ESPN College Football

2011 overall record: 6-7

2011 conference record: 4-3 (T-4)

Returning starters

Offense 8; Defense 4; Kicker/punter: 2.

Key returners

RB Ray Graham, QB Tino Sunseri, OG Chris Jacobson, RB Isaac Bennett, WR Devin Street, DT Aaron Donald, S Jarred Holley, CB K'Waun Williams

Key losses

DE Brandon Lindsey, DT Chas Alecxih, DT Myles Caragein, LB Max Gruder, CB Antwuan Reed

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Ray Graham* (958 yards)

Passing: Tino Sunseri* (247-of-385 for 2,616 yards, 10 TDs, 11 INTs)

Receiving: Devin Street* (754 yards)

Tackles: Max Gruder (116)

Sacks: Aaron Donald* (11)

Interceptions: Eight tied with one each

Spring answers

1. Depth at safety. Pitt has some major talent at safety, with four players capable of starting in Jarred Holley, Andrew Taglianetti, Jason Hendricks and transfer Ray Vinopal, one of the highlights for the Panthers this season. Coaches are going to have a hard time determining the starters from the backups once the season begins.

2. Michigan transfers rise. Speaking of Vinopal, he and Cullen Christian came to Pitt from Michigan and were forced to sit out a year. Though the scheme has changed, both players had terrific springs. Vinopal was making plays all over the field, exactly what you want your safety to do. Christian is making a serious play to win the starting cornerback job opposite K'Waun Williams.

3. Chryst comfortable. Pitt has had more coaching transitions in the last two years than any other school in America. So naturally, many wondered how coach Paul Chryst would do in his first spring. I haven't heard any complaints about him or what he is trying to do at Pitt. His persona has been embraced, and so has his offensive scheme.

Fall questions

1. Is Ray Graham 100 percent? All indications are that Graham is on schedule in his rehab from a torn ACL. But he missed all of spring, and just how much he will do in the fall remains up in the air. Remember, he will be less than a year removed from knee surgery when the season opens in September. So his recovery will be one of the biggest story lines to watch this season for the Panthers.

2. Can Tino Sunseri be better? If everything holds as expected, Sunseri will be going into his third season as a starter. Of course, he will be going into his third different offense as well, hard enough for most players to adjust to, let alone the quarterback. Coach Paul Chryst did a great job tailoring the offense to the players he had while at Wisconsin. It will be paramount to do the same with Sunseri, to get him comfortable in the offense and limiting his mistakes.

3. Revamped defensive front. Pitt lost three of its top four linemen from a year ago, and will feature a radically reshaped defensive front. Sack leader Aaron Donald is the only one who returns. The others who will be counted on to step up, from Shayne Hale to Bryan Murphy to T.J. Clemmings, were all highly touted players who must now meet expectations to maintain Pitt's status as a solid defensive team.

Pitt had one of the best defensive lines in the Big East last season, a group that had two players make second team All-Big East, and three players rank in the top eight in the league in sacks.

But the Panthers head into 2012 without three of their starters on the line -- Chas Alecxih, Brandon Lindsey and Myles Caragein -- making them one of the more inexperienced groups in the league. That might be cause for panic at some programs, but Pitt has a tradition of cranking out some pretty stellar defensive linemen.

In fact, Pitt has had at least one lineman make the Big East first or second team every year since 2005. Aaron Donald, who finished second in the league with 11 sacks last season, returns to anchor the group. Beyond him, there are some question marks when it comes to experience, first and foremost.

At the end of spring practice, Bryan Murphy and T.J. Clemmings were running with the first team at defensive end, with Shayne Hale making a late push. Donald has moved inside to tackle, where he will be joined by K.K. Mosley-Smith or Tyrone Ezell, who was out for the last several practices because of an injury.

Murphy missed all of last season because he was academically ineligible, but came into spring with a renewed spirit and determination. Mosley-Smith played in every game as one of the top reserves on the line. But Clemmings, Ezell and Hale have not been very productive throughout their careers.

The cases of Clemmings and Hale in particular have been quite confounding, considering they were among the highest-rated prospects the Panthers signed over the past few years. Last season, Clemmings took a redshirt because he simple was not ready to play. Coaches have tried to get him to find a "mean streak" this spring in hopes that he'll realize his potential.

