For CT and other Rutgers Fans (ESPN Insider Article)

[Philliesfan980]

I'm not a Rutgers Fan, but have kept an eye on them during the past few years. Not sure how many of you are espn insiders, but here is a good preview. Let me know if you want to see any others, as they are all up on ESPN.


Team preview: RutgersBlue Ribbon Yearbook


Editor's Note: ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 119 Division I-A teams. To order the complete 2005 edition of Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbook.com or call 1-866-805-BALL (2255).


(All information as of July 1, 2005)

Rutgers Scarlet Knights
LOCATION Piscataway, N.J.
CONFERENCE Big East
LAST SEASON 4-7 (.364)
CONFERENCE RECORD 1-5 (t-7th)
OFF. STARTERS RETURNING 9
DEF. STARTERS RETURNING 8
NICKNAME Scarlet Knights
COLORS Red & White
HOME FIELD Rutgers Stadium (41,500)
COACH Greg Schiano (Bucknell '88)
RECORD AT SCHOOL 12-34 (4 years)
CAREER RECORD 12-34 (4 years)
ASSISTANTS • Darren Rizzi (Rhode Island '92),
Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams/Linebackers
• Craig Ver Steeg (USC '83),
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
• Joe Susan (Delaware '76),
Recruiting Coordinator/Tight Ends
• Chris Demarest (Northeastern '88),
Secondary • Kyle Flood (Iona '93),
Offensive Line
• Phil Galiano (Shippensburg '01),
Defensive Ends
• Cary Godette (East Carolina '76),
Defensive Line
• Robert Jackson (Northern Illinois),
Running Backs
• John McNulty (Penn State '90),
Wide Receivers
TEAM WINS (last five yrs.) 3-2-1-5-4
FINAL RANK (last five yrs.) 103-112-115-96-80
2004 FINISH Lost to Connecticut in regular-season finale.
2005 Schedule | 2004 Results | 2004 Statistics



COACH AND PROGRAM
Over the last five games of Rutgers' 2004 season -- all losses -- the Scarlet Knights' defense seemingly adopted an open-door policy ... as in, here's the end zone, come on in.
Inside the Big East
Take an Inside look at the Big East with Blue Ribbon's 2005 team reports:
Cincinnati Bearcats
Connecticut Huskies
Louisville Cardinals
Pittsburgh Panthers
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
South Florida Bulls
Syracuse Orange
West Virginia Mountaineers
The Scarlet Knights surrendered 38.4 points over the losing stretch that saw Rutgers fall from a 4-2 team with promise to a 4-7 team cohabitating with Temple in the Big East's basement.

When Paul Ferrara left his defensive coordinator post to join the NFL's Carolina Panthers, head coach Greg Schiano conducted a nationwide search until deciding the best man for the job was himself. So now in his fifth year on the job, Schiano has added the pressure of tightening up the defense to the already-present task of lifting Rutgers to a respectable perch in Division I-A football.

Success coordinating a defense isn't foreign to Schiano. Before taking over at Rutgers, he was defensive coordinator at Miami, where he mentored a Hurricanes defense that finished 12th nationally in 1999 and fifth in the country in 2000 in scoring defense. Almost as important as his ability to craft a stingy defense is Schiano's dedication to the job.

"From a personal standpoint, I get to do something that I really, really enjoy doing, and I forgot how much I really enjoy doing it until I started doing it this spring with the defense," Schiano said. "The difference is, you're in there [with the defense]. I'm installing the defense, I'm in the room. When we go to install, I am the teacher, I'm not the supervisor. ... That's the part I really enjoy."

As he tries to get the Scarlet Knights back on track after they took a step back from a five-win 2004 to just four wins last fall, Schiano made a few other moves with his staff on the defensive side of the ball. Newcomer Gary Godette brings NFL experience to his role as defensive line coach, Phil Galiano (formerly the linebackers coach) will coach defensive ends and assistant head coach Darren Rizzi will now work with the linebackers.

Of course all the coaching changes won't mean much unless the players produce between the lines. Schiano's bio in Rutgers' media guide brags about all the improvements the program has made off the field under the Wyckoff, N.J. native, including the state-of-the-art training facility, the modern scoreboard and the new field turf surface at Rutgers Stadium. University officials would no doubt love to replace those boasts with highlights from some major on-field victories. Schiano's confidence the 2005 team -- the most experienced in his tenure -- will put Rutgers on the map.

"This should be our best team since we've been here," he said. "But again, it's an odd-shaped ball and a physical game. It should be [our best team] if players are playing [and stay healthy]. ... You have to make history. We can't talk about history. You have to go make it."



QUARTERBACKS
The sixth-best passing offense in the land returns its senior quarterback, who is fresh off a record-setting junior year. Ryan Hart (6-2, 200) set Rutgers single-season marks for passing yards (his 3,154 yards surpassed his record-setting total from 2003), attempts (453) and completions (295). And he led the Big East in passing yards per game with 286.7. Along the way he also set a conference record with a 65.1 completion percentage in his second year at the Scarlet Knights' starter (he has started 27 straight games).
Hart was the first Rutgers and first Big East quarterback to record six 300-yard passing games in one season and he threw at least one touchdown pass in nine of his 11 games. His best performance of the year led the Scarlet Knights to a comeback win at Vanderbilt, as he completed 31-of-40 passes for 344 yards.

"If you look at his productivity, it's been tremendous," Schiano said about Hart, who has thrown 19 interception each of the last two seasons. "What we need to do is to just cut back on those turnovers and we're going to do that, he's going to do that. And I look forward to him having a tremendous senior year."

With the milestone-filled resume and his two years of starting experience, Hart still emerged from spring practice as the starting signal caller. But Schiano conceded that the talent behind the senior will make for an interesting training camp and gives the coaching staff some "good choices."

First among those at Schiano's disposal behind Hart will be freshman Mike Teel (6-4, 220). A member of the scout team in 2004, Teel was a two-time first team all-state selection at Don Bosco (N.J.) Prep. He led his team to 24 straight wins to cap his career and threw for 1,891 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior.

