Fumbling for identity

Sure, Pitt has one game in the books.

But after an opening-week victory, the Panthers are… Sure, Pitt has one game in the books.

But after an opening-week victory, the Panthers are essentially starting from scratch again.

The competition for the starting quarterback job, which seemed to be a lock for junior Bill Stull for the rest of the season and potentially next year, has now reopened due to the injury to Stull’s thumb that could sideline him for upwards of six weeks.

So the vacated position will likely be shared by two young, very inexperienced signal-callers until one emerges as the best option until Stull is healthy enough to return.

Redshirt freshman Kevan Smith and true freshman Pat Bostick will share time under center this weekend against Division I-AA opponent Grambling State.

“I don’t think any coach on any level would want to put a freshman on the field, but we’re going to do that,” Pitt head coach Dave Wannstedt said. “I could cite a half-dozen teams that played with true freshmen last year.

“I think the real key is what you do with them as a coach, and who his supporting cast is. If you put a young kid on the field and he has to do more than just his job, it’s going to get to him. It should be obvious to everybody that the supporting cast we have now is better than it’s been since I’ve been here.”

Another young player earning only his second career start is redshirt freshman cornerback Ricky Gary, who will play opposite Kennard Cox. Gary saw limited action last week, but impressed coaches with strong off-season and training camp performances.

“He’s made plays in training camp, but the most impressive thing is that he’s come up and made tackles,” said Wannstedt of Gary, who had an interception last week against Eastern Michigan.

Grambling State will be riding the emotions of their opening week victory over Alcorn State and, unlike Pitt, are unlikely to change much in their roster or approach to the game.

Rod Broadway, the first-year head coach of the Tigers, will likely implement a read offense that will often operate out of the shotgun formation.

The responsibility of making the reads will fall squarely on the broad shoulders of junior quarterback Brandon Landers.

Landers dazzled the crowd in Mississippi by completing 19 of 36 passes for 303 yards and four touchdowns. For his efforts, Landers earned the Southwestern Athletic Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week honors.

“Their quarterback is an interesting guy – he’s very accurate,” Wannstedt said. “They run a similar offense to West Virginia and Eastern Michigan, the read offense and a lot of it is out of the shotgun. [Landers] makes it go and he did a nice job [last week].”

Landers received plenty of support from the Tiger backfield.

In his first-ever collegiate contest, freshman running back Frank Warren rushed for 143 yards and also hauled in four catches for an additional 23 yards. Warren was named SWAC Newcomer of the Week.

Landers has two more excellent passing options in senior receivers Clyde Edwards and Reginald Jackson.

Edwards is closing in on several prestigious marks at Grambling State.

He has caught at least one pass in 27 consecutive games dating back to his freshman season. Edwards needs only 51 receptions, 739 yards and nine touchdowns to become the career leader in each category at Grambling State.

Edwards, if he remains healthy, could attain each of those records this season. Last year, Edwards reeled in a career-high 56 receptions and 11 touchdowns.

Jackson, who was buried in the depth chart last season, had a breakout game against the Braves.

He torched the second for six catches, 198 yards and two touchdowns. Last year Jackson produced only 12 catches all season.

Senior defensive back Zaire Wilborn leads the Tigers’ defense.

Wilborn, who led Grambling State with 80 tackles last season, was named to the preseason All-SWAC team. He recorded two tackles in his season debut last Saturday.

The game will kick off at noon on Saturday at Heinz Field.