Hale initially came to Pitt as a middle linebacker but has struggled in his move to end, doing little in his three seasons with the Panthers. But this spring, he was selected as the most improved player on defense, and might finally be ready to make his presence felt.

Depth still has to be developed at tackle and end, and defensive coordinator Dave Huxtable didn't rule out using true freshmen this season. Perhaps a bigger concern is getting as much sack production out of this group. Pitt ranked No. 2 in the Big East with 43 sacks last season. Seventeen of those sacks are gone with Alecxih, Lindsey and Caragein.

"He's a tremendous football player," Huxtable said of Donald this spring. "One of the best that I've been around. He's had a great spring. We're big, we're a bunch of run stoppers up there I think. We're going to have to work really hard in the pass rush game to get some heat on the quarterback with that group, and to do some things in the defensive scheme to help out with some of the pass rush. But overall, that group is going to do a good job for us."

Here is a quick recap of the four spring scrimmages around the Big East this past weekend:

Cincinnati. Inclement weather forced Cincinnati to cancel the Bearcat Bowl, as the Bearcats shifted to their indoor bubble for a brief practice. A couple hundred fans crowded into the bubble and onto the sidelines for a glimpse of what their team will look like in 2012. They saw quite the physical practice Saturday.

"We have to be a physical football team," coach Butch Jones said. "I said our margin of error is going to be extremely slim this year so we have to have a team that buys into the team concept, plays great team offense, team defense and team special teams. Our defense, we have to swarm to the football, we need all 11 hats getting to the football. It's an ongoing process but I liked the collisions I saw out here."

Louisville. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater capped off a terrific spring with a nearly flawless performance in the Red-White game, going 19-of-21 for 257 yards and three touchdowns as the first team beat the second team on a rainy Saturday. Bridgewater has been on point throughout the spring, completing about 70 percent of his passes, further establishing the Cardinals as one of the favorites to win the Big East in 2012.

"He's had a really good spring," offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said. "He's been very accurate really all spring. I know he's been lights out. He's really played very well. I challenged him with the things he needed to get better with and use all the tools he has available to him. As a young player, he didn't quite get it. Now he's getting it. You're seeing a lot more completions now. He's worked hard. He's doing a lot of good things with his eyes and playing well."

Pitt. Isaac Bennett put an exclamation point on his terrific spring, running for 121 yards on 23 carries in the Blue-Gold game on Saturday. Pitt did not use a scoring format, relying instead on scripted situations. Bennett had a 51-yard run during the scrimmage, his fourth 50-plus yard run of the spring.

"Isaac worked this spring,” coach Paul Chryst said. “He is young and I think he had a chance to learn and to grow. The last scrimmages we’ve had, he’s gone pretty hard. He’s had some mistakes in pass blocking that he needs to clean up, but that is not atypical of a running back. I thought he did some good things.”

Tino Sunseri went 13-of-27 for 147 yards with a touchdown and one interception, while Mark Myers was 10-of-16 for 167 yards and it seemed apparent to observers that the passing game needs work. In one more bit of news, Chryst announced before the scrimmage center Ryan Turnley and defensive end Shayne Hale won the Ed Conway Award, given annually to the most improved players of the spring.

Temple. The Owls may have answered some questions about depth in their backfield during the spring. In the Cherry-White game Saturday, Kenny Harper ran for a game-high 48 yards and two touchdowns -- one for each side. Jalen Fitzpatrick had 40 yards on five carries, while Matt Brown had 39 yards on seven rushes for the Owls.

The running game was more effective than the passing game, which struggled at times. Chris Coyer was 6-of-15 for 116 yards and a 43-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Alderman. Receivers were plagued with several drops.

In another note, Temple announced its spring award winners -- Brown earned the Mark Bresani Award for spirit and enthusiasm; tight end Wanemi Omuso was most improved non-scholarship player; linebacker Ahkeem Smith was the most improved defensive player; Fitzpatrick was most improved offensive player; and linebacker Olaniyi Adewole was most improved special teams player.

Pitt opened spring practice Thursday morning. Here is a little primer on what to expect.

Spring changes: Another spring means more change for the Panthers, who have gone through more than their share of upheaval over the past 15 months. New coach Paul Chryst has brought in an entirely new staff and new scheme, going back to more of a pro-style set on offense and the 4-3 on defense. Eight starters return to an offense that should benefit from a return to a more traditional system. But only four starters return on defense, with some major holes to fill in the front seven.

