Kinder injured, out for rest of season

Star wide receiver Derek Kinder tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee at… Star wide receiver Derek Kinder tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee at Pitt training camp Saturday afternoon. He is out for the 2007 season.

“It was a non-contact injury,” Coach Dave Wannstedt said. “It’s a very unfortunate thing because Derek put himself in position to have a great year.”

Kinder earned All-Big East first-team honors in 2006, prompting raised expectations heading into 2007. As a rising senior, Kinder assumed the role of team leader.

“Derek is one of those lead-by-example kind of guys,” Wannstedt said.

Kinder has one redshirt season remaining. Wannstedt expects the 6-1 New Yorker to be rehabbed and ready to play in 2008.

“He does have all the intangibles,” Wannstedt said. “[He has] the work ethic and the determination to make a full recovery and still end up accomplishing everything he wants to accomplish.”

Wannstedt said freshman receivers Maurice Williams and Aundre Wright will move into the mix in the wake of Kinder’s injury.

“I’m very comfortable with our wide receivers,” Wannstedt said.

Pitt still possesses two experienced receivers in redshirt sophomore Oderick Turner and redshirt junior Marcel Pestano, as well as talented sophomore TJ Porter. That trio will be forced to take on significant responsibility in Kinder’s absence.

“I talked to the team last night and we addressed the issue,” Wannstedt said. “This is how things happen in this game. There are examples on teams every year where unfortunate things happen and another guy gets an opportunity, and he steps up and makes plays.”

Kinder will have surgery sometime this week.