Pitt Football Practice Takeaways: One RB Separates From Crowded Room

Practice was lighter on Wednesday, as the Pitt Panthers took a step back from contact and tuned to the fundamentals.

A midweek off-day - which was "much needed", according to head coach Pat Narduzzi - came at an opportune time for the Pitt Panthers. After two days of practicing in full pads, Narduzzi said he was happy to see more of players working with trainers on recovering from the grueling practices. 

"Chris Hanks, our trainer, said it was the most guys he's ever seen in recovery since he's been here," Narduzzi said. "That's a great thing. We keep emphasizing them and we teach ... how to take care of their bodies and they're really trying to do that."

Practice was lighter on Wednesday, as the Panthers took a step back from contact and tuned to the fundamentals - timing and footwork on offense and ball skills and hand placement on defense. 

Weather: It was significantly cooler than it had been during the first week and a half of camp - 76 degrees with 66% humidity and sprawling cloud cover. 

Dress: The Panthers were in "shells" - helmets, shoulder pads and shorts. 

Soundtrack: Vette Motors by Youngboy Never Broke Again, Massaging Me by Future and Rumors by Gucci Mane ft. Lil Durk. Senior defensive end John Morgan declared that When I See U by Fantasia has become the team's unofficial theme song for 2022. Senior running back Vincent Davis played it in the locker room and had everyone - including head coach Pat Narduzzi - dancing. 

More nuggets from Pitt practice are below. 

Narduzzi 'Not Surprised' About Keeping RB Room Whole

When three running backs on the same team finish a season within 150 total yards and 40 touches of one another, you'd expect at least some attrition during the offseason. With transfer rules being as liberal as they are now, it wouldn't be surprising for one to seek more touches at a school whose running back corps is thinner. 

Pitt did the opposite, not only retaining their top three tailbacks from the 2021 year, but adding another high major transfer to the mix. Israel Abanikanda, Vincent Davis, Rodney Hammond, C'Bo Flemister and even Daniel Carter - primarily a fullback during his time at Pitt - are in the mix to gather carries this coming season for an offense that projects to be more run-heavy and Narduzzi said he wasn't shocked when they all stuck around with Pitt, despite the crowded room. 

"It's all about the culture you build," he said. "The kids are happy. They like being coached and they know someone hasn't appeared to be the guy. When you're rotating three guys and bring in a fourth, we're looking for someone to take over. James Conner - was there anybody rotating with him?"

Narduzzi added that Abanikanda's power and speed has made him standout as practices integrate pads and tackling. 

"Izzy's shown the ability to be explosive," Narduzzi said. "He's popped through there a few times which is really hard to do. Once gets past the linebackers, it's a race and not many people are going to win that race against Izzy."

Top WR Trio Looks Good as Advertised

Jared "Bub" Means, Konata Mumpfield and Jared Wayne have a tall task ahead of them this season. They are charged with replacing the one half of one of the deadliest quarterback-wide receiver combinations in college football. With Jordan Addison gone, the Panthers need that trio to live up to the hype and, so far in training camp, all three seem to have the necessary tools. 

On Wednesday, that trio of top Pitt wideouts showcased excellent route running skills as receivers coach Tiquan Underwood led them through drills that focused on the minute details. Wayne, Mumpfield and Means run with quick feet, quiet hands and disciplined timing. They look comfortable and ready to take on the enormous load bearing down on their shoulders.  

Scarton Outkicks Sauls in Field Goal Drills

Place kickers Sam Scarton and Ben Sauls are battling for kickoff and field goal duties after the two split those responsibilties a season ago. On Wednesday, the two kicked from similar ranges and angles, with Scarton emerging as decidedly sharper at the conclusion. 

Scarton made six kicks and hit five. Four of the makes - coming from 25, 37, 40 and 47 yards - were kicked from between the hashes and one from 43 yards away came from the right hash mark. His lone miss was a 50-yard attempt from the left hash. Sauls nailed attempts from 20, 33 and 42 yards and missed the mark from 37 and 50 yards. 

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