Pitt Football

Pittsburgh Panthers running back James Conner has returned to the practice field as he continues his recovery from a knee injury and following his diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma.

Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi posted a video Saturday showing Conner going through a training session with teammates:

#ConnerStrong #24 #H2P 💪 pic.twitter.com/mAURBcN2rx

— Pat Narduzzi (@CoachDuzzPittFB) February 13, 2016

Conner announced his diagnosis in December. Pitt's official athletic site passed along comments at the time from the 2014 ACC Player of the Year, and he vowed not only to win the fight against cancer but also to play football again:

I know there are so many people in the world who were told by their doctors this week that they also have cancer. I want them to know that together we can—and will—beat cancer.

I will play football again. I will be at Heinz Field again. I have the best coaches and teammates in the country. I thank God I chose Pitt because now I also have the best doctors in the country and together we will win. I know this city has my back.

Conner is doing everything in his power to make those words come true. While a workout in February is still a long way from game day in the fall, every step represents progress and can also provide inspiration for others in a similar situation.

Conner was a force for Pittsburgh throughout the 2014 season. The Pennsylvania native rushed for 1,765 yards and 26 touchdowns to lead the Panthers offense. He also established himself as one of the nation's top running backs.

At 6'2", 240 pounds, Conner's combination of size and power made him a nightmare for opposing defenders. He hopes to one day put those traits on display again.

Exactly what the future holds is still a mystery, though, as he's not only dealing with the cancer diagnosis but also trying to get his knee back to full strength. So, there are still plenty of hurdles to clear before he returns to the field.

But just seeing No. 24 out there doing drills is surely enough to put smiles on faces throughout the college football community.

Pittsburgh Panthers running back James Conner was one of the shining stars in college football when he won the 2014 ACC Player of the Year, but his world drastically changed in 2015 when he announced he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. Pittsburgh received promising news Friday, and its coach reportedly expects the running back to return in 2016. 

Jared Shanker of ESPN confirmed Pat Narduzzi believes Conner will take the field in 2016 and passed along this quote from the coach:

Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi says James Conner is doing well as he battles Hodgkin lymphoma. Believes he'll play in 2016 pic.twitter.com/86RXvPX2ok

— Jared Shanker (@Jared_Shanker) February 5, 2016

Conner was one of the best running backs in the country in 2014 and tallied 1,765 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns. He started the 2015 season in a promising way with 77 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the season opener against Youngstown State, but he injured his MCL and missed the rest of the campaign.

He announced he had Hodgkin lymphoma in December and was optimistic about the future at the time in a press release (via Matt Fortuna of ESPN.com): "I will play football again. I will be at Heinz Field again. I have the best coaches and teammates in the country. I thank God I chose Pitt because now I also have the best doctors in the country, and together we will win. I know this city has my back."

Narduzzi also pledged the support of the football team, via Fortuna:

Know this: James Conner will not face this challenge alone. We are all going to be right beside him every step of the way. And the day that he is declared cancer free, we will all celebrate like we do after one of his patented touchdown runs. James has never backed down from an opponent, and we all know this is a battle he will win.

Jerry DiPaola of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review noted in January Conner “reacted well” to the majority of the chemotherapy treatments and was already back in the Pittsburgh weight room at times.

Andrea Adelson of ESPN.com provided another update and said Conner wouldn’t participate in spring practice but “is targeting a September return.”

The Panthers play Penn State, Oklahoma State and North Carolina in September, so it would be a major boost if they added a game-changing running back to the mix during a daunting portion of their schedule.

If Conner does return, it will be another success story in football for a player dealing with this disease. Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2014, and all he did was make the Pro Bowl this season as an enforcer on the back end of the defense.

The Panthers do have some pieces to fill in for Conner until he is back.

Qadree Ollison played admirably in Conner’s absence in 2015 and topped the 1,000-yard mark with 1,121 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in his freshman season. It is only natural to expect further development with a year of experience under his belt at the collegiate level, and he will certainly be ready to tote the rock until Conner is back (and share the backfield when that happens).

Darrin Hall was another freshman back for the Panthers last season who tallied 257 rushing yards and two touchdowns and adds important depth to the backfield.

Pittsburgh improved from 6-7 in 2014 to 8-5 in Narduzzi’s first season and reached the Military Bowl. The team could be even stronger and continue that ascension in 2016, especially if Conner joins an already talented running back group.  

The most productive wide receiver in the University of Pittsburgh's history decided to forego his senior season Friday as Tyler Boyd declared for the 2016 NFL draft.

ESPN's Jared Shanker reported the news. 

After a junior season that saw Boyd put up 926 yards and six touchdowns on 91 receptions and lead the Panthers to eight wins, he presumably came to the conclusion that his draft stock was simply too high to ignore.

