Preparing for battle, training camp begins

A few months ago, Nate Byham looked different.

Byham spent much of spring practice doing… A few months ago, Nate Byham looked different.

Byham spent much of spring practice doing light jogs after recovering from a left knee injury suffered against South Florida last season. He couldn’t scrimmage or run at full speed, and he avoided mostly all contact drills.

But as of now, the smile on his face couldn’t be bigger.

‘We’re ready to go,’ said Byham during media day leading into Pitt’s summer training camp.

Now healthy, Byham and Pitt began their final preparation for football season Aug. 5.

The team is scheduled to practice at Pitt’s South Side facility from Aug. 5-22. The sessions go mostly twice a day, with the first through fourth teams split up in the morning and afternoon.

Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said that heading into camp, quarterback Bill Stull, who was the opening day starter last season before being knocked out with a season-ending thumb injury, is the leading candidate for the starting job this season.

But Wannstedt added that it wouldn’t be without competition, especially since sophomores Pat Bostick and Kevan Smith return with more experience than Stull. Aside from those three, junior college transfer Greg Cross and freshman Tino Sunseri are taking reps in practice.

‘Coming out of camp a year ago, I really believed Bill Stull was going to be the best-kept secret in the Big East,’ said Wannstedt.

‘Then you look at Pat Bostick, Kevan Smith and Greg Cross, who’s learning the system. We have four guys coming here to win the job. That’s what makes players better.’

On the other end of things, a battle is emerging between the receivers. Derek Kinder, who tore his ACL last season in training camp, said he’s healthy and should be able to play at full speed. But on the first day of training camp, Kinder tweaked his knee and didn’t completely participate in the rest of the drills. Still, he said it was nothing and that it would be fine.

With Kinder and receiver Oderick Turner back, Cedric McGee, Jonathan Baldwin, T.J. Porter and Aaron Smith are all pushing for time at receiver.

Byham, who started at tight end last year, is joined by Dorin Dickerson in his first season at tight end since converting from linebacker.

Dickerson said he’s become comfortable at the tight end position, and Wannstedt agreed.

‘It fits his physical stature very well,’ said Wannstedt.

‘I expect him to have an excellent year. He has enough talent to be a difference-maker.’

Wannstedt added that while a lot of positions are being filled, he’s still not completely sure about the status of the offensive line.

But offensive line coach Tony Wise, who came to Pitt this offseason from the NFL’s New York Jets, said the line improved its mobility and overall athleticism in the offseason during summer workouts and will continue to improve against Pitt’s defensive line, which is rated as one of the best in the Big East.

‘We stressed explosion, quickness and power in the offseason,’ said Wise.

‘And all of our guys have to feel really good on Saturday afternoon after blocking Mick [Williams] and Gus [Mustakas] and all of those guys.’

Wannstedt said he was impressed with how the offensive linemen made strides during the summer.

‘Joe Thomas and C.J. Davis have both lost more than 30 pounds,’ said Wannstedt. I love the way our football team looks. We’re a lean and very athletic group right now.’

Pitt opens its season Aug. 30 against Bowling Green at Heinz Field. It continues with home games against Buffalo and Iowa before traveling to Syracuse for its first road game.