The puff pieces and praise for individual players for Pitt is mostly centered on the two stars: Ray Graham and Brandon Lindsey. It’s a balance with one on offense and the other defense. Both had surprising breakout years coming in for relief of the injured star starter. Both were heralded recruits that found themselves backing up players that weren’t as highly recruited, but had emerged as stars. Now both are not only expected to be the star player for their respective side of the ball, but to thrive in the new schemes and system.

Not that there haven’t been growing pains.

Pitt senior defensive end Brandon Lindsey no longer has his hand in the dirt. Under new coach Todd Graham, Lindsey is standing up at the snap. It has taken some getting used to. “It’s more difficult to be explosive,” Lindsey said, “because you don’t have the momentum (from) leaning forward to get a jump on the snap. The first month, I fell about 10, 15 times. Just leaning forward, leaning forward on my feet. And then trying to jump the snap, you’re going to fall. My teammates will never let me live it down.”

Yoga. Yoga really helps with the balance — I’m told.

Well, according to Rivals.com, they feel that Lindsey is the best DE in the country.

1. BRANDON LINDSEY, PITTSBURGH
THE PARTICULARS: 6-2/250, Sr.; Aliquippa (Pa.) High
THE BUZZ: Lindsey began last season as a backup, but Greg Romeus’ season-long injury woes put Lindsey into a more prominent role. He finished tied for second in the Big East in sacks with 10. Lindsey will move to a hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end position under new coach Todd Graham, and Pitt still will look to him to be its premier pass rusher with Romeus and Jabaal Sheard gone. His dad, John, played basketball at Memphis State (1969-71).

Being their #1 DE also means he’s their pick for 1st-Team All-American.

The move to the hybrid position, should be something that helps Lindsey in getting drafted for the NFL. He’s already being projected for an outside linebacker.

9. Brandon Lindsey, OLB, Pittsburgh. Lindsey (6-2 1/8, 253) is a college end who likely will become a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. He is a strong, aggressive pass rusher who does an excellent job of using his hands, quickness and agility to defeat pass blockers with a variety of moves. Lindsey will need a lot of work playing off the ball to become solid enough in coverage to be a well-rounded linebacker. Projection:Fourth-round pick.

If he has the season expected/hoped, then he should move up the draft board projections.

On to Ray Graham and the projections to be the next back at Pitt to thrive.

If for some reason Pitt junior running back Ray Graham needed another reminder about the elite fraternity he’s about to join, two of the school’s former star running backs, LeSean McCoy and Dion Lewis, dropped by the Panthers’ South Side practice facility Thursday morning, a mere 48 hours after Heisman Trophy winner Tony Dorsett addressed the team.

“It’s always good to talk to great backs, somebody that you can relate to,” Graham said.

The 5-foot-9, 195-pound Graham has all the tools to become Pitt’s next great feature back, a role once occupied by Dorsett and the two current pros, McCoy and Lewis, who were in town for the Steelers’ preseason game that night against the Philadelphia Eagles.

And with first-year coach Todd Graham promising to run plays at warp speed, the numbers could pile up in a hurry for Graham, whose name has already been attached to several preseason All-Big East honors.

He and Isiah Pead for Cinci are considered the best backs in the Big East. Pead seems to have been given a slight edge based on being the true starter last year.