Sometimes it takes time to know which position works best for you. Maybe in high school, you played four years at tight end, but you came to college and the coach moved you to wide receiver. Or, mid-season, you’re working really hard on your volleyball spike but then get to take a stab at outside hitter.
Excelling at your role can allow you to play at a higher level, and at Pitt, there are some positions that players really succeed at.
Running backs
Over the years, Pitt has generated a number of great running backs out of their football program. Tony Dorsett, James Conner and Israel “Izzy” Abanikanda are all proven stars in the backfield.
Dorsett played for the Panthers from 1972 to 1976 and led Pitt to a national championship in his Heisman-winning senior year. He is considered one of the greatest running backs in college football history. Dorsett then spent 11 successful seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and had a brief run with the Denver Broncos. He’s now ranked No. 10 among NFL all-time rush leaders.
Conner has made a name for himself in the NFL as well, with an especially great season this past year. He was drafted by the hometown Steelers in 2017 and has since played his last four seasons in Arizona with the Cardinals. This year, he finished the season with 1,094 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns on 236 carries on the ground while grabbing 414 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown on 47 catches in the air. Overall excellence at his position.
The most recent Panther running back to hit the pros is Abanikanda. He started out as a true first-year for Pitt in 2020 and played three seasons with the Panthers. In his final season at Pitt, he received the second-most votes for ACC Player of the Year. After declaring for the NFL draft, he was selected by the New York Jets and, after getting waived by them this past December, was picked up by the San Francisco 49ers. As an early player in the league, Abanikanda has time to gain experience and continue improving in his position.
Guards
Pitt men’s basketball is best known for its guards Carlton “Bub” Carrington and Cameron Johnson. The guard position is known as holding the responsibility for handling the ball, passing and scoring. Known often as the team’s main scorer and best shooter, Carrington and Johnson are Pitt’s most successful products in the backcourt.
Carrington only played at Pitt for a single season yet made significant headway in his time as a Panther. He recorded the first triple-double in a career debut in school history and the second in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) history. He was also the first Pitt Panther to record a triple-double since 1998.
The Washington Wizards selected Carrington with the 14th overall pick after trading up in the 2024 NBA draft. He’s seen some recent success in his rookie season, receiving praise from his coaches and fellow players and really finding his groove in the guard position.
Johnson played at Pitt from 2014 to 2017 before transferring to North Carolina. In his professional career, he was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves and immediately traded to the Phoenix Suns. He played there for a few seasons until he was shipped to his current team, the Brooklyn Nets. Last year, Johnson had his best career game with the Nets, scoring 34 points while hitting 6 threes, leading them to a 1-point win over the Charlotte Hornets — proving just how important the guard position is for a team.
Outside hitters
Pitt’s stellar volleyball program is nothing without the success of its outside hitters. In volleyball, the outside hitter position is categorized as a player who plays on the left side of the court and is responsible for attacking and passing. For Pitt, both Valeria Vazquez Gomez and Kayla Lund excelled in this position.
Vazquez Gomez spent six seasons with the Panther Volleyball team and was a crucial component in Pitt’s several appearances in the NCAA tournament over the past few years.
In her final season, she was second on the team in aces with 41, third in kills with 230 and fourth in digs at 216. This past December she was drafted 30th overall in the 2024 PVF draft to the Omaha Supernovas. If you’re looking to fill your outside hitter position, Vazquez Gomez is the right pick.
Lund is another Pitt outside hitter who has made her way to the pros. She spent five seasons as a Panther, was the first player in program history to earn AVCA All-America First Team honors and was a four-time All-American during her career at Pitt.
Joining former teammate Vazquez Gomez in the PVF, Lund was selected to play for the San Diego Mojo this past year. Making a name for herself as an outside hitter, Lund knows the position inside and out.
Success isn’t just about raw talent — it’s about working hard, adjusting when needed and getting comfortable in your positions. Whether you’re on the field, the court or … elsewhere, these Pitt athletes prove that with the right skill and determination, you can take any position to the next level.