The two topics covered in the news regarding Pitt.
This has to be one of the best parts of being a head coach. Getting to reward walk-ons with scholarships. These are kids that either took a chance on themselves or needed to be at the school because of family or some deep desire for that particular school. They earned the scholarship for the work they have done since coming into the program.
It’s the sort of thing the coaches and the players love.
As members of Pitt’s team huddled around coach Pat Narduzzi at the end of Tuesday’s practice,Seun Idowu and Manny Stocker looked around to see teammates grinning and gazing their way.
They quickly found out why.
Both originally walk-ons, Idowu, a sophomore linebacker, and Stocker, a senior quarterback, were awarded scholarships from Narduzzi Tuesday.
“We waited for this day to come for a while,” Idowu said. “It’s finally here. We’re just so glad.”
A North Allegheny graduate, Idowu has been among the more welcome surprises from Pitt both in training camp and in spring practice earlier this year. After recording two tackles in 10 games last season, he was listed as the starter at the star linebacker position on the team’s preseason depth chart that was released Monday.
Stocker, a transfer from Tennessee-Martin who originally began his career at North Carolina State, is the Panthers’ primary backup at quarterback. For him, the scholarship is a rewarding and humbling feat in what has been a long journey in college football.
“It’s like the light at the end of the tunnel,” Stocker said. “You come in here and are going into something unexpected. You have to take a leap of faith. That’s kind of what I did coming in here. Earning a scholarship was icing on the cake.”
Manny Stocker also has his younger brother, RS FR DB Jay Stocker, as a teammate.
Meanwhile Qadree Ollison has rebounded from a disappointing spring to be one of many RBs trying to make sure he gets some carries. Despite being the ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year.
“He’s done a great job (this summer),” [Running Backs Coach Andre] Powell said. “He had a lousy spring. Coming off the season he had (ACC rookie of the year and 1,158 rushing yards), he had a lousy spring.”
Ollison won’t argue.
“I had trouble learning coach Canada’s offense,” he said of first-year offensive coordinator Matt Canada. “It’s the third offense I have learned and, hopefully, the last.
“It caused me to play slower in practice. It wasn’t the best spring. I learned from it and have become a better player.”
Ollison was redshirted under the previous coaching staff in 2014, but enjoyed sudden success as James Conner’s replacement last year with former coordinator Jim Chaney. Then, Chaney left and Canada brought his own ideas.
“He found himself in a position he wasn’t used to (this spring),” Powell said of Ollison. “He wasn’t the second-string guy. Maybe not the third-string guy.
“But he did a great job this summer. He changed his body. He’s the smartest guy in my (classroom).”
Ollison is not an instinctive player. He has power, but his strength as a runner comes from being able to use the offensive line to set things up for him. The change in offenses along with competition with healthy bodies and new players changed the dynamic.
So far he’s responded well and handled not being the starter (or even being officially 2d on the depth chart) with grace and determination.
It was noted in the comments that the fullback spot wasn’t listed on the depth chart. Well, neither was a second tight end spot. Instead, Pitt listed three wide receiver positions. That obviously is something of the trend in football. Plus, Pitt simply doesn’t have as much talent or depth at TE.
As for the fullback, this is still a run-first offense and I am sure OC Matt Canada will be using George Aston.
The fullback position wasn’t listed on Pitt’s depth chart, but Powell — also the running backs coach — had high praise for sophomore fullback George Aston.
“Over my 27 years (in coaching), George is one of the best fullbacks I’ve ever had,” Powell said. “We don’t have a tougher guy on this team. George can do things most people can’t do, and he brings an edge to our offense.”
Plus Jaymar Parrish is listed second at the TE spot. He’s a really more of a pass catching fullback.
2016 Pitt Football Trailer from Pitt LiveWire…
Won’t even mention Hall….
Congrats to Idowu and Stocker.
James is good enough to get significant playing time if not start at some other school. So good on him, he transferred and hopefully will play. I always like the kid. But Hall and Ollison’s situation are not comparable. As has been mentioned, it’s hard to have too many RBs and injuries can decimate that position very quickly, as we saw demonstrated just last year. Both of these guys are in Coach Duzz’s favor and will play a lot this year.
I hope you are right and that Moss is our next Shady McCoy, but even if this proves to be the case, this run heavy team needs four serviceable RBs ready & able. This year Moss will be the guy looking for carries, unless he is fantastic, which he won’t be.
Next season, both Hall & Ollison will be fighting for the starting position and if Moss is as good as you think he is, he’ll be fighting for a starting position right there with them. Bringing in Sibley only adds depth and he might actually red shirt next season anyhow, so that means we only have three running back’s in our stable for 2017. Neither Ollision or Hall even consider transferring in that scenario.
The guy who actually might consider a transfer would be Ibrahim. If he gets little playing time this season and graduates this year, he could do a graduate transfer and play immediately somewhere else in 2017.