Teel emerged as the No. 2 at the close of spring practice, but he will get challenged by returning reserve Terrence Shawell (6-4, 210). A sophomore, Shawell flaunted his talents in three 2004 appearances. He threw an 87-yard touchdown pass and ran for a 26-yard score against UConn, and was 6-for-12 passing for 126 yards and one score against Navy. A solid athlete, Shawell threw for more than 1,800 yards as a high school senior.

If the Scarlet Knights weren't deep enough under center, this fall Jabu Lovelace (6-2, 195) is scheduled to arrive on campus. The Tenafly, N.J. native was ranked as the No. 27 dual-threat quarterback in the country by Rivals.com and he justified the hype with 1,638 yards and 18 touchdowns through the air and 940 yards and 10 scores on the ground.



RUNNING BACKS
For the first time since 1995 (tight end Marco Battaglia), the Scarlet Knights had a player earn first team All-America honors in 2004. And fullback Brian Leonard (6-2, 230) will be asked to live up to the high standards he has set the last two years in the Scarlet Knights' backfield.
A junior, Leonard rushed for 732 yards, caught 61 passes for 518 yards and scored nine touchdowns last fall. He led the Big East in all-purpose yardage (125.0 per game) and was the nation's top pass-catching running back.

Leonard set the tone for personal achievements to come when he dashed 56 yards for a score on the first play from scrimmage in the season-opening win over Michigan State and finished that day with 190 all-purpose yards. He scored four touchdowns against Vanderbilt, a game during which he set a season-high with nine catches (en route to the fourth-most receptions in one season in program history).

For Schiano to play Leonard at fullback for the bulk of the snaps in 2005, a tailback must emerge. Partly because of injuries to other players and partly because of his own performance, fifth-year senior Clarence Pittman (5-10, 208) was penciled in as the No. 1 running back when spring camp concluded. Last fall, Pittman appeared in all 11 games and rushed just 15 times for 48 yards. He has averaged more than three yards per carry in part-time duty the last two years. This spring he earned the Frank R. Burns Award, given to the player who "demonstrated extraordinary mental and physical toughness during spring practice."

"Clarence worked incredibly hard and had a great spring," Schiano said. "He has shown maturity and has run the ball very, very strong this spring, so hopefully that can carry over into the preseason."

Pittman's spring showing helped him take advantage of Justise Hairston's (6-1, 210) injury absence. The junior, however, came out of spring as the Scarlet Knights' No. 2 running back. After an injury-plagued freshman year, Hairston showed the type of versatility Rutgers needs with 146 rushing yards, 17 receptions for 105 yards, and some excellent blocking last season. He gained momentum in the receiving game over the last two games with 10 catches.

Sophomore Dimitri Linton (5-9, 195) and senior Markis Facyson (5-10, 195) should also be in the running-back mix. Facyson flaunted his versatility with six catches for 39 yards and 52 yards on the ground. He gave the Scarlet Knights 43 big rushing yards against Syracuse when Leonard was out with an injury. Linton left Florida as one of the state's top prep rushers and he could get more of a chance to flaunt his abilities this fall. Behind Leonard, the Scarlet Knights should benefit from the talents of senior Ishmael Medley (5-11, 230) and sophomore Jean Beljour (6-0, 235).

"I thought Jean Beljour and Ishmael Medley got better each day and improved," Schiano said after spring camp.

Medley showed he could combine with Leonard to form a bruising backfield when he played in 10 games as a blocking back and still caught four passes for 27 yards. Against Syracuse (the Leonard-less game), Medley caught three passes for 17 yards. In the spring, he earned the Mark Mills Second Effort Award as the offensive player "who has shown the most improvement during the off-season and the spring practice."

Beljour was mostly a special-teams contributor, but he caught three passes for 29 yards and was once the 49th-ranked running back by Rivals.com in his days at Hackensack (N.J.) High School.



WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
An injury might end up having been a blessing in disguise for the Scarlet Knights. While Shawn Tucker (6-2, 205), Rutgers' leading receiver with 50 catches for 726 yards and two touchdowns in 2003, didn't play after the second game of the season in 2004 because of a groin injury, Tres Moses (5-10, 191) emerged as a No. 1 target.
Now a senior, Moses earned first-team All-Big East honors last season with a school-record-setting 81 catches and 1,056 receiving yards (he was the first Rutgers player to surpass 1,000 yards through the air). Moses set a conference record with 7.36 catches per game, which was also seventh nationally. He posted five 100-yard-plus receiving yard games and goes into the 2005 season with a 22-game pass-catch streak. All this after he had shown glimpses by catching 52 passes for 536 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore.

Tucker (now a junior after two groin surgeries and a medical red-shirt year) should be the Scarlet Knights' starter on the other side of Moses. Limited to just six catches and 66 yards in 2004, Tucker caught a pass in all 12 games in 2003 and really showed his stuff in a 186-yard game against Pittsburgh and a 118-yard game against Michigan State.

The void left by Tucker's absence last year also benefited Chris Baker (6-5, 210). The senior made five starts as a junior and set a career-high with 28 catches for 388 yards, and recorded a reception in all 11 Rutgers games. He was instrumental in the comeback at Vanderbilt -- Hart found Baker six times for 90 yards.

As freshmen last year, Marcus Daniels (6-2, 210) and Willie Foster (5-10, 170) also emerged as viable pass targets. The pair combined for 34 catches for 361 yards and Daniels twice caught six passes in a game. Foster was one of the Scarlet Knights' main kick and punt returners along with Moses.

Red-shirt freshman Keith Taylor (6-4, 180) was once one of the fastest 400-meter runners in the country for Elizabeth (N.J.) High School and could emerge as a deep threat.

When he is not connecting with his receivers or his backs, Hart aims for junior tight end Clark Harris (6-6, 250). In 2004, Harris led all Big East tight ends with 53 catches for 725 yards. He also caught five touchdown passes and recorded three 100-yard-plus receiving games during his first-team All-Big East season. He was second nationally in both yards and catches from the tight end position.

Behind Harris should be junior Sam Johnson (6-3, 250), whose specialty is run blocking and who caught four passes for 44 yards last season.

"Tight end is a position that I think we have pretty good depth," Schiano said. "This is a very important spring and off-season for [Harris], to put on some added muscle and continue to grow as a blocker. He's a tremendous pass receiver."