In addition, 11 players have changed positions.

Position battles to watch

Quarterback. Though incumbent Tino Sunseri goes into the spring as the favorite to win the starting job, Chryst has said the competition is open. Five players are going to be getting reps this spring -- Sunseri, Mark Myers and Trey Anderson, along with Anthony Gonzalez and E.J. Banks. Gonzalez began his Pitt career at quarterback before moving to H-back; Banks has played cornerback. The big player missing is incoming freshman Chad Voytik, one of the stars of the 2012 recruiting class. He arrives this summer.

Defensive end. With the news that Aaron Donald has moved inside full-time in the 4-3, the Panthers are in search of some quality defensive ends as they transition back to starting four down linemen. Brandon Lindsey, who played end/linebacker, is gone so there are some gaps to fill. Shayne Hale is the only upperclassman at the position this spring. Sophomores T.J. Clemmings and Bryan Murphy are coming off redshirt seasons, LaQuentin Smith moves to end after playing linebacker last season, and Devin Cook enters the mix after redshirting last season.

Linebacker. Leading tackler Max Gruder is gone, along with Greg Williams and Tristan Roberts. Todd Thomas, expected to return on the strong side, is out for the spring with a knee injury. Players to watch this spring include Ejuan Price, Manny Williams, Carl Fleming, Shane Gordon and Eric Williams. But perhaps the biggest story could be Dan Mason, who is healthy and vying for playing time at middle linebacker after sitting out a year and a half with a serious knee injury sustained in 2010.

Offensive tackle. Lucas Nix, Greg Gaskins and Jordan Gibbs are all gone, leaving both tackle positions up for grabs. Juantez Hollins and Matt Rotheram saw some playing time last season, but neither one was very effective. They go into the spring with competition from Justin Virbitsky, who moves over from tight end, along with Penn State transfer Tom Ricketts and 2011 junior college transfer Zenel Demhasaj.

Injury report: Running back Ray Graham (knee) and Thomas (knee) are out for the spring. Receiver Mike Shanahan (back), guard Chris Jacobson (knee) and safety Jarred Holley (knee) will be limited.

Our friends at ESPN Recruiting Nation took a look back at the ESPNU 150 recruits in the class of 2008 to see how they fared. The Big East had four players on that list, all at Pitt.

No. 25 Jonathan Baldwin, WR. Baldwin was a top performer at Pitt,with 127 catches for 2,304 yards and 16 touchdowns over three seasons. He declared for the NFL draft after his junior season and was selected 26th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2011.

No. 102 Shayne Hale, ILB. Hale redshirted his first year and then was moved to defensive end. He has appeared in just three games over the past two seasons.

No. 110 Chris Burns, RB. Burns transferred to Massachusetts following the 2010 season because of limited playing time. He played in four games and will have one more year of eligibility next fall.

No. 124 Lucas Nix, OL. Nix has been a mainstay on the offensive line for the past three seasons, but a knee injury early this season limited him to seven games. He has the potential to be third- or fourth-round pick in the NFL draft.

I'm continuing to look at each Big East team's spring replacement plans -- specifically, how did each program fare in finding a successor for its biggest departed star. Up today: the Pitt Panthers.

Biggest shoes to fill: Jabaal Sheard

Sheard was the 2010 Big East defensive player of the year, using his nonstop motor to register 14.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks despite facing constant double-teams. The attention he demanded opened up opportunities for other players, like fellow defensive end Brandon Lindsey.

Spring replacement(s): Bryan Murphy and depth

This wasn't the typical "plug-and-play" scenario this spring. For one, Lindsey -- the most likely heir to the Panthers' recent run of star defensive players -- missed spring drills with an injury. Additionally, Pitt is switching defensive philosophies, going with a three-man front as its base that will include Lindsey playing the hybrid linebacker/end position. With Lindsey out, Murphy shined in that role this spring, and the staff will find a place for him on the field this year. The Pitt coaches also raved about the depth they had up front, which was unlike anything they saw at Tulsa. With starting tackles Myles Caragein and Chas Alecxih returning and guys like Aaron Donald, Tyrone Ezell and Kaynin Mosley-Smith emerging this spring, the interior should be strong and deep. Justin Hargrove, T.J. Clemmings, Shayne Hale and Carl Fleming are others who can help at the defensive end spot.

