QB Back-Up:
“Right now, if I had to guess, DiNucci and Manny are kind of neck and neck, but maybe Manny has a head over him,” Narduzzi said. “Then, I would say (freshman Thomas) MacVittie is showing some good things, as well.” The fifth quarterback is Central Florida transfer Bo Schneider, who is ineligible this season. “There's competition at that spot,” Narduzzi said. “The heat will be on (Saturday) with the live reps.”
Young Wide Receivers
Freshman wide receivers Maurice Ffrench, Ruben Flowers and Clairton graduate Aaron Mathews are grabbing coaches' attention. Mathews was worthy of special praise from Narduzzi. “He's a big, tall guy who can run,” he said. “He goes up and gets the ball. Maurice Ffrench has been impressive. Ruben Flowers has done some good things. “I'd probably said Mathews (6-foot-4, 195 pounds) has shown the most as far as a deep-ball threat. Just go look at what he looks like. He's a specimen.”
LINK:
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/10957211-74/narduzzi-friday-flowers
Hendrix Progress:
When Sims comes to work in the offseason, there's Hendrix in his office on many days, watching film. Same thing when Sims shows up early in the morning before practice. Hendrix beats him to the video machine. “Dewayne Hendrix has an excellent upside because he has an excellent work ethic,” Sims said. “He's fighting through this heat. He's pushing himself. He hasn't asked out of anything and I'm excited to see where he'll be when we tee it off this season.”
LINK:
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/10935520-74/hendrix-pitt-sims
Linebacker Bradley Switch:
Coach Pat Narduzzi was asked if Bradley might have been nudged by Pitt's coaches. “We gave him a nudge for a year,” Narduzzi said, smiling. “That elbow starts to hurt in the side after you give it to him so many times.” But there was another source of motivation for Bradley. Two of his brothers are professional athletes: Nicholas Grigsby, a former Pitt linebacker, is a rookie with the Los Angeles Rams, and Chris Wright has played basketball in Europe and recently signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder. “Some people go home, and they don't have any family members pushing them,” Bradley said. “I'm just blessed to have it. I'm really proud of those two guys. It makes me hungrier to do what I need to do.”
LINK:
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/10943804-74/bradley-pitt-body
DB Battle WPIAL Starter Update:
“I like having the double depth of having multiple safeties at that position,” said Hill, who is more concerned about getting both players ready than picking a winner at this point.“We know it's going to be a long season. We know we play teams that use a lot of different personnel and go tempos. We're going to need experience and depth. Those guys are both going to be getting plenty of playing time.”
LINK:
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/10935514-74/mitchell-webb-pitt
“Right now, if I had to guess, DiNucci and Manny are kind of neck and neck, but maybe Manny has a head over him,” Narduzzi said. “Then, I would say (freshman Thomas) MacVittie is showing some good things, as well.” The fifth quarterback is Central Florida transfer Bo Schneider, who is ineligible this season. “There's competition at that spot,” Narduzzi said. “The heat will be on (Saturday) with the live reps.”
Young Wide Receivers
Freshman wide receivers Maurice Ffrench, Ruben Flowers and Clairton graduate Aaron Mathews are grabbing coaches' attention. Mathews was worthy of special praise from Narduzzi. “He's a big, tall guy who can run,” he said. “He goes up and gets the ball. Maurice Ffrench has been impressive. Ruben Flowers has done some good things. “I'd probably said Mathews (6-foot-4, 195 pounds) has shown the most as far as a deep-ball threat. Just go look at what he looks like. He's a specimen.”
LINK:
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/10957211-74/narduzzi-friday-flowers
Hendrix Progress:
When Sims comes to work in the offseason, there's Hendrix in his office on many days, watching film. Same thing when Sims shows up early in the morning before practice. Hendrix beats him to the video machine. “Dewayne Hendrix has an excellent upside because he has an excellent work ethic,” Sims said. “He's fighting through this heat. He's pushing himself. He hasn't asked out of anything and I'm excited to see where he'll be when we tee it off this season.”
LINK:
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/10935520-74/hendrix-pitt-sims
Linebacker Bradley Switch:
Coach Pat Narduzzi was asked if Bradley might have been nudged by Pitt's coaches. “We gave him a nudge for a year,” Narduzzi said, smiling. “That elbow starts to hurt in the side after you give it to him so many times.” But there was another source of motivation for Bradley. Two of his brothers are professional athletes: Nicholas Grigsby, a former Pitt linebacker, is a rookie with the Los Angeles Rams, and Chris Wright has played basketball in Europe and recently signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder. “Some people go home, and they don't have any family members pushing them,” Bradley said. “I'm just blessed to have it. I'm really proud of those two guys. It makes me hungrier to do what I need to do.”
LINK:
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/10943804-74/bradley-pitt-body
DB Battle WPIAL Starter Update:
“I like having the double depth of having multiple safeties at that position,” said Hill, who is more concerned about getting both players ready than picking a winner at this point.“We know it's going to be a long season. We know we play teams that use a lot of different personnel and go tempos. We're going to need experience and depth. Those guys are both going to be getting plenty of playing time.”
LINK:
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/10935514-74/mitchell-webb-pitt