OFFENSIVE LINE
Three fifths of an offensive line that allowed the second-fewest sacks (20) in the Big East last year returns, so Hart should be well protected again this fall. Last year, Rutgers ranked first in the Big East and sixth nationally with 310.5 yards per game passing, thanks in no small part to the linemen. Of course, the running game needs vast improvement.
First and foremost in the trenches for the Scarlet Knights will be right guard John Glass (6-5, 300). The senior started all 11 games and earned All-Big East (second team) honors for his efforts.

Even after a great junior season, Schiano will hold Glass to a higher standard this fall. "I think John Glass has played well, but I don't think he's been as good as he can be," Schiano said. "I think this is a critical time for him to come -- he has the talent to be a dominant offensive lineman. Now's the time to do it."

Tackle Sameeh McDonald (6-5, 295) should again help Glass keep pass rushers from breaking through the right side. The senior started nine-of-11 games (two missed beacuse of injury) next to Glass in 2004. He played 11 games as a sophomore, so he's proven pretty durable and he's gained plenty of experience.

What the left side of the line lacks in experience, it makes up with talent, and more importantly, potential. A pair of sophomores -- Pedro Sosa (6-5, 300) and Jeremy Zuttah (6-4, 285) -- are slated to play left tackle and guard, respectively.

Once ranked as the 34th-best offensive guard in the country by Rivals.com, Zuttah started five games at three positions in 2004. He finished the season at left tackle (and played every offensive line position except center during the season) and now he's set to move back to his stronger position.

Sosa played in only five games as a freshman, but he was once ranked as the top offensive lineman in the state after his time at Union Hill (N.J.) High School.

Inexperience at the center position might dog Rutgers. At the close of spring camp, junior Joe Giacobbe (6-1, 270) and senior Will Vogt (6-3, 275) were listed as No. 1 and 2, respectively, on the depth chart. Giacobbe played two games in 2003 and none last season, while appeared in one game in 2004 and five in 2003.

Freshman left tackle Mike Gilmartin (6-6, 285), sophomore left guard Dan Mazan (6-4, 295), sophomore right guard Corey Hyman (6-4, 290) and sophomore right tackle Mike Fladell (6-8, 318) are extremely green, but left camp as the top reserves on the line.

Mazan is a transfer from Penn State, while Hyman's the most experienced of the bunch after he played on the left side in six games last season. He is recovering from off-season shoulder surgery and should be ready to tangle when the season starts.

Freshman Dave McClain (6-4, 335 graduated from Central Bucks South (Penn.) High School early so he could join the Scarlet Knights this spring. Most figure the Super Prep All-America will get some playing time pretty soon, as could a couple of other incoming linemen.

By the time spring camp was concluding, Schiano was confident enough to claim, "We'll run the ball better and [that's] a direct result of the offensive line blocking better."



KICKERS
After winning the place-kicking job in preseason camp last fall, Jeremy Ito (5-11, 180) nailed four field goals in the season-opening win over Michigan State and continued to emerge as one of the conference's up-and-coming kickers. The sophomore finished his first collegiate season 15-of-24 on field goals and 28-of-29 on PATs. Along the way, he booted five field goals of 40 or more yards and set a Rutgers Stadium record with a 48-yard conversion against New Hampshire. A versatile kicker who can handle kickoffs and punting if necessary, Ito should be a valuable weapon again this year.
"Jeremy Ito had a real special freshman year, and hopefully he can grow on that," Schiano said.

Backup place-kicker and punter Mike Cortese (6-3, 201), a senior, should once again handle kickoff duties.



DEFENSIVE LINE
Rutgers, which finished 104th nationally in total defense last year, has plenty of blame to go around. But the defensive line gets a little less because of the play of first-team All-Big East defensive end Ryan Neill (6-3, 260). The senior, who missed 2003 with a knee injury, was among the league leaders in sacks with eight and tackles for loss with 13 in 2004 and paced a Rutgers team that led the Big East in sacks with 31.
With Neill and fellow senior Val Barnaby (6-5, 270) manning the ends, Schiano won't have to worry about production from those positions.

"As you look at the [defensive] position group as a whole, the defensive ends are stronger than the defensive tackles. We have some experience with Val Barnaby, Ryan Neill, Piana Lukabu (6-3, 250), Eric Foster (6-2, 260)," Schiano said. "Those guys have all played in games, so I think that is our strength.

"But, I think our inside guys are closing ground. [Transfer] Carl Howard (6-4, 300) has a chance to get real repetitions, not scout-team repetitions. He's getting better and better, so that's a positive."

Barnaby recorded three or more tackles in six-of-11 games last season.

"Here's a guy that needs to have a great senior year for us to be a dominant football team, and he can do it," Schiano said. "He's physical ... he's shown he can do it. Now he had to do it consistently. I think it's time."

Lukabu, a senior, was second on the team among defensive linemen in tackles with 33 tackles in eight games played. He and Foster, a sophomore who appeared in 11 games last year, figure to be the primary backups at the ends.

Senior Luis Rivas (6-4, 285) and junior Cameron Stephenson (6-5, 305) project as the starting defensive tackles. Out of action because of injury in the spring, Rivas has proven durable his last two years with 11 games played in each.

"We need him to stay healthy because he can be a heck of a defensive lineman, as long as he stays healthy," Schiano said.

Stephenson will make the move from offense to defense, a position he first played as a freshman at Harbor College.

After practicing with the team all last fall after his transfer from Virginia Tech, Howard is still has freshman eligibility. Howard was once ranked by Rivals.com as the 29th-best defensive tackle prospect in the country. His progress could be a huge boost to the Scarlet Knights' cause and he will go into camp as a backup tackle.

A one-time walk-on who competes with the Rutgers wrestling team, Rameel Meekins (6-0, 265), could be the other reserve tackle. He played in nine games last season. Junior Nate Robinson (6-5, 303) could also progress enough to crack the rotation after he played in eight games in 2004. And freshman Joe Salinardi (6-4, 285) and sophomore Rocky Ricks (6-3, 241) will also vie for playing time.



LINEBACKERS
Much will be expected of the linebacker corps that returns all six players on last season's depth chart. In order for the defensive statistics to improve, Rutgers must have more big plays made from this group.
"We have some good players back at linebacker," Schiano said. "We're going to try to find the best three and go from there. There will be some great competition."

