What to watch for in Pitt football’s ACC debut

Season-opening football camp is less than one month away, and Pitt football will kick off its inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference campaign in just a month and a half.

The buzz surrounding the upcoming season is certainly warranted, with the its start pushing Pitt into the national spotlight alongside a home slate that the Panthers’ marketing department is calling “the best home schedule in the country.”

As the saying goes, “to be the best, you have to beat the best,” and the Panthers will have plenty of chances to beat the best of the ACC in their inaugural season.

Here are a couple of storylines to watch during training camp and in the days leading up to the Sept. 2 showdown at Heinz Field against defending ACC champion Florida State.

A quarterback “controversy”

Head coach Paul Chryst won’t call it a controversy at the quarterback position, but when you have two or more solid candidates to command arguably the most important position on the field, the situation is bound to produce discussion.

Following the standout performance of redshirt freshman Chad Voytik during the spring game, every mistake made by assumed starter Tom Savage this season will be met with calls for the stout Voytik to take over.

But, the savvy veteran must stay focused on the Panthers’ opponents instead of on who is looming in the rear-view mirror.

A freshman phenom

We’ll have to wait until camp starts to get a glimpse of what Chryst has in mind for former Clairton star athlete Tyler Boyd, but until then, his recent performances suggest excellence in all facets of the game. 

Boyd didn’t wait to impress at the Big 33 Football Classic, taking back the opening kickoff for a touchdown and following that up with four more touchdowns.

Boyd is a receiver whom defenses will have to focus on opposite Devin Street, and that will allow the Pitt quarterbacks to use every weapon in their receiving arsenal.

That arsenal  includes sophomore tight end J.P. Holtz, freshman tight end Scott Orndoff, redshirt junior tight end Manasseh Garner, redshirt junior receiver Kevin Weatherspoon, junior receiver Ronald Jones and others.

Look for Boyd to have an immediate impact in the return game along with his regular pass-catching duties.

Stability at the helm

Panther fans, rejoice and be happy. For the first time since Dave Wannstedt’s departure, the same head coach who began coaching the year before will once again patrol the sidelines.

And from the sounds of it, he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

The verdict is not yet in on Chryst and his job performance after just one season with former coaches recruiting almost all of his players. 

But, all signs are pointing up. Chryst has filled his roster with players who love two things: Pitt and playing football.

His second year will be a better measuring stick for how well things are going.

A dominant defensive front

For the Panthers it all starts with senior defensive lineman Aaron Donald on the defensive side of the ball for a group that finished 23rd nationally in points allowed last season.

Despite last year’s accomplishments, Pitt’s group of experienced defensive backs in the secondary will be put to the task of covering a faster and more talented group of receivers in the ACC. 

Senior Jason Hendricks, senior K’Waun Williams and sophomore Lafayette Pitts lead a group of returning starters that totaled 15 interceptions last season.

The wild card

The average fan might not think of the battle for the position of kicker — which the Panthers’ fans know will be important come crunch time — but it’s an interesting storyline as the team heads into camp.

The departure of Kevin Harper opens the door for true freshman Chris Blewitt and other competitors.

Of course, none of this speculation is meant to establish a definitive floor or ceiling for the team this year, and expectations are exactly that. Panther fans might have come to expect mediocrity, but according to Aaron Donald, the offseason preparation going on right now will lead to a season that is anything but mediocre.

“Right now, we focused on this upcoming season, working on this team and trying to get better,” said Donald. “We [are] just a football team getting ready for the upcoming season.”

Write Dave at david.uhrmacher@gmail.com