Pat Narduzzi Comments on James Conner's Battle with Hodgkin Lymphoma

Pittsburgh Panthers running back James Conner was one of the shining stars in college football when he won the 2014 ACC Player of the Year, but his world drastically changed in 2015 when he announced he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. Pittsburgh received promising news Friday, and its coach reportedly expects the running back to return in 2016. 

Jared Shanker of ESPN confirmed Pat Narduzzi believes Conner will take the field in 2016 and passed along this quote from the coach:

Conner was one of the best running backs in the country in 2014 and tallied 1,765 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns. He started the 2015 season in a promising way with 77 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the season opener against Youngstown State, but he injured his MCL and missed the rest of the campaign.

He announced he had Hodgkin lymphoma in December and was optimistic about the future at the time in a press release (via Matt Fortuna of ESPN.com): "I will play football again. I will be at Heinz Field again. I have the best coaches and teammates in the country. I thank God I chose Pitt because now I also have the best doctors in the country, and together we will win. I know this city has my back."

Narduzzi also pledged the support of the football team, via Fortuna:

"

Know this: James Conner will not face this challenge alone. We are all going to be right beside him every step of the way. And the day that he is declared cancer free, we will all celebrate like we do after one of his patented touchdown runs. James has never backed down from an opponent, and we all know this is a battle he will win.

"

Jerry DiPaola of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review noted in January Conner “reacted well” to the majority of the chemotherapy treatments and was already back in the Pittsburgh weight room at times.

Andrea Adelson of ESPN.com provided another update and said Conner wouldn’t participate in spring practice but “is targeting a September return.”

The Panthers play Penn State, Oklahoma State and North Carolina in September, so it would be a major boost if they added a game-changing running back to the mix during a daunting portion of their schedule.

If Conner does return, it will be another success story in football for a player dealing with this disease. Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2014, and all he did was make the Pro Bowl this season as an enforcer on the back end of the defense.

The Panthers do have some pieces to fill in for Conner until he is back.

Qadree Ollison played admirably in Conner’s absence in 2015 and topped the 1,000-yard mark with 1,121 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in his freshman season. It is only natural to expect further development with a year of experience under his belt at the collegiate level, and he will certainly be ready to tote the rock until Conner is back (and share the backfield when that happens).

Darrin Hall was another freshman back for the Panthers last season who tallied 257 rushing yards and two touchdowns and adds important depth to the backfield.

Pittsburgh improved from 6-7 in 2014 to 8-5 in Narduzzi’s first season and reached the Military Bowl. The team could be even stronger and continue that ascension in 2016, especially if Conner joins an already talented running back group.