushel Shell.
2013: Even with Graham moving on this is a good, young, deep unit, but you can never have enough. Look for them to try to bring in at least one topnotch halfback and a fullback, since they don't have any on scholarship right now.
Wide receiver: Chryst can utilize small receivers but because of Graham and even Wannstedt before him, he has a lot of them. Too many, in fact. Demetrious and Chris Davis are also small, but quick. Demetrious, despite being 5-10" at most, has electrifying potential. But the big receivers were absent.
2013: Needless to say, some big NFL type receivers are needed. Probably at least three. And the state has some very good ones, led by Central Valley superstar Robert Foster. Ohio State wants him badly but it's imperative that Pitt keeps him home.
Tight end: Hubie Graham is returning as the starter and Brendan Carozzoni is a good, young talent. The other TEs from last year, Anthony Gonzalez and Drew Carswell, could end up at different positions. Adding J.P. Holtz was an excellent addition.
2013: Chryst uses a lot of tight ends and Graham is moving on, so depending on how they handle Gonzalez and Carswell, they could use two tight ends next year. The main target here obviously is PA's Adam Breneman, an elite prospect that could be an All-American at Pitt. The competition for him will be fierce, but being close to home and with Chryst a master of tight ends, the Panthers have a legit chance.
Offensive Line: Obviously this is a unit that needs huge help in talent and depth. Adding Adam Bisnotawy was very beneficial and he has the type of talent that Bob Bostad can turn into a future All-American. Gabe Roberts is a sleeper at guard who could develop in time. But obviously that's not enough.
2013: Expect at least five linemen here. The biggest target is guard Patrick Kugler of North Allegheny.
Defensive Line: A lot of seniors have departed and the depth is hurting. It wasn't helped much by this class with only Terrell Jackson and Darryl Render coming in, and both of them are for more down the road.
2013: At least four new linemen have to come in.
Linebacker: The Panthers possess three good young linebackers in Juan Price, Todd Thomas, and LaQuentin Smith but many more will be needed. Devon Porchia and Mike Caprara was added, and I do think Bam Bradley will end up there, too. But more is still needed.
2013: Look for at least three more to be added, with at least one hopefully talented enough and big enough to see time immediately.
Defensive Back: Really the only truly deep unit on the team right now but you can never have enough defensive backs. The Panthers took Deaysean Rippy as a safety and he could be a good one there. Like I wrote earlier they list Bradley as a safety, too, but I doubt he stays there. Jahmahl Pardner, Trent Cole, and Ryan Lewis were also added defensive backs this year.
2013: The numbers will still be large but like I said you can never have enough. I'd take three, with Clairton's Tyler Boyd being the top target.
Assuming there are 25 scholarships given, these are my projections:
Quarterback: 2
Running Back: 1
Fullback: 1
2013: Ideally the Panthers would land two quarterbacks, one elite level player and maybe a promising local kid who just wants to play for Pitt. One intriguing option would be athletic 6'1" Ohio lefty Malik Zaire. He will be a priority for Ohio State but with Braxton Miller only a sophomore and 2013 elite recruit Jalin Marshall being given a chance at the position, Zaire may decide to take his chances battling Voytik. And he loves Paul Chryst and Joe Rudolph so it's not crazy to think the Panthers can't pull it off.
Running Back: With Ray Graham coming back and Isaac Bennett and Malcolm Crockett among others returning, the position wasn't a dire need this season. But that's okay because the Panthers went out and landed a potential superstar anyway in Rushel Shell.
2013: Even with Graham moving on this is a good, young, deep unit, but you can never have enough. Look for them to try to bring in at least one topnotch halfback and a fullback, since they don't have any on scholarship right now.
Wide receiver: Chryst can utilize small receivers but because of Graham and even Wannstedt before him, he has a lot of them. Too many, in fact. Demetrious and Chris Davis are also small, but quick. Demetrious, despite being 5-10" at most, has electrifying potential. But the big receivers were absent.
2013: Needless to say, some big NFL type receivers are needed. Probably at least three. And the state has some very good ones, led by Central Valley superstar Robert Foster. Ohio State wants him badly but it's imperative that Pitt keeps him home.
Tight end: Hubie Graham is returning as the starter and Brendan Carozzoni is a good, young talent. The other TEs from last year, Anthony Gonzalez and Drew Carswell, could end up at different positions. Adding J.P. Holtz was an excellent addition.
2013: Chryst uses a lot of tight ends and Graham is moving on, so depending on how they handle Gonzalez and Carswell, they could use two tight ends next year. The main target here obviously is PA's Adam Breneman, an elite prospect that could be an All-American at Pitt. The competition for him will be fierce, but being close to home and with Chryst a master of tight ends, the Panthers have a legit chance.
Offensive Line: Obviously this is a unit that needs huge help in talent and depth. Adding Adam Bisnotawy was very beneficial and he has the type of talent that Bob Bostad can turn into a future All-American. Gabe Roberts is a sleeper at guard who could develop in time. But obviously that's not enough.
2013: Expect at least five linemen here. The biggest target is guard Patrick Kugler of North Allegheny.
Defensive Line: A lot of seniors have departed and the depth is hurting. It wasn't helped much by this class with only Terrell Jackson and Darryl Render coming in, and both of them are for more down the road.
2013: At least four new linemen have to come in.
Linebacker: The Panthers possess three good young linebackers in Juan Price, Todd Thomas, and LaQuentin Smith but many more will be needed. Devon Porchia and Mike Caprara was added, and I do think Bam Bradley will end up there, too. But more is still needed.
2013: Look for at least three more to be added, with at least one hopefully talented enough and big enough to see time immediately.
Defensive Back: Really the only truly deep unit on the team right now but you can never have enough defensive backs. The Panthers took Deaysean Rippy as a safety and he could be a good one there. Like I wrote earlier they list Bradley as a safety, too, but I doubt he stays there. Jahmahl Pardner, Trent Cole, and Ryan Lewis were also added defensive backs this year.
2013: The numbers will still be large but like I said you can never have enough. I'd take three, with Clairton's Tyler Boyd being the top target.
Assuming there are 25 scholarships given, these are my projections:
Quarterback: 2
Running Back: 1
Fullback: 1
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