Four Storylines to Watch at Pitt Training Camp

There's plenty to watch as the Pitt Panthers open 2023 training camp.

PITTSBURGH -- 

Safety Competition
Not only is safety a crucial position on the Pitt defense, but it is also one of the most deeply talented groups on the roster, which makes differentiating between potential starters and backups difficult. 

Florida transfer and former four-star recruit, Donovan McMillon has gone through spring ball and should be up to speed on what the playbook has to offer. Meanwhile, Javon McIntyre and P.J. O'Brien have game experience with the Panthers and look like two athletic, young rising stars - if they're given the space t. And Stephon Hall is another underclassman with a chance to rise through the depth chart quickly.

Replacing Erick Hallett and Brandon Hill - two stalwart safeties now off to the NFL - will not be easy and there will be some growing pains. But Pitt has found some options and all that's left is to find the best pairing out of that depth.  

One More Wide Receiver
Bub Means and Konata Mumpfield have drawn rave reviews from coaches and teammates during spring ball. Both closed the 2022 season on high notes in the Sun Bowl and Means was able to show off his improvements in the spring game. The top of the receivers room is set. 

But who comes in behind them to support the passing game is anyone's guess. Another former Florida Gator, Daejon Reynolds, looks like the favorite. But a trio of freshmen - Lamar Seymore, Israel Polk and Kenny Johnson - will push for snaps early on in their career. 

It's rare for freshmen to play right away and Reynold's college resume is not extensive, but the Panthers won't have much other choice than to trust one of them. 

Offensive Approach Changing with Personnel?
Israel Abanikanda is gone, taking more than 1,500 scrimmaged yards and 21 touchdowns with him. Everything revolved around his presence for the Panthers on offense last season and now that the speedster is in the NFL, Pitt is left to reconsider its approach. 

Rodney Hammond is more than capable of being a lead back - he proved that in spot starts last season and the coaching staff has a world of confidence in him - but he does not possess the home run hitting capabilities that can carry an offense. Plus, the addition of Jurkovec and improvements from the wide receivers room makes a more balanced approach seem more tantalizing. 

A transition like that would ultimately depend on the offensive line's ability to keep Jurkovec clean - something he rarely experienced at Boston College - and his own steps forward. Offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti will spend the next month deciding which facets of his offense he can trust the most. 

Lots of Tight Ends, Not a Lot of Snaps
The Panthers already had two very capable tight ends in Gavin Bartholomew and Karter Johnson at the top of their depth chart. Both good blockers and fine pass-catchers, there appeared to be little room for anyone else. 

Then they added USC and Texas transfer Malcolm Epps, who's caught 37 passes for 483 yards and seven touchdowns over his college career. There likely won't be room for all three to take offensive snaps week in and week out, adding a competitive dynamic to what had been a solid but relatively boring position group. 

Epps is capable of pushing for some playing time, but as a late addition to the roster, he's got a lot of catching up to do and will need to do it fast. 

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