Pitt wide receivers coach Kevin Sherman often marvels at the athleticism of his star pupil. Tyler Boyd's smooth stride is accompanied by elite speed. His hands are big enough to catch a football in traffic and away from his body. At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, he's tough enough to take a pounding from the defense.
But Sherman knows this: Boyd isn't Superman. “We are going to have to give him a blow,” Sherman said. “We can't play him all 60-whatever plays.” That raises the ever-present question surrounding the Pitt receiving corps: Who will step up and become a threat when Boyd can't escape the inevitable double teams?
Three names always emerge when a Pitt coach or player is asked about complementary receivers: junior Dontez Ford, redshirt freshman Elijah Zeise and sophomore Zach Challingsworth. Zeise, in fact, was the first name that came to Boyd's mind when he was asked the question. “He's come a long way since his freshman year,” Boyd said. Boyd also mentioned Ford, the other starting receiver. Plus, Boyd always has been a Challingsworth fan, raving about the South Fayette graduate as far back as bowl practice after the 2013 regular season.
Sherman, of course, won't reveal his favorite — if he even has one — merely pleading for consistency from all his players. “We're going to need all of them,” he said. “It all starts this week at Iowa in a hostile environment.” Kinnick Stadium rocking with the noise from 80,000 people won't make the task any easier. This season, against lightweights Youngstown State and Akron, no wide receiver recorded a catch in both games.
Boyd leads the team with 11 receptions — 65 percent of the wide receivers' total (17) — even though he was suspended for the opener. Tight end J.P. Holtz and backup running back Darrin Hall are second with three each. The next wide receivers on the list are Zeise and freshman Quadree Henderson (two each).
Sherman mentioned another freshman, Apollo-Ridge's Tre Tipton, as a player who might have earned more playing time. “He's getting better each week.” Sherman said. “He's starting to see different things.” While the search continues for depth at wide receiver, the loss of injured running back James Conner could force Pitt to rely on Boyd more than ever. “I trust all the rest of the guys, but losing James was a huge loss for us,” said Boyd, pointing out he thinks Qadree Ollison and Hall are capable replacements. “I guess a lot of teams now are going to just look at me,” he said.
Boyd appears capable of handling the increased responsibility. After all, Sherman said he was impressed with how Boyd approached an even tougher assignment: sitting out the first game. “He was disappointed, but he understood what was ahead of him, and he accepted it,” he said. “He was there for his teammates and talked to them about stepping up and making plays and being consistent.
“And that's what we're looking for.” Sherman said Boyd was “a little rusty” early against Akron. “But once he got into a rhythm, he started getting into his comfort zone. He's going to get better each week,” Sherman said.
Notes: Coach Pat Narduzzi said after practice Thursday he has not chosen a starting quarterback between Nate Peterman and Chad Voytik. “It will be a game-time decision,” he said. “We might know before then, but you guys (reporters) won't know.” … He said the quarterback who doesn't start will play, perhaps as early as the third series. After that, “the hot guy will play.” ... Although Narduzzi thinks it's best for Conner to sit out the entire season while recovering from knee surgery, he said he wouldn't stand in his way if he wants to return in 2015. “That's a family decision,” he said. “I hope the family will take into consideration what I feel is best for him. If the doctors and the trainers say 100 percent, and mom and dad and everyone want to go, I wouldn't be opposed. I'm not going to shut down a kid's dream.” ... Narduzzi awarded a scholarship to long snapper Pat Quirin, who has been a walk-on for three-plus seasons since graduating from Central Catholic.
Jerry DiPaola is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib. Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/9097102-74/boyd-sherman-wide#ixzz3m4CiUBfK
But Sherman knows this: Boyd isn't Superman. “We are going to have to give him a blow,” Sherman said. “We can't play him all 60-whatever plays.” That raises the ever-present question surrounding the Pitt receiving corps: Who will step up and become a threat when Boyd can't escape the inevitable double teams?
Three names always emerge when a Pitt coach or player is asked about complementary receivers: junior Dontez Ford, redshirt freshman Elijah Zeise and sophomore Zach Challingsworth. Zeise, in fact, was the first name that came to Boyd's mind when he was asked the question. “He's come a long way since his freshman year,” Boyd said. Boyd also mentioned Ford, the other starting receiver. Plus, Boyd always has been a Challingsworth fan, raving about the South Fayette graduate as far back as bowl practice after the 2013 regular season.
Sherman, of course, won't reveal his favorite — if he even has one — merely pleading for consistency from all his players. “We're going to need all of them,” he said. “It all starts this week at Iowa in a hostile environment.” Kinnick Stadium rocking with the noise from 80,000 people won't make the task any easier. This season, against lightweights Youngstown State and Akron, no wide receiver recorded a catch in both games.
Boyd leads the team with 11 receptions — 65 percent of the wide receivers' total (17) — even though he was suspended for the opener. Tight end J.P. Holtz and backup running back Darrin Hall are second with three each. The next wide receivers on the list are Zeise and freshman Quadree Henderson (two each).
Sherman mentioned another freshman, Apollo-Ridge's Tre Tipton, as a player who might have earned more playing time. “He's getting better each week.” Sherman said. “He's starting to see different things.” While the search continues for depth at wide receiver, the loss of injured running back James Conner could force Pitt to rely on Boyd more than ever. “I trust all the rest of the guys, but losing James was a huge loss for us,” said Boyd, pointing out he thinks Qadree Ollison and Hall are capable replacements. “I guess a lot of teams now are going to just look at me,” he said.
Boyd appears capable of handling the increased responsibility. After all, Sherman said he was impressed with how Boyd approached an even tougher assignment: sitting out the first game. “He was disappointed, but he understood what was ahead of him, and he accepted it,” he said. “He was there for his teammates and talked to them about stepping up and making plays and being consistent.
“And that's what we're looking for.” Sherman said Boyd was “a little rusty” early against Akron. “But once he got into a rhythm, he started getting into his comfort zone. He's going to get better each week,” Sherman said.
Notes: Coach Pat Narduzzi said after practice Thursday he has not chosen a starting quarterback between Nate Peterman and Chad Voytik. “It will be a game-time decision,” he said. “We might know before then, but you guys (reporters) won't know.” … He said the quarterback who doesn't start will play, perhaps as early as the third series. After that, “the hot guy will play.” ... Although Narduzzi thinks it's best for Conner to sit out the entire season while recovering from knee surgery, he said he wouldn't stand in his way if he wants to return in 2015. “That's a family decision,” he said. “I hope the family will take into consideration what I feel is best for him. If the doctors and the trainers say 100 percent, and mom and dad and everyone want to go, I wouldn't be opposed. I'm not going to shut down a kid's dream.” ... Narduzzi awarded a scholarship to long snapper Pat Quirin, who has been a walk-on for three-plus seasons since graduating from Central Catholic.
Jerry DiPaola is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib. Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/9097102-74/boyd-sherman-wide#ixzz3m4CiUBfK
