Keeping options open. That’s the best way to describe Chevon Troutman’s latest move.

Former Pitt power forward Chevon Troutman will put on a helmet and shoulder pads for the first time in six years tomorrow when he goes through a tryout with the Washington Redskins.

Troutman, who has not played football since his junior year at Williamsport High School, will participate in a minicamp at Redskins Park with Washington’s draft choices and rookie free agents. Troutman will be tried at tight end at the three-day camp.
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If he impresses, he could get a free-agent contract offer and an invitation to training camp.

Troutman is still trying to attend the Chicago pre-draft camp for the NBA. This does not seem like pursuing basketball first, then football. This seems like a dual track, which just seems dumb. The conditioning for each sport is so different, it just seems he is going to hurt his chances for both.

The other thought, as an Eagles fan, is not the Redskins.

Over at the Sporting News, Mike DeCourcy thinks that Pitt isn’t losing that much in Chris Taft.

Once again there are some early entrants who won’t be sorely missed next season.
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Chris Taft, C, Pittsburgh. The Panthers can replace the 13.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game Taft produced as a sophomore. It’ll be tougher to find someone who can manage more than 11 field-goal attempts for every one assist. Pitt’s concerns mostly are on the perimeter. It will be just fine with 7-0 Aaron Gray in the middle. Gray has better post moves than Taft and is unselfish. Gray does not move as well, but Taft was so unsound defensively that his athleticism rarely made a difference.

He may slightly overstate the lack of drop-off from Taft to Gray, but it seems that most Pitt fans are more down on losing Troutman and the possibility of Krauser than seeing Taft go pro.

At the 22nd annual Mon Valley Panther Club Chapter Banquet the other day, the key speaker was of course Football Coach Dave Wannstedt. He spoke of high expectations for the team. Coach Jamie Dixon also spoke at the event.

“I like the group we have coming in,” he said. “We have some big, strong talented kids. This is the best recruiting class in my six years here.”

According to Dixon, the futures of graduating Chevy Troutman and junior Carl Krauser — who made himself available for the NBA draft but retained the option to withdraw since he won’t sign with an agent — are still up in the air.

“Chevy is going back and forth with football while Carl could be coming back. He’ll be going to Chicago for a pre-draft camp to go against foreign and high school players to see where he stands. Sixty players have already committed for the NBA draft and there’s still three more weeks to go. It’s almost an epidemic.”

Dixon looks for sophomore Chris Taft to go in the first round of the draft.

“It’s a good situation for him and his family,” said Dixon. “We had him for only 18 months but we’re real proud of him.”

Wish they had more on what Dixon said. I doubt he said much of any consequence, but I’d love to know if he said anything even approaching disappointment regarding the past season.