Key among the top six will be Devraun Thompson (5-11, 225), whose 60 stops were third-most on the team last season and are second-most among Rutgers returnees. The junior showed signs he could be the type of playmaking linebacker that can set the tone with his nine-tackle game against West Virginia and his seven-tackle games against Pittsburgh and Navy in the second half of last season. He also posted 6.5 tackles for loss in 2004.

Rutgers' other two projected starters -- seniors Terry Bynes (6-2, 225) and Will Gilkison (6-2, 230) -- were just fifth and tied for 10th, respectively, on the Scarlet Knights' tackle list and that'll need to be improved. Good news for Rutgers that Bynes was voted the team's Most Improved Player last fall, so he's on the right track. He led the conference with four fumble recoveries and put the exclamation point on his season with an eight-tackle performance in the season finale against UConn.

Four times Gilkison, a three-year starter, registered five tackles in a game and Rutgers will need more of those performances in 2005.

By the time the season ended last November, William Beckford (6-1, 222) had won back the starting job he'd held in 2003 before a season-ending injury seven games in. Beckford started the last eight Rutgers games last fall, played in all 11, and -- although he broke spring camp as a reserve on the depth chart -- he'll be an important factor. He recorded 44 tackles and five tackles-for-loss last season, a campaign that also featured three games with six tackles.

Senior Brad Cunningham (6-1, 232) contributed in nine of Rutgers' 11 games and finished with four tackles-for-loss on the year. He and junior Quintero Frierson (6-1, 235) should also get time off the bench. Frierson broke camp last fall as Rutgers' starting middle linebacker, but an injury in the season-opener kept him out of four games. His six-tackle performances against Temple and Navy proved he was healthy again and he'll try to return to the starting lineup by the time the ball is snapped for the first time in 2005.

Schiano saw promise in what he witnessed this spring.

"The linebackers, I felt, showed a great deal of improvement," the coach said. "I thought they were in better physical shape and I think they seemed to grasp what we're doing better."



DEFENSIVE BACKS
The 2004 season was a growing up period for the Rutgers secondary, with two sophomores and a true freshman in the starting lineup. Plus veterans Manny Collins (5-10, 180) and Dondre Asberry (5-11, 185) had their seasons cut short by injury after a car accident.
Starting cornerbacks Joe Porter (6-0, 198) and Derrick Roberson (5-10, 175) are now juniors with plenty of experience and Ron Girault (5-11, 195) is on the verge of making a major imprint on the conference from the safety position after an impressive freshman campaign.

Replacing three-year starter and last season's returning tackler, Jarvis Johnson, will be the biggest test for Rutgers. As spring camp broke, senior Joe Nugent (6-1, 209) had been tabbed to fill the void. He played in all 11 games last season, started five times at free safety and showed his talents with nine tackles (eight solo) and an interception against Syracuse.

"The secondary is young, but not as young as last year," Schiano said. "The secondary now has some seasoning to it, the cornerbacks especially. Ron Girault is only a second-year player, but this is a guy who really gets the game of football. He's a natural.

"We need Jason Nugent to rise up and be a big-time safety. He's got the skills; he needs to play, as a senior, the best football he's played since he's been here at Rutgers. If he does that, we're going to have a real good secondary."

Girault impressed Schiano enough to grab a starting spot midway through last season and he finished with the most tackles (61) by any Big East freshman in 2004. Twice he registered 13 tackles in a game and he averaged 9.2 tackles per game over the last six games. There's no reason to believe he won't improve on those digits this season.

Second in the Big East with five interceptions last season, Porter blossomed as a sophomore after a true freshman season spent mostly as a special-teams player in 2003. He finished with 55 tackles, third on the team.

Also forced into action as a freshman two years ago, Roberson started the last eight games at cornerback for the Scarlet Knights in 2004 and put nine tackles on the books against Kent State, then registered seven tackles against Syracuse in his first career start.

There are no more excuses should the cornerback duo fail to live up to Schiano's heightened expectations.

Waiting in the wings at the corner spots will be sophomore Anthony Miller (6-0, 170) and senior Cory Barnes (5-8, 170).

Seven games into last season, Bryan Durango (5-10, 192) suffered déjà vu. A knee injury ended his 2003 season after five games and he suffered the same fate in 2004. If he can stay healthy, he can push Nugent for some playing time this fall.

Freshman Robert Baham (6-0, 185) and sophomore Brandon Renkart (6-3, 225) left spring camp as the top reserves at the safeties.

"In the secondary, we improved quite a bit," Schiano said. "We're playing with a little more confidence and making more plays. I think it was a step in the right direction for this secondary."

Freshmen Jason McCourty (5-11, 170) and Davon Smart (5-10, 185) might also turn some heads at defensive back when they get to New Brunswick.

Collins might be back from injury, but Asberry is not as likely to get back into the fold.



PUNTERS
This will be Joe Radigan's third year as the Scarlet Knights' punter, after he finished in the middle of the pack with an average of 38.4 yards per punt last season.
The one-time No. 2 punter prospect in the East, as projected by Prep Star, Radigan (6-5, 220) dropped 10 punts inside the 20-yard line in 2004 -- down from the 12 he recorded in 2003. His continued improvement will give the Scarlet Knights a boost, and fend off challenges from Ito and Cortese, both of whom have punting experience and could steal the job with a tremendous training camp showing.



SPECIAL TEAMS
Moses was one of the Scarlet Knights' top kick returners in 2004 and their top punt returner. He broke spring camp spring camp as the starting punt returner, but could be challenged at both positions as Schiano continues to bring in athletes with breakaway ability.
Moses averaged 20.6 yards per return in the kickoff department, while Foster was the team leader in the department with 21.1 yards per return. On punts, Foster averaged 12.4 yards and Moses averaged 7.7 yards.

"We have the same guys coming back, with Tres and Willie, and I think we have some real deep threats in returning kickoffs," Schiano said. "I'm comfortable, and there should be real good competition there."

Incoming freshman Raymell Rice handled both duties for New Rochelle (N.Y.) High School and might be another candidate. He was rated the 19th-best all-purpose back in the country by Rivals.com.