Summer outlook: Getting Lindsey back is of course the biggest boost for this defense. He should be perfect for the hybrid position with his speed and burst off the line of scrimmage. The Panthers may not have another end who puts up the numbers that Sheard does, but they have a solid rotation of guys who can keep the pressure on up front. And with a more attacking, blitzing scheme, getting to the quarterback shouldn't be too much of a problem.

The Big East doesn't usually grab a lot of the nation's elite players. There are currently four members of the ESPNU 150 who are committed to Big East schools, with three of those heading to Louisville.

So it's nice when those rare blue-chippers actually work out. ESPN's recruiting experts put together a list of how the 2007 ESPNU 150 players panned out, and here's a look at the four Big East players on that list:

Noel Devine, West Virginia (No. 6 overall): I'd say this was a fortuitous relationship. Devine might have had a disappointing, injury-plagued senior season, but he still ended his career as one of the top running backs in Big East history.

Anthony Davis, Rutgers (No. 113): Davis was a major recruiting coup for the Scarlet Knights. A three-year starter who anchored the left tackle spot his final two seasons, Davis was dominant at times and inconsistent at others. But he was the No. 11 overall pick in last year's NFL Draft after just three years in school.

Pat Bostick, Pittsburgh (No. 134): Always a little overrated as a prospect, Bostick was forced into a starting role his true freshman year as Pitt went 5-7. From there he settled into a backup's role, but he was under center for two of the Panthers' most memorable victories: at West Virginia at the end of '07, and at Notre Dame in 2008.

Manny Abreu, Rutgers (No. 144): Abreu has never quite lived up to his hype, but has been a solid contributor at linebacker for most of his career thus far and has a year left.

Why stop at 2007? Here's a look at how some other ESPNU 150 performers have panned out at Big East schools in recent years:

Brandon Heath, Louisville (No. 58 overall in 2006): Heath was hurt a lot earlier in his career but became a star linebacker as a senior this past season, finishing with 70 tackles and three sacks.

Nate Byham, Pittsburgh (No. 68 in 2006): Byham was the top blocking tight end in the league for most of his career at Pitt and went on to the NFL.

Dorin Dickerson, Pittsburgh (No. 74 in 2006): Dickerson underachieved for his first three years as the Panthers could never quite figure out what to do with him. Moved to tight end, he had a huge senior year and finally justified the hype.

Andrey Baskin, Syracuse (No. 86 in 2006): Never made it to the Orange.

Deantwan "Peanut" Whitehead, Louisville (No. 130 in 2006): Had a promising freshman year at defensive end, but a back injury prematurely ended his football career.

Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh (No. 25 in 2008): Baldwin had an excellent three-year career and is entering the NFL Draft.

Shayne Hale, Pittsburgh (No. 101 in 2008): Moved from linebacker to defensive end after his redshirt freshman year, but hasn't been able to crack the rotation.

Chris Burns, Pittsburgh (No. 110 in 2008): The running back was buried on the depth chart for two years and transferred to UMass after the season.

Lucas Nix, Pittsburgh (No. 124 in 2008): Started this season at right tackle before moving inside to guard and playing at an all-league level.

Darrell Givens, Rutgers (No. 61 in 2009): The cornerback has yet to make an impact for the Scarlet Knights.

Geno Smith, West Virginia (No. 97 in 2009): Starting quarterback for the Mountaineers was my choice this year for first team All-Big East at his position.

Tom Savage, Rutgers (No. 125 in 2009): Took over starting job early in true freshman year, but was replaced this year by freshman Chas Dodd. Has announced he will transfer this spring.

Antwan Lowery, Rutgers (No. 134 in 2009): Was moved to offensive line last season and contributed; expected to start in 2011.

Demar Dorsey, Louisville (No. 12 in 2010): Opting for Louisville after Michigan would not admit him, Dorsey has not been able to get eligible and has never enrolled with the Cardinals.

Ivan McCartney, West Virginia (No. 109 in 2010): Had one catch as a true freshman; could see his role expand in Dana Holgorsen's new offense.

Terrence Mitchell, South Florida (No. 144 in 2010): Signed as a defensive back, he had his biggest impact as an electric punt returner. Was switched to offense midway through the season and could stay on as a receiver.

The Big East has been hit by a lot of injuries early in the season. None are bigger than Tuesday's news that Greg Romeus could miss a large part of this season after he undergoes back surgery on Thursday.

