Harper, Hutchins battle to replace Lee

Saturday’s Blue-Gold game will show fans what the Panthers have done to replace some of… Saturday’s Blue-Gold game will show fans what the Panthers have done to replace some of their star players on both sides of the ball.

In addition to the loss of star running back LeSean McCoy, tailback LaRod Stephens-Howling, the change of Greg Cross to wide receiver and the juggling of quarterbacks on the offensive side, the Panthers will also be missing the dominant presence of place kicker Conor Lee.

With spring camp winding down, there are two players fighting hard for his spot.

‘Conor really had a strong mental game,’ said freshman kicker Kevin Harper. ‘He never let anything faze him. He always came to play.’

Lee’s powerful leg and accurate kicks garnered an average of eight points per game for the Panthers last season. Even more impressive was Lee’s perfect extra point percentage, completing a Pitt-record 113 consecutive points after touchdowns.

While many fans might look forward to observing the next star tailback or receiver, there needs to be someone to finish the touchdowns and come through with key points in the clutch.

The team isn’t worried.

‘I’ve been behind Conor for a good three years,’ said redshirt sophomore Dan Hutchins. ‘I’ve picked up a few things that, hopefully, I can possess sometime soon.’

Hutchins is considered the team’s walk-on specialist.

During the past couple of seasons, he’s given the Panthers depth in the kicking position and, with Lee gone, he’s hoping next season is his time to shine.

Hutchins believes he’s ready.

‘Playing in a couple games, I have a feel for what it’s like being in game-time situations,’ said Hutchins. ‘Working with Conor and under Wannstedt, I’m confident in my ability to get things done.’

While Hutchins has confidence and experience, he also has competition for a starting position.

Harper has an impressive leg capable of kicking long distances with significant height.

‘My best skill,’ said Harper, ‘is the strength of my leg and the height I can get on the ball.’

Harper’s time with the team has been shorter than Hutchins’, but he said he still got a chance to admire what Lee has done. He’s hoping that will help him mature mentally to become a better kicker.

‘When I first got here, I tried to impress people with how far I could kick and how high, but now I’m developing into more of a kicker and working on my accuracy,’ he said. ‘What Conor had comes with maturity, and that’s something I hope to develop.’

Both Harper and Hutchins said that nothing scares them about potentially being the next kicker. And with so many offensive changes taking place, nothing is concrete.

The end of spring, along with summer and fall camps, will determine who is prepared enough to be the next Lee.

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