For the most comprehensive previews available on all 119 Division I teams, order the "Bible" of college football, the 2005 Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, at www.blueribbonyearbook.com or call 1-866-805-BALL (2255).

[General Mike]

Thank you

[Swaggs]

I thought Schiano was alumni?

[Z²+]

If you have time to post the Pitt preview, I would be much obliged.

[Philliesfan980]

As Requested...

Updated: July 20, 2005, 1:33 PM ET
Team preview: PittsburghBlue Ribbon Yearbook


Editor's Note: ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 119 Division I-A teams. To order the complete 2005 edition of Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbook.com or call 1-866-805-BALL (2255).


(All information as of July 1, 2005)

Pittsburgh Panthers
LOCATION Pittsburgh, Pa.
CONFERENCE Big East
LAST SEASON 8-4 (.667)
CONFERENCE RECORD 4-2 (t-1st)
OFF. STARTERS RETURNING 9
DEF. STARTERS RETURNING 7
NICKNAME Panthers
COLORS Blue & Gold
HOME FIELD Heinz Field (65,000)
COACH Dave Wannstedt (Pittsburgh '74)
RECORD AT SCHOOL First year
CAREER RECORD First year
ASSISTANTS • Bob Junko (Tulsa '69),
Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Tackles
• Matt Cavanaugh (Pittsburgh '79)
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
• Paul Rhoads (Missouri Western '89),
Defensive Coordinator/Secondary
• Curtis Bray (Pittsburgh '92),
Linebackers
• Paul Dunn (Pittsburgh '83),
Offensive line
• Greg Gattuso (Penn State '83),
Tight ends/Recruiting Coordinator
• Aubrey Hill (Florida '96),
Receivers
• Charlie Partridge (Drake '95),
Defensive ends/Special teams
• David Walker (Syracuse '93),
Running Backs
TEAM WINS (last five yrs.) 7-7-9-8-8
FINAL RANK (last five yrs.) 58-39-24-34-22
2004 FINISH Lost to Utah in Fiesta Bowl.
2005 Schedule | 2004 Results | 2004 Statistics



COACH AND PROGRAM
Under fire from the media and fans almost from the time he took over the Miami Dolphins' reins from legendary head coach Jimmy Johnson, Dave Wannstedt will undoubtedly get a little more room to breathe as he starts his tenure as head coach at Pittsburgh.
Inside the Big East
Take an Inside look at the Big East with Blue Ribbon's 2005 team reports:
Cincinnati Bearcats
Connecticut Huskies
Louisville Cardinals
Pittsburgh Panthers
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
South Florida Bulls
Syracuse Orange
West Virginia Mountaineers
After all, Wannstedt has returned home to the area where he grew up, starred in high school (as an all-state football performer at nearby Baldwin High) and then started for three years on the offensive line of the team he'll now coach.

Although he's not replacing a coach with national titles and Super Bowl crowns on his resume, Wannstedt still has a tough act to follow as he returns to the college ranks for the first time since he was the defensive coordinator at Miami (1986-88). Under previous head coach Walt Harris (now at Stanford), Pitt earned bowl berths the last five years and in six of the last eight seasons -- the program's best postseason stretch since it went to nine straight bowls from 1975-83.

Once Harris went west, however, bringing Wannstedt in was a no-brainer for the Pitt administration. It's not every day that a collegiate program gets the opportunity to hire a head coach with a 30-year coaching resume that includes 10 bowl appearances, six NFL playoff berths, two college national championships (1976 with Pitt and 1987 with Miami) and one Super Bowl title (with Dallas in 1992). His 11-year NFL coaching career included six campaigns with the Chicago Bears and five with the Dolphins, a stint during which Miami compiled a 41-23 mark from 2000-2004 and won the AFC East Division title in 2000.

An impressive resume only gets you so far, and Wannstedt is prepared for the adjustment from South Beach to campus.

"The challenge [of the NFL and college football] will be different," Wannstedt said. "The season's not as long. When you recruit a player here, you are making a commitment to him and to his parents that he's coming here to get an education. He's going to play football, we know that. The type of person I am, I will do everything that I can to follow through with that commitment to make sure that when a young man comes in here, he leaves four years later and he's a better person and he gets his degree and he can make a positive contribution to society."

To aid him in his task, Wannstedt has brought in five new assistants and retained five assistants from Harris' staff. The biggest addition will be Matt Cavanaugh, the former NFL quarterback who spent the last six seasons as offensive coordinator with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens. Cavanaugh, who led the Panthers to the 1976 national title, is expected to help institute a more pro-style offense with more emphasis on a power running game. On the other side of the ball -- Wannstedt's area of expertise -- Paul Rhoads is back as defensive coordinator (a job he's held since 2000) and the assistant and head coach are doing their best to ease the players' transition to the new situation.

"The offense is completely different," Wannstedt said. "From a standpoint of terminology, formations, how we are calling things. Probably a point of emphasis is some areas, what we will be doing, that part will change.

"Defensively there are not as many changes. There are a few. Some of the changes we have made on defense, I really wanted to make the changes but try to keep the terminology and the language as close as possible to what we do as compared to what they are calling it. They had a complete defensive package here and now it is a matter of looking at it and saying, 'OK, we've got all the different things to do, there's three deep, two deep, blitz, man ... OK, now what are we going to be? What are we really going to make our foundation? That's probably where there will be some tweaks.' "

For now all Wannstedt's tweaks and alterations will be given a chance, but how many victories Pitt has by late fall will determine whether he'll be back under Miami-sized scrutiny.



QUARTERBACKS
Part of what put Wannstedt under fire when he took over with the Dolphins was the seemingly impossible task of finding a quarterback to replace Hall of Famer Dan Marino, who was as popular with the Miami faithful as he was accurate with his passing arm. The departure from the NFL of the Pitt legend always hung over the Dolphins, especially Wannstedt. There'll be no such problem this season with Pitt, which returns its starting quarterback and should have him around for two more seasons.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a hotter quarterback from the second half of last season than Tyler Palko (6-2, 220) and the junior hopes the momentum of 2004 carries over into this season. Over his last six games last season, is first season as Pitt's starting signal caller, Palko averaged 303.5 passing yards and threw 17 touchdowns and only two interceptions. Among his best work was a five-touchdown performance against Notre Dame, a 411-yard throwing game against South Florida and three 300-yard passing games.

