Football: Wisconsin running back transfers to Pitt

Former Wisconsin running back Zach Brown will transfer to the Pitt football team this… Former Wisconsin running back Zach Brown will transfer to the Pitt football team this season.

Because Brown earned his bachelor’s degree and only played three seasons for the Badgers, he’ll be eligible to play for the 2011 season and have one year of eligibility.

“We are extremely pleased that Zach Brown has chosen to continue his academic and athletic career at the University of Pittsburgh,” Graham said in a statement on Pitt’s website.

Over the course of three years at Wisconsin, Brown rushed for 1,152 yards and 11 touchdowns on 240 carries, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. He redshirted last season.

“Unlike a younger player, Zach arrives with invaluable experience and a strong understanding of what it is like to play major college football,” Graham said. “We expect him to be an immediate asset in our backfield.”

Brown helps fill a backfield that suffered the losses of Dion Lewis, Pitt’s leading rusher who ran for 1,061 yards last season and fullback Henry Hynoski.

Hynoski rushed 12 times for 33 yards and also caught 25 passed for 174 yards and a touchdown. He proved most valuable in clearing the way for running backs Lewis and Ray Graham.

Both players declared early for the NFL Draft. The Philadelphia Eagles took Lewis in the fifth round, but Hynoski wasn’t selected.

The Panthers return junior running back Graham who ran for 922 yards on 148 carries last season. He led the team with 6.2 yards per carry. Brown and Graham could provide a solid duo for Pitt in the backfield.

A two-time selection to the Academic All-Big Ten team, Brown lettered from 2007-09 and red shirted last season. Brown will enroll in Pitt’s School of Education for his graduate work.