At the start of the 2007 football season, Gus Mustakas was poised for a breakout year.

And… At the start of the 2007 football season, Gus Mustakas was poised for a breakout year.

And as the anchor of the defensive line, Mustakas was playing at an all-star level. Through Pitt’s first game and into the third quarter of the second, Mustakas had 11 tackles – two of which were for a loss.

Then, it happened.

“I shot up field, and when I planted my knee, the offensive lineman on Grambling State pushed my upper body,” said Mustakas.

“My knee was going one way and my body was going the other. I heard a pop and hit the ground.”

At first, Mustakas didn’t think the injury was that severe. After sitting out a play, he attempted to re-enter the game.

“When I got back in, I tried to do a spin move, and when I put the weight on my knee, it just all gave out.”

And now a year after boasting the nation’s sixth-best defense, the Pitt defense might have a healthy reason to be optimistic that its accomplished unit can get even better.

Mustakas, a redshirt junior, is set to return to the front four after missing all but two games last season with a torn ACL in his left knee.

Unlike his knee, Mustakas’ attitude never collapsed. And although the injury wouldn’t allow him to contribute on the field, Mustakas’ selfless perspective wouldn’t waver. Where some would be disheartened by the allusion of a budding season, Mustakas was simply vexed by his inability to be there for his teammates.

“The worst part about last year,” said Mustakas, “was seeing my teammates and knowing that I couldn’t do anything to help them.”

But this year he’ll be able to assist Pitt on the field as it challenges for a Big East title. After months of rehab, Mustakas is now able to run – and more importantly cut – on his surgically repaired knee. He said he expects to be full strength by August.

The prospect of a healthy Mustakas is a rousing foresight considering the defensive line flourished in his absence last season and will return largely intact this season.

Those returning on the line include on-the-rise players Greg Romeus (41 tackles/four sacks) and Mick Williams (29 tackles/three sacks) to go with veteran Rashaad Duncan (40 tackles/two sacks). The group improved as last season went on, culminating in a strong performance against rival West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl.

“Last year there were a couple games – like the WVU game – where the defensive line stepped it up and took over the game,” said Mustakas.

“We feel like we can do that every game this year.”

The Panthers certainly have a surplus of bodies up front to remain stout throughout the duration of the upcoming season. Pitt will only have to slightly retool on the edge, where they lost defensive ends Joe Clermond and Chris McKillop to graduation. In addition to Mustakas, Williams, Duncan and Romeus, the Panthers also have Doug Fulmer, Jabaal Sheard, Tony Tucker and Tommie Duhart – all who competed and proved to be capable of starting in the spring.

Mustakas said he’s not worried about things like playing time. He’s just excited about the potential of Pitt’s plentiful defensive line.

“This is my fourth year, and by far our defensive line has never been this deep or this good,” said Mustakas.

“When we rotate the guys we have, it’ll be fluent, and we won’t miss a beat. If we go out and play like we can, I don’t see another defensive line in the Big East, or even the nation, being as good as us.”

Still, playing time is something that Mustakas is thinking about – especially since he has a lot of competition to get back into the starting lineup.

“The defensive line stepped it up last year, and I’m going into camp like I have to prove myself all over again and win my position like any other year,” said Mustakas.

Mustakas’ attitude is admirable considering the season hasn’t started, but he’s already receiving national attention.

Despite limited game action last season, Mustakas is recognized as having the potential to be one of the best interior linemen in the country. In April, he was named to the Outland Trophy watch list. The award, which is voted on by the Football Writers Association of America, recognizes the nation’s top interior linemen on either offense or defense.

The only Pitt player to ever receive the award was Mark May in 1980. May, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, also had an accomplished career in the National Football League as an offensive lineman.

“I’m really pumped about [being on the Outland Trophy watch list],” said Mustakas.

“It really gives me motivation to go out there and have a great year. It brings pressure, but in a good way. I tore my ACL, and it motivates me to go out there and prove to people they’re not wrong about [my abilities].”

The one thing Mustakas vividly remembers about his injury was lying on the turf, staring into the crowd amid a tranquil Heinz Field. This year, he won’t have to worry about a chilling silence. In fact, his health should give Panther fans extra incentive to cheer.