Considering he attempted only six passes as a freshman in 2002 and then redshirted for the 2003 season, Palko's emergence was a pleasant surprise. He tied for the Big East lead with 24 touchdown passes (third most in Pitt history), and his 3,067 yards passing were the most ever by a sophomore at Pittsburgh.

While Palko's yardage totals might shrink a bit in the new system, his winning percentage should receive the benefits of Pitt's revamped philosophy.

"He had a very good season last year," Wannstedt said. "He did a great job of not turning the ball over and made big plays. ... [Our system requires] a movement quarterback that is not traditionally a drop back and stand back there and just hold onto the football. He makes a lot of plays on his feet. He has a great ability to make plays on the move and we need to make sure we are doing enough things within the system to give him a chance to do that by design."

Palko is eager to get into the new offense and make it work.

"When you have a running game, it makes it a lot easier to throw the football," Palko said after Pitt's spring game. "We moved the pocket around so [the quarterback isn't] just a sitting duck back there, and it keeps the defense off guard."

Like most teams, Pitt needs to avoid injuries to its starting quarterback. There's only a lint-sized amount of experience behind Palko, as sophomore Joe Flacco (6-6, 220) should once again serve as the primary backup. After a red-shirt year, Flacco's freshman season included appearances in just three games and four pass attempts (all against South Florida in the regular-season finale).

As the first player in WPIAL history to reach 3,000 yards passing in a single season, freshman Bill Stull (6-3, 200) should get a look as a backup for the Panthers. He threw for 3,310 yards and 40 touchdowns at Seton-LaSalle (Pa.) High School last fall. Shane Murray (6-1, 185) a freshman out of Pittsburgh Central Catholic and junior walk-on Matt Flaus (6-2, 180) could also be in the mix.



RUNNING BACKS
The importance of the running game in the offense Wannstedt wants Pitt to display this season was best summed up in the following statement he made when he was introduced as the new head coach: "On offense, I believe that you throw the ball to score points and you run the ball to win. So you have to be balanced."
That's great news for a running back corps that is used to being an afterthought in a program known for producing top-notch pass throwers and catchers. Last season, the Panthers ranked next-to-last in the Big East at just 97.8 rushing yards per game. Expect that to change.

Senior Raymond Kirkley (5-10, 225) should benefit most from the new emphasis on running. Before missing the last two games of last season with a wrist injury, Kirkley racked up a team-high 560 yards and six touchdowns. Kirkley's Pitt career has been a bit inconsistent. As a freshman in 2001, he earned a starting job and led the Panthers with 645 rushing yards. In 2002, he lost his spot to Brandon Miree and then was inactive for the 2003 season. He returned to form in 2004, started in nine of his 10 appearances, and now heads into the fall in a dogfight to regain a starting role.

Pressuring Kirlkley -- and possibly taking over the starting spot by the time opening day rolls around -- will be freshman Rashad Jennings (6-1, 235) who enrolled at Pitt in January. A two-time first team All-Virginia (Division 2) performer -- and the brother of ex-NFLers Butch and Bryan -- Jennings announced his arrival during Pitt's Blue-Gold spring game with a 119-yard showing on 19 carries.

"They are all competitive right now but, without question, Rashad has proven he can be a power back and get the ball moving forward," Cavanaugh said about Jennings after the spring game.

If Wannstedt is looking for versatility out of the backfield, he doesn't need to look any farther than Tim Murphy (5-10, 235). The senior's strongest position is certainly fullback, but the hybrid has shown the necessary speed and strength to double as a tailback. And he has started one game each of the last two seasons at tailback. Despite some early-season injuries in 2004, Murphy rushed for 334 yards on 88 attempts (3.8 average) and also caught 13 balls for 118 yards.

Walk-on Kellen Campbell (6-0, 235) went from seldom-used reserve to counted-on starter because of injuries in 2004 and he should be Murphy's primary backup in 2005. After setting school records for single-season rushing yards and touchdowns at Phillipsburg (N.J.) High School, sophomore Brandon Moss (6-1, 205) saw spot duty as a Pitt freshman. He could find himself in the mix more this fall.

An elusive back, senior Marcus Furman (5-9, 185) could be a key reserve as the season unwinds. He started in one of the 11 games he appeared in last year and averaged 3.1 yards per carry. Furman was also the Panthers' primary kick returner.

Look for Wannstedt to pick one featured back by the time Pitt takes on Notre Dame and for some of the players to move to other positions, including on the defensive side of the ball.



WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
As the only school able to claim two winners of the Biletnikoff Award (nation's top wide receiver), Pitt always has high expectations for its wideouts. The man expected to garner the most attention from opposing secondaries, wow friendly and enemy crowds and make all Palko's passes successful in 2005 will be Greg Lee (6-2, 200).
Lee is used to the attention. As a sophomore in 2004, he led the Big East and ranked sixth nationally with 108.1 receiving yards per game, en route to a 1,297-yard season with 68 catches and 10 touchdowns. All of his best attributes were on display in Pitt's win over Syracuse when he set career highs with nine catches and 188 receiving yards -- adding a 57-yard touchdown catch for good measure.

The fifth player in Pitt history to reach 1,000 receiving yards, Lee added 20 pounds to his frame between his freshman and sophomore season -- paving the way for his emergence as an All-Big East (second team) player who will garner considerable consideration for the Biletnikoff this fall.

While Lee was tearing it up at split end, junior Joe DelSardo (5-8, 200) proved he could be a valuable possession receiver from the flanker position. The former walk-on, who earned a scholarship before his sophomore season, caught 49 passes for 573 yards and four touchdowns in 2004. He hopes his performance in the Panthers' loss to Utah at the Fiesta Bowl -- career highs 109 yards and nine receptions -- is a sign of bigger and better things in 2005.

Unfortunately for Pitt, most of the Panthers' game experience ends with Lee and DelSardo. At split end, sophomore Derek Kinder (6-1, 200) seems to have emerged as Lee's main backup. The three-sport star in high school has plenty of raw athletic ability, but he caught only one pass for 3 yards in 2004. Terrell Allen (6-0, 190) caught four passes as a freshman and then red-shirted last year, and sophomore Kelvin Chandler (6-2, 170) was a four-catch man last fall. Both will try and crack the split end corps.