Romeus's back appeared to be a major issue in fall camp when he repeatedly missed practice. Head coach Dave Wannstedt tried to downplay it and said Romeus would be fine. But the star defensive end did not look like himself against Utah and then didn't play at all against New Hampshire last week.

No one knows for sure how long Romeus will be out. Pitt officials said they expected to have a better idea on a timetable for him once he begins rehabbing. But backs are tricky injuries. Wannstedt said he hoped to have Romeus back "for the conclusion of the season." Which could mean a lot of things.

There's no replacing a guy like Romeus, who won the Big East's co-defensive player of the year award last season and is a load to contain with his combination of speed and size. (And think about how bad things could have been if fellow senior defensive end Jabaal Sheard had earned a lengthy suspension after his altercation this summer.) The one bit of good news for Pitt is that the program has done a great job of developing defensive linemen. Brandon Lindsey started in place of Romeus last week and did a good job, recording a pair of sacks.

But he's not Romeus, and New Hampshire isn't Miami or Notre Dame, two teams Pitt will face in the next three games. Not having Romeus to generate a pass rush without blitzing, which is so key to the Panthers' entire game plan, puts a lot more pressure on Sheard and defensive tackles Chas Alecxih and Myles Caragein. Justin Hargrove and Shayne Hale will have to improve as well to give the team enough depth to rotate fresh bodies at the end spot. Impressive true freshman Aaron Donald could see more time as well.

It's also really unfortunate for Romeus, who contemplated going to the NFL draft last offseason before returning for his senior year. Now his senior year is in jeopardy -- and so too are Pittsburgh's Big East title hopes unless others step forward in his place.

I'm back from a relaxing few days at the beach, recharged and ready to tackle the 2010 season. We're just about a week and a half away from Big East media day in Newport, R.I., and things will be rolling from there.

But first, time to catch up on a few items I missed while I was gone:

Sheard's suspension: I thought things were just a bit too quiet this summer, with no major arrests or other off-the-field shenanigans that usually occur this time of year when players have a bit too much free time. And right on cue, Pitt defensive end Jabaal Sheard got charged with assault and other offenses after police said he threw a man through an art gallery's plate-glass window.

Sheard has been suspended indefinitely, and if this is a long-lasting time away, it's a big blow to the Panthers. I ranked Sheard as one of the Top 25 players in the Big East this summer, and the senior forms the league's best 1-2 combo at defensive end with Greg Romeus. Pitt has depth and can play Brandon Lindsey or Shayne Hale at defensive end, but the drop-off in experience would be major. Romeus may have to step up his game even further to make up for Sheard's possible absence.

Unless the facts in the case are just plain wrong, it's hard to imagine Sheard suiting up for Pitt in the opener at Utah, which makes that game even more of a difficult challenge now.

Shoemate officially a Husky: UConn coach Randy Edsall announced that USC transfer D.J. Shoemate was on board last week and is eligible to play this season. Edsall also confirmed that Shoemate will play tailback and that he'll be given a chance to compete for carries in a crowded backfield. The Connecticut running game, led by Jordan Todman, already looked stout. Now it's even deeper and more talented.

Carswell to Cincy?: Reports surfaced that another USC transfer, Brandon Carswell, could join Vidal Hazelton at Cincinnati. Carswell is a junior receiver who had only five catches last season. If so, he'd be the third Trojan to take advantage of the NCAA's get-out-of-probation free card and wind up at a Big East school this summer. And the Bearcats' depth at receiver would be even more ridiculous.

So those are a few old items. Now it's on to new business the rest of the day.

Rolling on with our post-spring position rankings in the Big East. We turn to the defense now and start up front with the linemen. Remember that depth matters as well as star power:

1. Pittsburgh: The Panthers had the best defensive line in the league a year ago, and that remains the case even without defensive tackle, and Big East co-defensive player of the year, Mick Williams. Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard are the best pair of defensive ends in the league, while tackles Myles Caragein and Chas Alecxih are solid at tackle. There's depth, too, with emerging young players like Tyrone Ezell and Shayne Hale.

2. West Virginia: What was a thin position at times last year has become an area of strength for the Mountaineers. Chris Neild is a beast at nose tackle, while Scooter Berry and Julian Miller (nine sacks in '09) bring experience to the defensive end spots in the 3-3-5 scheme. Will Clarke looks like a future star, while junior college import Bruce Irvin is expected to add depth this summer.

