I threw this up quickly earlier when I was running out the door. It is a press release from Pitt on the eve of Spring Drills.  Here are some observations I have after reading it:

We moved ex-WR Manny Stocker to QB as depth. That is a bit of a surprise but at 6’2″ and 220 lbs he has the build and was actually recruited at the position by other schools.  Here is what Pitt lists as his HS info:

Starred at Coatesville Area under Coach Matt Ortega…as a senior, passed for nearly 2,000 yards and accounted for 30 touchdowns (20 passing and 10 rushing)…a team captain, he led Coatesville to a 9-3 record and the quarterfinals of the District 1 Class AAAA playoffs…invited to participate in the Under Armour Elite Top 25 Quarterback Showcase…rated one of Pennsylvania’s top 40 overall prospects by Rivals.

Huh,  there is a little bit of a backstory to Stocker’s transfer from NC state to UTM to Pitt.

Manny Stocker Sr. told WRAL that his son – who was recruited by former coach Tom O’Brien – didn’t get a fair shot from Doeren and his staff.

“In the beginning, he was told by the new staff that he would be competing for the job,” Stocker, Sr told the television station. “But on the first day of summer camp, he got zero snaps. Coach Doeren wanted to redshirt Manny for him to develop but he didn’t even get many snaps on the scout team.

“We accepted the fact Manny didn’t get the position. But we don’t feel it was a fair process.” Neither Stocker nor his father have indicated where he’ll transfer.

He is a bit of a wandered having been at University of Tennessee at Martin just before Pitt… here is his lone college highlight:

Manny Stocker, a transfer from N.C. State, made a memory of his first play as a Skyhawk quarterback with a 70-yard run down the right sideline for a 63-7 lead early in the fourth quarter.

I am very wary of this not so much because it is Stocker but because it looks to me like either the staff isn’t pursuing a transfer-in established QB or they are trying and not getting anywhere. This is the area of biggest concern on the whole team to me. Other fans point to the DL or to the WRs now that Boyd is gone but IMO if Peterman goes down so does the season – that is the level of lack of confidence I have in the two other QB Bertke and DiNucci.

I hate that we moved Jaymar Parrish away from Fullback.  He was a fantastic blocker for Conner and now he’s a situational player and really has no impact on the offense any longer.  The staff sees them all the time but I was so impressed with Parrish in 2014 it’s hard to believe that he not in the backfield.

I don’t believe Chris Clark is eligible to play this year, at least I haven’t seen anything from Pitt that would have pointed to the fact he is. So, we’ll have to get by with Orndoff , who I really like in the passing game, or Parrish who had all of one catch last season (and didn’t carry the ball once even in short yardage situations).

In addition to MacVitte enrolling early so did RB Chawntez Moss, the aforementioned Chris Clark and DE Patrick Jones.

I will try for two trips up to the Southside if I can but I will certainly attend the spring game.  All this, and I have another piece written for tomorrow, is filler until the hitting actually starts – the only real interesting things during the first three days of no-contact practice is the movement of personnel into different positions.

Don’t look at all this and try to 100% project who will be playing where and how much, even after the Spring Game is concluded.  Remember that the 2016 recruiting class, and it is the best we have had in some years, won’t have even suited up in the ‘new” Pitt uniform yet and won’t until August.

Narduzzi showed that he had a blank slate lineup last season and he’ll do it again going in and coming out of Fall Camp.

I’ll have a “things to look for” article when there is actually something to look at.

2016 SPRING PROSPECTUS ( This is chock full of information and I download it to my desktop for handy reference when discussing different issues on here, I suggest you do the same)

PITTSBURGH – With spring practice set to begin on Tuesday, here is a look at what the Panthers return heading into the 2016 season.

THE OFFENSE

QUARTERBACKS

Senior Nathan Peterman returns as Pitt’s starting quarterback after throwing for 2,287 yards and 20 touchdowns with eight interceptions last year. Peterman joined the Panthers in 2015 as a graduate transfer from Tennessee and fully seized the starting job by the third game of the season. He went on to rank second in the ACC in completion percentage (61.5%), third in touchdown passes and fourth in passing efficiency (138.57). Peterman was especially effective in ACC play, throwing 15 touchdowns against just one interception in eight conference contests.

Behind Peterman are four players who are yet to take a game snap at Pitt: senior Manny Stocker, sophomore Adam Bertke and redshirt freshmen Ben DiNucci and Ryan Adzima. Stocker does own collegiate game experience at quarterback, seeing limited action at NC State (2012) and UT Martin (2014).  He worked at wide receiver for Pitt in 2015.

The Panthers signed one quarterback in their 2016 recruiting class; Thomas MacVittie out of Ohio’s famed Moeller High School. Rated the nation’s No. 8 pro-style quarterback by 247Sports, MacVittie will join Pitt for Au-gust training camp.

RUNNING BACKS

Qadree Ollison began his redshirt freshman season as Pitt’s third-string tailback. He finished it as the ACC’s Offensive Rookie of the Year after rushing for 1,121 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Ollison was thrust into a prominent role when original starter James Conner sustained a season-ending knee injury in the opener against Youngstown State. Ollison quickly established himself as Pitt’s primary back—rushing for 207 yards in just one half of play against YSU—and averaged 5.3 yards per carry on the year.