At flanker, freshman Marcel Pestano (6-1, 180) seems to be the most viable option behind DelSardo. Pestano redshirted last season, as did two players in the mix at split end -- Andre Broussard (6-2, 185) and junior-college transfer Jason Gaffney (6-3, 185).

Sophomore punt returner Allen Richardson (5-11, 185) and junior Larry Moore (5-9, 180) also hope to see time at flanker. Freshmen Cedric McGee (6-1, 190) and Oderick Turner (6-2, 180) -- a high jump champion in high school -- might be able to take advantage of an opportunity when they land on campus.

What they lack in experience at the wideout spots, the Panthers make up for at tight end. Both the Panthers' top two tight ends are back in 2005. Last season, Erik Gill (6-5, 270) proved a valuable pass-catcher with 25 receptions for 433 yards and four touchdowns. An iron man who has played in all 38 games since he arrived at Pitt, the senior caught a scoring pass in four of the last five regular-season games and should again be a top target for Palko in the red zone. This could be his breakout season.

Junior Steve Buches (6-4, 250) scored touchdowns on four of his seven receptions last season and the 45 pounds he put on since his freshman year helped him become a legitimate college blocker even at his still smaller size. He'll be back in a reserve role, while sophomore Darrell Strong (6-5, 245), making the move from receiver to tight end, and red-shirt freshman Rob Agnone (6-5, 225) add depth for the Panthers.



OFFENSIVE LINE
All the talk about getting the running game in gear and allowing Palko to make plays with his legs, as well as his arm, won't turn into actual production on the gridiron if the offensive line doesn't get the job done.
Luckily for Pitt, three offensive linemen -- including All-Big East (second team) honoree Charles Spencer (6-5, 330) -- return from '04. On the post-spring two-deep roster, Spencer's the only senior lineman. But he is a heck of a returnee. Last year he flawlessly made the move from defensive tackle (where he lettered for two seasons) to guard and now he'll try and fill the mammoth hole vacated by three-time All-Big East honoree Rob Petitti at left tackle.

Spencer's shift opens the door for Dominic Williams (6-4, 300) to take over the left guard spot as a red-shirt freshman. Sophomore Mike DeLuca (6-3, 290) seems to have a hold on the backup spot behind Williams, while gargantuan redshirt freshman Jerald Robinson (6-8, 315) could spell Spencer.

Sophomore Mike McGlynn (6-5, 315) took over as the starting right tackle and was in the opening lineup for Pitt's last eight games in 2004 (he was also the team's long snapper on field goals and extra points). With two years of full-time starting experience, junior John Simonitis (6-4, 315) will also benefit the Panthers. Backing up the highly experienced right side should be sophomore Neal Tracey (6-3, 295) at tackle and red-shirt freshman Joe Weber (6-3, 345) at guard.

Junior walk-on Joe Villani (6-3, 300) was a special teams contributor last year, but he seemed to earn the starting nod at center at the conclusion of spring practice. He should be backed up by sophomore Chris Vangas (6-2, 300), who played in six games in 2004. Williams could also help out with snapping duties.

Junior Eric Fritz (6-3, 305) and red-shirt freshman Chase Clower (6-6, 340) give Pitt added depth.



KICKERS
The circumstances didn't exactly unfold the way Josh Cummings (5-11, 180) envisioned taking over as the starting place-kicker at the collegiate level. However, he made the most of his opportunity.
When two-year starter David Abdul (5-10, 190) was injured in an automobile accident and was unable to play in 2004, Cummings stepped in and he tied a 28-year-old Pitt single-season record with 18 field goals. And his 89 points were the second highest ever for a Panthers kicker. A senior, Cummings earned first-team All-Big East recognition during a season that featured three game-winning field goals in overtime (including one that earned Pitt its first win over Notre Dame since 1986). He should garner consideration for the Lou Groza Award in 2005.

Abdul, who was 22-for-38 on field goals as a freshman and sophomore, returns to action this season as Cummings' backup.



DEFENSIVE LINE
Three-year starters and All-Big East performers as seniors, Vince Crochunis and Dan Stephens are going to be tough to replace at the tackle positions. For starters, however, it seems Wannstedt and Rhoads will lean on the replacements with experience and then see where everyone else fits in.
A two-year starter at end, Thomas Smith (6-4, 285) seems certain to make the move to tackle for his senior season. His size obviously won't be a problem and his ability to make plays (three sacks and a fumble return in 2004) should help the Panthers maintain a rush defense that ranked third in the Big East last season.

Phil Tillman (6-1, 315) was the Panthers' primary reserve at tackle and he should be ready to start now that he's a senior. A pair of freshman -- Craig Bokor (6-3, 290) and Corey Davis (6-1, 300) -- will push Tillman for playing time. Bokor enrolled at Pitt in January after establishing himself as one of the top prep school recruits in the nation and Davis red-shirted last year after emerging as a men among boys from the linebacker position at Peabody (Pa.) High School.

Behind Smith, Nick Williams (6-2, 265) will make the switch from end to tackle. As a red-shirt last season, the freshman impressed a lot of people playing on the scout squad after starring at linebacker for Plantation (Fla.) High.

Senior walk-on Ron Idoko (6-2, 265) saw action in 11 games last year and might steal some time at the tackle position, as may redshirt freshman Damien Matuschek (6-4, 270).

Smith's move to guard didn't leave Pitt as desperate at end as you might think. The Panthers still return four lettermen at that position. On one side, Wannstedt has the choice of two players. Sophomore Joe Clermond (6-2, 245) shifted from linebacker to end and appeared in all 12 games with one start. Junior Vernon Botts (6-4, 26), who made the switch from tight end to defense last year, will push Clermond for the starting job after appearing in 12 games on the kickoff return unit in 2004.

The other end position will also continue to be a two-man battle -- this one between sophomore Chris McKillop (6-2, 240) and junior Charles Sallet (6-0, 225). McKillop's a jack of all trades who played on special teams, saw action at linebacker and even played one game at fullback in 2004. Sallet has experience on his side -- he started nine games last year, in place of the injured Azzie Beagnya, and recorded three sacks.