3. Rutgers: Three of the four starters return, including senior Alex Silvestro and sophomore Scott Vallone. Jonathan Freeny should be ready for a starting role after recording nine sacks as a rush specialist a year ago, while Eric LeGrand, Justin Francis and redshirt freshmen Andre Civil and Isaac Holmes are around to provide excellent depth.

4. South Florida: Yes, George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul are gone. Still, new Bulls defensive coordinator Mark Snyder said the line had SEC-caliber depth this spring. Tackles Terrell McClain and Keith McCaskill and end Craig Marshall are the veterans of the group. If Ryne Giddins, Julius Forte and junior college star Claude Davis develop as expected, this line could be among the most feared in the league.

5. Connecticut: Kendall Reyes and Twyon Martin are moving into their third year as starters at tackle (though Martin found himself in the doghouse this spring). Promising sophomores Jesse Joseph and Trevardo Williams return at end along with Marcus Campbell, who missed last year because of academics. Getting converted linebacker Greg Lloyd back from knee surgery this summer would help provide depth, and UConn lacks some size on the edge.

6. Cincinnati: Derek Wolfe is an elite run-stopper in the middle, but the Bearcats will need improved production from Dan Giordano, John Hughes and Brandon Mills. Depth is a serious concern behind the starting unit.

7. Syracuse: Replacing Arthur Jones in the middle is no easy task. His younger brother, Chandler, could be ready to break out as a star defensive end after recording 10.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore. Mikhail Marinovich could join him in opposing backfields from the other end spot. This line held its own last year but lacks proven stars.

8. Louisville: The Cardinals' defensive line looked like a mess this spring, with no standout ends and lacked size and strength on the interior. Greg Scruggs was moved from end to tackle despite weighing just 270 pounds. It's been a couple of years since the Louisville defensive line truly could pressure opposing quarterbacks with any consistency; at least head coach Charlie Strong knows how to build a good defense.

PITTSBURGH -- When Greg Romeus watches film of himself from last season, he says he sees all kinds of mistakes. Poor technique, bad footwork, not finishing off plays -- those things all jump out at him.

And remember, he is the reigning Big East co-defensive player of year.

Still, Romeus believes he has plenty of room for improvement that will make him a better player and a richer man soon. That's why the defensive end decided to return to the Pittsburgh Panthers for his senior year instead of entering the NFL Draft this winter.

"Next year, I'll be more prepared," he said. "The more experience I have, the better chance I have [of being a high draft pick]."

Romeus gave serious thought to coming out after his junior year, and there's no doubt his 6-foot-6, 270-pound package of skills would have intrigued NFL personnel. Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt called his contacts in the pros, and he said the consensus among them was that Romeus would be a third- or fourth-round pick in this year's deep draft.

"He and I talked about it, and I told him if he needed the money, he should go," Wannstedt said. "But I really believe he's a first- or second-round draft pick. I think he'll be a great player in the NFL. I think he'll have a great year here and then make a ton of money."

Romeus is still relatively new to the sport, having not played football until his senior year in high school. So his ceiling remains ridiculously high, which must be a sobering thought to opponents already having trouble containing him.

"You aren't going to find too many people with Greg's size and athleticism," Pitt left tackle Jason Pinkston said. "Practicing against him all the time makes Saturdays seem easy."

For all of his talent, Romeus has never put up huge numbers. He shared the Big East honor last year with teammate Mick Williams despite recording only eight sacks and 43 tackles. But it's often a race to the quarterback between him and fellow senior defensive end Jabaal Sheard. And though Williams and Gus Mustakas are gone, the Panthers remain strong in the middle with Myles Caragein and Chas Alecxih.

"We finished No. 1 in the nation in sacks last year and it wasn't just one player getting 13 or 14 sacks," he said. "I think that's what makes the line so good. Somebody might be getting chipped or double-teamed the whole game, and another person will step up."

Romeus and Sheard played a lot of snaps last season because they didn't have experienced backups. This spring, sophomore Shayne Hale and junior Brandon Lindsey have performed well and could perhaps provide more depth at the position. Romeus thinks that will make him better.

"I need to play harder and run to the ball more," he said. "I have to get off the field if I'm tired. I plan on being a lot more aggressive this year."

