Inside The Panthers

Pitt Names Two Freshmen Conway Award Winners

The Pitt Panthers have named Cruce Brookins and BJ Williams winners of the Ed Conway Awards.

Stephen Thompson

@BrookinsCruce on Twitter

PITTSBURGH -- With kickoff of the 2024 Blue-Gold Game nearing, the Pitt Panthers have handed out the annual Ed Conway Awards to a pair of freshmen at the conclusion of spring practices.

Pitt gave the Conway Awards, given to the most improved players on offense and defense during spring ball, to safety Cruce Brookins and offensive lineman BJ Williams.

After appearing in just two games last season and maintaining a redshirt, Brookins has been the talk of spring ball to this point, impressing coaches with his growth from the fall and pushing for more playing time at safety, even with three stalwart veterans in front of him monopolizing snaps. He’s a hard-hitter with a nose for the football and an affinity for forcing turnovers, as his seven "TAKEAWAY" stickers prove.

"We knew Cruce was a football player when we signed him out of Steel Valley," head coach Pat Narduzzi said. "He loves everything about the game, including the preparation part of it. Cruce made a great impression on both his teammates and coaches this spring. We know he will be an asset for us this season."

Williams appeared in nine games last season and started six as part of the Panthers' rotating arrangement of right guards and full starting offensive lines. He impressed coaches as soon as he arrived on campus and became the first true Pitt true freshman to start on the offensive line since former five-star recruit Dorian Johnson.

"BJ is no longer a rookie on our offensive line and he carried himself like a veteran this spring," Narduzzi said. "He is asserting himself as a leader, both by his play on the field and in our meeting room. We are really excited about the jump he took this spring and look forward to his continued progress come training camp."

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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