LINEBACKERS
Wannstedt is used to his team getting outstanding linebacker play, as he just finished coaching a team that was led by Zach Thomas year in and year out. In talking about Pitt's corps of linebackers -- and in particular the move of junior H.B. Blades (6-0, 245) to middle linebacker -- Wannstedt hasn't shied away from bringing up the Dolphins Pro Bowler's name.
"By putting him in the middle, it gives us an opportunity to maximize his production," Wannstedt said about Blades. "There hasn't been a more productive linebacker in the NFL than Zach Thomas and he is not the tallest, he is not the fastest, but nobody works harder and he has great instincts and H.B. is very, very similar with those characteristics."

Blades led the Panthers from the Sam linebacker spot with 108 tackles and 10.5 tackles for a loss and he earned first-team All-Big East status. His skills were best on display during a career-best 13-tackle performance in the overtime win against Boston College and the Panthers will count on him continuing to develop.

Junior Clint Session (5-11, 235) is Pitt's other returning starter at linebacker, but as fall approaches he's expected to be the backup to Blades. Session was second in tackles on the roster with 91 and also recorded 7.5 tackles for a loss and grabbed two interceptions. Session and Blades are among the Panthers' biggest hitters, so the competition should continue when the season starts.

A former reserve in the middle, sophomore Derron Thomas (6-1, 235), will move out to the Sam position. Depending on how Wannstedt settles the logjam in the middle, Thomas might get a chance at both positions. Redshirt freshmen Scott McKillop (6-2, 220) and Tyler Tipton (6-2, 230) go into the season as Thomas' backups.

At Will linebacker, the competition in spring was fierce between senior J.J. Horne (6-3, 235) and junior Brian Bennett (6-0, 235). Bennett saw more time at the Sam position, but when spring practice concluded Wannstedt conceded that both players will share time in 2005.



DEFENSIVE BACKS
While there's a lot of movement at the linebacker and defensive line slots, Pitt's secondary is almost perfectly intact heading into 2005. Three starters return and the fourth position (strong safety) will be filled by one of two players with plenty of experience.
Tyrone Gilliard was a three-year starter at strong safety, and once spring ball was done, sophomore Mike Phillips (5-1, 190) and junior Sam Bryant (6-0, 220) had emerged as candidates to fill Gilliard's cleats. Phillips, as a freshman in 2004, showed his capabilities at cornerback, where he started seven games and appeared in all 12 games. He picked off two passes, forced a fumble and recorded a career-high five tackles against UConn. He forced the fumble to clinch the win over BC in overtime and also made a key punt block in the defeat of the Eagles. Bryant's been the main backup at strong safety for two seasons and has 24 games of experience behind him.

Sophomore Jemeel Brady (6-0, 200) goes into the season as a relief option at strong safety.

At free safety, senior Tez Morris (5-10, 190) is back for his fourth year as a starter. He's appeared in all 38 games played during his Pitt career and earned the starting nod for 35 of them. He registered 85 tackles (third most on the team) last season and finished with a season-best 16 stops in the win over Temple.

Redshirt freshmen Eric Thatcher (5-9, 185) and Steffan Brinson (5-11, 195) can also handle the position and will battle for backup time behind Morris.

There are no worries for Pitt at the corners because both sides are guarded by players with all-star potential. On the right side, Bernard "Josh" Lay (6-2, 195) earned second-team All-Big East status in 2004 after leading the team with 15 passes defended and grabbing three interceptions (tied for second on the squad). No one will forget his 82-yard interception return for a touchdown against Rutgers last fall. He was also instrumental in the victory over Notre Dame with two picks.

On the other side, Darrelle Revis (6-0, 180) made a splash as a freshman. In 12 games, 11 of them starts, Revis tied for the team lead with 12 breakups, was second in total passes defended with 14 and grabbed two interceptions. He was voted a Freshman All-America by The Sporting News and was a second team Freshman All-America pick by Rivals.com.

If Phillips is at safety instead of corner, sophomore Kennard Cox (6-1, 195) and junior Reggie Carter (6-0, 190) will be Pitt's able backups to Revis and Lay. Cox is the more experienced of the two with 12 games played in 2004.



PUNTERS
Last year Adam Graessle (6-4, 220) completed Pitt's sweep of the two first-team All-Big East kicking spots, as he emerged as the conference's top punter. A junior, Graessle led the Big East and was ranked 13th nationally with a 43.3 punting average. Seventeen of his punts were downed inside the opponents' 20-yard line and he also posted the longest Big East punt last year (79 yards against Boston College). Graessle will again serve as Pitt's kickoff specialist.
In reserve, Nick Krut (5-10, 180) will be on call if Graessle is in distress. Krut, a sophomore, averaged 40.2 yards on five punts in backup duty last fall.



SPECIAL TEAMS
Furman is back to return kicks after he racked up 551 yards in 25 attempts in 2004. He returned a kick for a score of 96 yards against Nebraska. Kirkley and Richardson could also be part of Pitt's kick-returning plans, especially if a player like Kirkley isn't getting much time in the backfield.
Richardson was Pitt's leading punt returner with 107 yards on 30 attempts in 2004. But his longest return was for just 17 yards, so Wannstedt's in search of someone with more big-play capability. Revis, who compiled four returns for 41 yards last season, can also help the Panthers by returning punts and he seemed the favorite to handle the role when spring camp concluded.

[General Mike]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

I thought Schiano was alumni?

Nope, just a proud New Jerseyan. He did begin his coaching career at Rutgers tho.

[Logan]

Pretty good preview, despite some factual mistakes (some players like Shawell and Lukabu aren't with the program anymore) and they are missing out on some guys that could potentially have a huge impact (Penn State transfer C Dan Mazan).

Just like pretty much every year, this team looks good on paper. We most likely have the best receiving corps in the Big East and a secondary that might have complete shut-down potential. We have impact players at RB and DE. But once again, the team's success will rely on the defense being able to step up and make plays. Schiano was already on the hot seat for this season, as now "his" players are the main contributors. But he really pulled a "the buck stops here" mentality by assuming the role of the Defensive Coord. If this team doesn't win at least 6 games this season, both he and the team will have failed.