Stull shining star at spring practices

Forget about Pitt basketball yet?

The football team sure has.

For about a week and a… Forget about Pitt basketball yet?

The football team sure has.

For about a week and a half now, head coach Dave Wannstedt has been holding Pitt’s annual spring practice at the South Side practice facility and priming the players for their Blue-Gold scrimmage in a few weeks.

New talent has already emerged on both offense and defense, but both lines have sustained substantial injuries – defense in quantity (nearly half the squad has been sidelined) and offense in quality (Mike McGlynn had shoulder surgery and will miss the rest of spring).

The personnel moves Wannstedt and his staff made in the off-season are catalyst to much intrigue (Dorin Dickerson and Shane Murray to outside linebacker, Jason Pinkston back to offensive line), and last year’s talented freshman class is starting to blossom.

Nonetheless, the questions that surround Pitt football are far greater than the certainties, if there are any besides that NFL scouts liked Darrelle Revis’ 40-yard dash time.

Q: What’s the new Pitt quarterback situation looking like?

A: Junior Bill Stull is the leading man right now. He’s been taking the most reps with the first team and has been performing well, even in full-contact scrimmages. Stull knows the offense and has the tools to keep the starting job. He’s been throwing the ball well and efficiently so far in spring workouts and, barring injury, should start the season opener against Eastern Michigan.

That said, redshirt freshman and backup Kevan Smith has been playing very well in spring ball, taking some snaps with the first team as well as the second. Smith too has thrown the ball extremely well.

Incoming freshman Pat Bostick is not even in the picture so far, so don’t put him there. He won’t arrive until summer. He may be talented, but both Stull and Smith already have two legs up on him.

Q: What other positions does Pitt need to fill?

A: We all know Darrelle Revis is gone, but sophomore Aaron Berry could quickly make us forget. He saw a little action last season on defense and special teams, but Berry has played well beyond expectations so far this spring and has grabbed the open cornerback position opposite Kennard Cox. Don’t look for him to relinquish it anytime soon, either.

The entire linebacking corps has been rebuilt, too. With Wannstedt suspending Tommie Campbell indefinitely, Adam Gunn, Scott McKillop and Nate Nix have anchored the first team, with McKillop filling H.B. Blades’ vacant position in the middle.

For support, both Dickerson and Murray have been moved to outside linebacker on a second team that features Greg Webster in the center. That’s a lot of new faces, but a lot of potential at the same time.

Another new face is junior Dave Brytus, who will inherit the punting duties. A nearby West Allegheny grad and Purdue transfer, Brytus has a strong leg and, get this, is a cage fighter.

Also look for redshirt freshman Greg Romeus to push Joe Clermond for the defensive end spot opposite Gus Mustakas. Romeus’ physicality impressed Wannstedt last year, and now his play is doing the same.

Q: How are the running backs looking, especially now that LeSean McCoy is Pitt-bound?

A: Well each of the running backs is well aware of McCoy, and so far, performing accordingly.

The best in spring practice has been sophomore Kevin Collier. Collier is a great running back, and it seems that McCoy’s impending addition is only going to make him work harder and get better.

He’s already done so, on both accounts.

Each of the backs knows he has to compete for the starting job, and each seems more than happy to do it.

A running back corps consisting of returning starter LaRod Stephens-Howling, Collier and McCoy all vying for time is going to be special.

Q: Who is going to have a breakout season this year?

A: First, Berry. He’s going to be good.

Second, wide receiver T.J. Porter. He did play last year and showed patches of talent, and his potential as a star is resurfacing in spring practice. He’s quick and physical and had possibly the best scrimmage Saturday of all the receiving corps.

Sure, he has to fight for playing time with returning starters Derek Kinder and Oderick Turner, not to mention Marcel Pestano and Cedric McGee. But Porter will rise.

Also, watch for Lowell Robinson. He’s moved back to safety and, because he is junior college transfer, this is his last season.

Every time Robinson touches the ball, he could score – he’s that explosive. Whether as an electric kick returner or if he beats out Mike Phillips at safety, he should have a good year either way.