Spring practice underway featuring quarterback work

While Pitt basketball fans are suffering from a case of March Madness, football fans got their… While Pitt basketball fans are suffering from a case of March Madness, football fans got their first hint of spring fever yesterday as the Panthers held their first spring practice. Pitt practiced in helmets for a few hours inside the UPMC Sports Complex in the South Side. The team was divided primarily by position for a majority of the afternoon before coming together to run some offense-vs.-defense drills to end the day. ‘I was pleased with the effort and the focus,’ said Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt. One of the biggest questions concerning the Panthers as they head into the season is who is going to start at quarterback. The options are current junior and last year’s starter Bill Stull, sophomore Pat Bostick, redshirt freshman Andrew Janocko and freshman Tino Sunseri. All four practiced yesterday, and all threw the ball well, said Wannstedt. ‘We made plays in the passing game with all the quarterbacks,’ he said. While Wannstedt liked the way the quarterbacks threw, they were certainly helped out on a few plays by receivers who looked as though they had no time to rust after the end of last season. On one play, freshman Jonathan Baldwin leapt high above the reach of defensive back Aaron Berry to haul in a throw as he crashed to the turf. On another, quarterback-turned-receiver Greg Cross made a nice diving catch. ‘After watching Greg Cross at receiver for the first day, he did not look out of place,’ said Wannstedt, ‘and he’s really not sure what he’s doing yet.’ It wasn’t just guys on offense who impressed yesterday. Wannstedt also made note of linebacker Adam Gunn, who just earlier this month was granted a rare sixth year of eligibility after missing most of last year with a neck injury he sustained in Pitt’s first game. ‘I couldn’t be more thankful,’ said Gunn. He’s expected to take over at middle linebacker for Scott McKillop, who graduated after last season. ‘He just brings a sense of leadership,’ said Wannstedt. ‘We’ve got Max Gruder, who’s a redshirt sophomore, and Greg Williams, who’s a redshirt sophomore, on either side of him, so it’s nice to have some experience in the middle.’ While Gunn said he’s looking forward to being a leader for the rest of the team, he’s a little more anxious about something else. ‘That first hit is going to be different,’ said Gunn, ‘but once I get it and it feels good, I feel bad for everybody else.’ Unfortunately for Gunn, he’s going to have to wait a little while to make that first hit. Gunn said he isn’t cleared to partake in full-speed contact drills until July 1, but that was a precautionary decision by the staff. ‘I could be cleared to go full [speed] right now,’ said Gunn. The Panthers plan on practicing with pads starting this weekend. ‘Saturday, we’re going to crank it up, and Sunday we’re going to do a lot more,’ said Wannstedt. ‘No weekends off.’