A tailback tandem of Conner and Ollison would make for a potentially devastating rushing attack. Conner was an All-American and the ACC Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2014, rushing for 1,765 yards and 26 touchdowns. Conner’s status for 2016 is yet to be determined. In addition to his knee rehabilitation, he announced in December that he had been diagnosed with cancer. While Conner will not be fully active in Pitt’s spring drills, he has continued to surprise and inspire with his vigorous participation in offseason workouts.

Junior Rachid Ibrahim also seeks a healthy return after missing all of 2015 due to a torn Achilles. Ibrahim averaged 6.7 yards per carry his initial two seasons (60 carries for 399 yards) while serving as Pitt’s change-of-pace back.

Pitt’s depleted backfield depth opened the door for Darrin Hall to make immediate contributions as a true freshman. Hall emerged as the top backup and rushed for 257 yards and two touchdowns. Mid-year enrollee Chawntez Moss will participate in spring drills after rushing for more than 3,000 yards over his final two seasons at Ohio’s Bedford High School.

Pitt returns its top fullback in sophomore George Aston. A highly physical blocker, Aston proved he could also make plays with the ball in his hands, catching two touchdowns last year. Junior letterman Colton Lively will also compete for time.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Gone is the most productive receiver in school history, Tyler Boyd, who bypassed his final season for the NFL Draft. Boyd finished as Pitt’s all-time leader in both receptions (254) and receiving yards (3,361).

Eight returning lettermen will work to fill the void, led by senior Dontez Ford, who started opposite Boyd last season. Ford ranked third in the ACC with an average of 19.4 yards per catch. He totaled 26 receptions for 505 yards and two scores. Junior Zach Challingsworth emerged as the Panthers’ third receiver last season, totaling 12 catches for 171 yards (14.2 avg.) and a touchdown.

Junior Jester Weah has lettered as a reserve the past two years. Pitt could also find playmakers within a talented trio of sophomores: Quadree Henderson, Tre Tipton and Elijah Zeise. Senior letterman Chris Wuestner eyes a return to the field after missing all of last year due to injury (Well, I assumed he was gone – I guess not). Sophomores Kellen McAlone, a special teams letterman, and Jaquaun Davidson will also vie for time. Additional competition will come from sophomore Rafael Araujo-Lopes, redshirt freshman Gentry Ivery and junior Mark Bernsdorff.

TIGHT ENDS

Pitt lost a four-year fixture at tight end, J. P. Holtz, to graduation. Easing that departure is the return of senior starter Scott Orndoff, who enjoyed career production last season. Orndoff finished second on the team with five touchdown catches. He totaled 13 receptions for 244 yards overall (18.8 avg.). Orndoff will be complemented by another veteran performer, senior Jaymar Parrish, who has played in every single game the past three years as a tight end, H-back or fullback.

Juniors Devon Edwards and Zach Poker, a converted defensive end, will provide depth and competition. Junior Nathan Bossory and redshirt freshman DeAndre Schifino are also in the mix.

The Panthers added a talented newcomer with the January enrollment of Chris Clark, a transfer from UCLA. Clark is a former five-star prospect who was rated the nation’s No. 1 tight end as a senior at Avon Old Farms (Conn.) School in 2014-15.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Pitt welcomes back one of its most experienced offensive lines in recent memory. Four starters return, giving this unit an optimistic outlook for 2016.

Headlining the list of returnees are a pair of senior All-ACC performers in tackle Adam Bisnowaty and guard Dorian Johnson. Manning the left side of the line, Bisnowaty and Johnson have helped produce a 1,000-yard rusher each of the past two seasons.

Another player with All-ACC potential is junior Alex Officer. A starter at right guard last year, he will move to center in 2016 to replace the graduated Artie Rowell. Officer was Pitt’s starting center in 2014 when Rowell missed the majority of the season due to injury.

The Panthers’ other returning starter is sophomore Brian O’Neill at right tackle. Initially a tight end, O’Neill shifted to tackle prior to training camp to fortify a position that was struck by injuries. Bulking up more than 30 pounds, he made an impressive transition in seizing the starting job. Junior Jaryd Jones-Smith was a projected starter at tackle last year before injuring his knee during the offseason. With a healthy return, Jones-Smith can make Pitt’s seasoned offensive front even deeper. He was a significant contributor as a redshirt freshman in 2014.

Junior lettermen Carson Baker and Aaron Reese will provide experienced competition at the tackle spots, while redshirt freshmen Tony Pilato and Aaron Britton enter their first active seasons. Leading candidates to start at right guard are sophomore lettermen Alex Bookser and Mike Herndon. Also vying for time at guard will be senior John Guy, sophomore Mike Grimm and redshirt freshmen Kyle Benbrook and Ryan Podgorski. Providing depth at center will be redshirt freshman Alex Paulina, sophomore Connor Dintino, a converted defensive lineman, and sophomore Alex Galiyas.

