Pittsburgh Football: 3 Freshmen Who Will Start in 2012

Pitt is a dark horse to win the Big East this season, but in order to do so they will need contributions from their incoming freshmen. 

Each class of freshmen breathes new life into every program across the country, and the University of Pittsburgh is no different.

Pitt is coming off a disappointing 2011 season, when the team finished 6-7. They also finished last season on a bad note, as they were blown out by SMU in the BBVA Compass Bowl.

Coming out of spring practice, there are still many questions that the Pitt coaching staff must find answers for.

The team lost three starting offensive lineman from last season's team, and will need to solidify their offensive line to keep starting quarterback Tito Sunseri upright.

New head coach Paul Chryst secured 16 commitments, which is impressive considering how tumultuous the program has been over the past year.

Rivals ranked Pitt's 2012 recruiting class 47th in the country, and they snagged one of the best running back prospects in the country in Rushel Shell. 

Demitrious Davis

Demitrious Davis was a quarterback in high school, but will be playing wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Panthers this fall. He was ranked as the 32nd best athlete in this year's class by Rivals.com

Davis was recruited by the likes of Arkansas, Oregon, Boise State and West Virginia, so luring Davis to Pitt was a big win for head coach Paul Chryst and his staff. 

In Davis, Pitt gets a great athlete, with breakaway speed that can change games in the Big East. 

Davis figures to line up in the slot, where his dynamic speed will be best most effective. He is also an excellent all-around athlete, and his athleticism will get him on the field this season. 

Don't be surprised if the coaching staff chooses to use Davis on special teams, where he would be a threat when returning kickoffs and punts. 

Do yourself a favor and watch the video posted on this slide. Davis shows just how dangerous he is on the football field, and why he will help Pitt in 2012. 

Adam Bisnowaty

Adam Bisnowaty was given a four-star rating by Rivals.com, and the site also ranked him as the 19th best offensive tackle in this year's class. 

He was recruited heavily by Florida, Michigan, Michigan State and many other schools across the nation. A lot will be expected from Bisnowaty because Pitt desperately needs help on their offensive line. 

Bisnowaty is 6'6," so he certainly has the size to be a dominant tackle at the college level. He can be dominant when he gets his hands on his opponent, which should make him a good run blocker. 

Pitt lost three of last year's starting offensive linemen to graduation, and will be looking for new players to take those spots. Expect Bisnowaty to compete for a starting role this year due to his size and ability.

Hopefully, Bisnowaty will be opening holes for Ray Graham this fall. 

JP Holtz

JP Holtz was given a three-star rating by ESPN, and was ranked as the 23rd best tight end in this year's class. 

Holtz played on both sides of the ball in high school, but is better suited to be a tight end at the next level.

He was so versatile in high school that he played five positions, including tight end, linebacker, receiver, running back and punter. This also shows that Holtz will do whatever it takes to help his team win and Pitt is lucky to have a player with that mindset. 

Holtz will now focus solely on learning the nuances of the tight end position and should be a force for Pitt, starting this season. 

He is a solid blocker and will be laying blocks for their top recruit, running back Rushel Shell.