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Previewing The Big East: Pittsburgh Panthers

Dan Kelley

Correspondent Written on June 24, 2009

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TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 2: Wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin #82 of the Pittsburgh Panthers grabs a pass for a touchdown against the University of South Florida Bulls at Raymond James Stadium on October 2, 2008 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

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Stull will be the signal-caller again this season. Also returning are receivers Jonathan Baldwin, Oderick Turner, and Cedric McGee. Baldwin will need to emerge as a legitimate No. 1 receiver for the Pittsburgh passing game to be more of a threat to opposing defenses. He displayed flashes of brilliance as a freshman last year but will really have the opportunity to display his skills this season.

Also returning to help out Bill Stull is First Team All-Big East tight end Nate Byham and fellow tight end Dorin Dickerson. The two combined for 434 receiving yards and three of the team's receiving touchdowns in '08.

The only thing that kept the Panthers offense afloat at times last season was the play of First Team All-Big East tailback LeSean McCoy. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, he has moved on to Philadelphia to play for the Eagles and won’t be able to help them this year.

Trying to win the starting job are true freshman Dion Lewis, redshirt-freshman Chris Burns, sophomore Shariff Harris, and junior Kevin Collier.

The diminutive Dion Lewis (5-foot-8, 190 pounds) impressed the staff during spring practice and could be a contributor right away. The most likely scenario will be a combination of two or three backs until someone clearly separates from the rest of the pack. Lewis looks to be ahead of the curve at this point.

Whoever is taking the carries will have the benefit of running behind a solid offensive line, which returns four starters from 2008. If the backs live up to expectations, all the pieces will be in place for the Panthers have a solid running game again in '09.

With a ton of returning talent from last year’s 9-3 team and a year of maturation for Bill Stull and receiver Jonathan Baldwin hopefully improving the passing game, the Panthers look primed for a Big East championship run. The league appears to be as wide open as ever, but the '09 Panthers have the talent and the experience necessary to earn a spot in the Bowl Championship Series.

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written on June 24, 2009 Preview/Prediction