THE DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINE

Pitt returns a viable All-America candidate at defensive end in senior Ejuan Price. Limited to six games the prior three seasons due to injuries, Price emerged in 2015 as one of the nation’s most disruptive defensive players, collecting 19.5 TFLs and 11.5 sacks. Competing behind Price at the “flash” end will be sophomore letterman James Folston and junior Allen Edwards, a redshirt last season after transferring from Dean (Mass.) College.

At rush end, junior Rori Blair returns after starting 10 games a year ago. Blair will be challenged by sophomore Dewayne Hendrix, a highly regarded transfer from Tennessee who sat out last season. Additionally, freshman Patrick Jones II enrolled in January after earning status as Virginia’s No. 1 defensive end prospect.

The interior front will undergo some retooling with the graduation of four-year contributors Darryl Render and Khaynin Mosley-Smith. However, Pitt is not without significant returning experience at the two tackle spots.

Senior Tyrique Jarrett was a co-starter at nose tackle last year and should be poised for his finest season yet. Jarrett will be pushed by junior Justin Moody, who lettered the past two years as a reserve. Providing depth at the nose will be redshirt freshman Calvin Hamilton. Vying for the starting assignment at defensive tackle will be junior Jeremiah Taleni and senior Shakir Soto, who will shift inside after being a prominent contributor at end the past three seasons. Sophomore Shane Roy and junior Andrew Ungerman will also compete for time.

LINEBACKERS

Matt Galambos enters his third season as Pitt’s starting middle linebacker and could be poised for an all-star senior year. Last season he compiled 88 tackles, 10 TFLs and five sacks, all career bests. Junior Quintin Wirginis served as Galambos’ top backup last year and provides veteran depth. Also competing at “Mike” linebacker are redshirt freshman Jim Medure and sophomore Dom Cuono.

The Panthers have a veteran combination at Money linebacker in seniors Mike Caprara and Bam Bradley. Caprara totaled 49 tackles, 10.5 TFLs and five sacks as the primary starter last year. Bradley had 33 stops with five TFLs and a sack. Depth will come from redshirt freshmen Saleem Brightwell and Erik Sellers as well as sophomore Brian Popp.

Pitt will need to replace graduated All-ACC performer Nicholas Grigsby at the Star position. Sophomores Jalen Williams and Oluwaseun Idowu will transition from safety to compete for the starting job. Redshirt freshman Anthony McKee and junior Nico Lodovico will also compete for time.

SECONDARY

Pitt welcomes back a veteran nucleus in its secondary. At strong safety, Jordan Whitehead was one of college football’s high-impact newcomers last year. Whitehead led the Panthers with 109 stops, the most by a true freshman in school history. He was named the ACC’s Rookie of the Year, becoming the first defensive player to earn that honor in nearly two decades.

Sophomore Dennis Briggs will provide competitive depth behind Whitehead after lettering as a nickel last season. Also in the mix at the strong spot will be redshirt freshman Rimoni Dorsey and junior Rob Boatright.

Pitt has a luxury at free safety with the return of seniors Reggie Mitchell and Terrish Webb. Both players are proven commodities from both an experience and playmaking standpoint. Also competing at the free will be redshirt freshman Jay Stocker.

At boundary cornerback, junior Avonte Maddox led Pitt with three interceptions and 12 pass breakups last year. Maddox has played in every game the past two seasons, making 19 consecutive starts. Senior Ryan Lewis, a three-year letterman, provides veteran depth. At field corner, Lafayette Pitts is gone after making an incredible 51 starts during his career. Sophomore Phillipie Motley will look to fill the void after lettering as a backup last season. Motley will contend with a pair of redshirt freshmen, Malik Henderson and Dane Jackson.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Pitt boasts a proven specialist duo in senior kicker Chris Blewitt and junior punter Ryan Winslow.

Blewitt has handled every placekick for Pitt the past three seasons. He led the Panthers in scoring last year with 87 points, converting 15-of-23 field goals (65%) and 42-of-43 extra points (97%). Blewitt is on the cusp of be-coming Pitt’s all-time leading kick scorer, needing just two points to eclipse Carson Long’s 40-year-old school record of 268.

As a second-year starter, Winslow averaged a career-best 41.1 yards per punt last season. He had 21 punts downed inside the 20-yard line. Sophomore Alec Schuster and redshirt freshman Tristan Cunha will provide depth at kicker. Sophomore Nick Goldsmith will serve as the top reserve at punter.

Senior Pat Quirin is back as Pitt’s primary long snapper. He will be backed up by redshirt freshman Jake Knight.

Quadree Henderson and Avonte Maddox could make Pitt very potent in the return game. As a freshman last season, Henderson led the team with 504 yards on 18 kickoff returns, a 28.0-yard average. His 100-yard return for a touchdown in the Military Bowl against Navy marked the Panthers’ longest in 25 years.

Maddox can be an asset as both a kick and punt returner. He averaged 30.3 yards on six kick returns (182 yards) last season, including an 89-yard TD. Maddox also had 48 yards on eight punt returns (6.0 avg.).