And by the end of the season, he could produce some film that NFL scouts will love to watch.

One thing about springs games is, you don't really want one side of the ball to dominate. Because then you worry more about the side that got pushed around than you praise the side that controlled the action.

That was the case Saturday at Pitt, where the defense won 62-24 in a modified scoring system. The offense scored only one touchdown, a 9-yard run by quarterback Tino Sunseri. Dion Lewis had a 52-yard run, but he totaled just 74 yards on five carries. As a team, the Panthers managed just 119 yards on 38 carries.

Pitt's players said they kept things very basic because the game was broadcast on the NFL Network and they didn't want to give opponents a lot of scouting material. Still, the lack of a strong running game raises questions about the offensive line, which needs to find answers at center and right guard before the season begins.

Then again, perhaps it's just time to credit the defense.

"Defensively, it was a solid performance," Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. "The defensive linemen -- [Tyler] Tkach, Nate Nix and Shayne Hale -- all fulfilled the backup roles that they needed to. They really came through and showed up today. The linebackers played really well."

Wannstedt also announced winners of the Ed Conway Award, which is annually given to the most improved players in the spring from each side of the ball. This year's winners were senior receiver Greg Cross, a former quarterback, and junior cornerback Antwuan Reed, who has put himself in position to be a starter this season.

• Jordan Todman may be UConn's leading returning rusher, but he's still got to take care of his academics if he wants to practice for Randy Edsall, Desmond Conner says in the Hartford Courant.
• Mike Shanahan is turning into a strong No. 2 option behind Jon Baldwin for Pitt, Ray Fittipaldo writes in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
• Brandon Lindsey and Shayne Hale are getting chances to show their stuff at defensive end with Jabaal Sheard hurt, Pat Mitsch writes in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
• Safeties coach Steve Dunlap is being charged with fixing West Virginia's kickoff coverage woes, Mike Casazza writes in the Charleston Daily Mail.
• Here's a video interview with Aaron Weaver, a Hofstra transfer who could help Syracuse at receiver this year.
• Rutgers got its first commitment for 2011, and it's from a three-time state wrestling champ.

• Pitt's Shayne Hale is going full steam ahead on his switch to defensive end, Paul Zeise writes in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

• Meanwhile, the Panthers' offensive line still has a ways to go, Ralph N. Paulk says in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

• UConn's defensive front seven is deep and experienced, Desmond Conner writes in the Hartford Courant.

• But a backup Huskies linebacker could miss the season, Neill Ostrout reports in the Connecticut Post.

• It's finally time for Desmond Stapleton to make an impact on the Rutgers line, Tom Luicci writes in The Star-Ledger.

• Maikon Bonani is continuing his comeback from last summer's scary amusement park accident, Scott Carter writes in the Tampa Tribune.

• This story is mostly about basketball but has some good history and discussion of the future for the Big East.

Since we're going in reverse alphabetical order for this spring superlatives series, Rutgers should be up now. But there has been a lot of Scarlet Knights' content on here of late, so I'm going to flip flop and have Pittsburgh go today. Let's look at where the Panthers are strongest and weakest among position groups heading into spring practices:

Strongest position: Defensive end

Key returnees: Greg Romeus (eight sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss) and Jabaal Sheard (five sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss).

Key departures: None.

The skinny: Pitt has several strong groups, not least of which is running back with the return of Big East offensive player of the year Dion Lewis, plus Ray Graham and Henry Hynoski. But I'll give the slight nod to defensive end, where Big East co-defensive player of the year Romeus is back for his senior year, along with classmate and fellow standout Sheard. They give Pitt the best pair of ends in the league, and they're backed up by promising youngsters Shayne Hale and Brandon Lindsey.

Weakest position: Cornerback

Key returnees: Ricky Gary (16 tackles, one interception), Antwuan Reed (13 tackles, one interception)

Key departures: Aaron Berry, Jovani Chappell.

The skinny: Both starting corners from a year ago have moved on, and it wasn't exactly a position of great strength beforehand. Gary and Reed have playing experience, with Gary starting the final five games of '08 and once last season. But Pitt is counting on junior college transfer and midyear enrollee Saheed Imoru to claim one of the starting spots. If Imoru lives up to his billing, this could turn out just fine. If not, the Panthers may have to scramble to find answers in their pass defense.