Boyd is far from a one-year wonder, though, as the Clairton, Pennsylvania, native averaged over 80 catches for more than 1,200 yards and eight total touchdowns in each of his first two collegiate seasons as well.

While Boyd's receiving production was down a bit in 2015 in terms of yards per catch, he became a more well-rounded player and thrived in essentially all areas.

Boyd became a huge weapon as a runner during his junior season, but Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi felt as though he didn't get enough national recognition in spite of his versatility, per Shanker:

"He's a good passer, he's a good runner, and he's a good catcher. He does it all," Narduzzi said. "I don't know why people aren't talking about him for the Heisman because the guy does it all. I mean, some guys just catch it and some guys just run it. That guy does it all."

In addition to his ability to excel in multiple facets, Boyd improved upon his value as a receiver this past season by thriving in the slot, according to Rotoworld's Josh Norris:

https://twitter.com/JoshNorris/status/665578769172840448

Versatility is key at the NFL level, which is why Boyd figures to generate interest among most of the league's 32 NFL teams.

He is quick and sure-handed enough to dominate the slot, but also big and fast enough to make plays down the field as an outside receiver.

There aren't many players that possess that combination, and it should serve Boyd well as evaluators attempt to decide what type of draft value he has.

Perhaps the one thing that could hold Boyd back is the fact that he did have an off-field issue at Pittsburgh as he was suspended for the team's season opener in 2015 due to a DUI arrest.

Boyd returned to action after that and excelled on the field, and every indication is that he has stayed out of trouble as well.

Provided Boyd has matured and gotten past his previous problems, he promises to be one of the hottest prospects in the entire 2016 draft class.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

After one season as the University of Pittsburgh's head football coach, Pat Narduzzi received a two-year contract extension Thursday.  

The school announced that two years will be added to his original five-year pact, which means he is currently in line to be the Panthers' head man through at least 2021.

After the extension was made official, Pittsburgh athletic director Scott Barnes praised the job Narduzzi did in his first year at the helm:

Pat Narduzzi has adrenalized Pitt football on and off the field. We are proud of what our program has accomplished this season. Moreover, we're excited about what our student-athletes can continue to achieve—on the field, in the classroom and in the community—under Pat's long-term leadership.

In addition to that, Narduzzi made it clear he is ready to take the Panthers to new levels moving forward:

The University of Pittsburgh is an incredible place with incredible people. My family and I plan to make Pittsburgh our home for a very long time and we're glad the leadership at Pitt feels the same way. It is an honor to serve as Pitt's head football coach and I'm continuously energized by what we can, and will, accomplish here.

Under Narduzzi's guidance, Pitt finished 8-4 in the regular season, including a 6-2 record in the ACC, which was good for second place in the Coastal Division.

He previously served as Michigan State's defensive coordinator from 2007-2014, and ESPN.com's Matt Fortuna believes he is chiefly responsible for the recent surge in programs hiring defensive coordinators as head coaches:

Barry Odom, Kirby Smart, DJ Durkin...These defensive head coach hires owe a debt of gratitude to Pat Narduzzi for his work in Year 1 at Pitt

— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) December 4, 2015

Pitt's eight wins are its most since 2010, and if Narduzzi is able to lead his team past Navy in the Military Bowl, nine victories will be the program's most since winning 10 in 2009.

The Panthers certainly appear to be a team on the rise, capable of making noise in the ACC moving forward, and Narduzzi is being given every opportunity to build upon the strong foundation he has already laid.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

Pittsburgh running back James Conner will miss the remainder of the 2015 season after suffering an MCL injury in Saturday's 45-37 win over Youngstown State.

Continue for updates.

---

Conner's Heisman Dreams Dashed with Knee Injury

Monday, Sept. 7

ESPN's Brett McMurphy reported Conner will have surgery this week. He posted 77 yards and two touchdowns on only eight carries before exiting the game in the second quarter. While the injury was initially categorized as minor, further testing revealed Conner had torn his MCL.

"I greatly appreciate everyone's support and well wishes," Conner said in a statement released by the school. "This is a temporary setback and I'm going to work even harder to bounce back. Even though I won't be able to play this season, I'm going to be right beside my teammates and help them every way I can to have a great season."

Chris Peak of Panther-Lair.com also shared a statement from Conner's family:

Full statement from James Conner's family: #Pitt pic.twitter.com/d8oXkQlgSS

— Chris Peak (@PantherLair) September 7, 2015

Conner, a junior, came into 2015 as one of the preseason favorites for the Heisman Trophy. He rushed for 1,765 yards and 26 touchdowns last season, emerging as one of the most formidable threats in the country. A bruising back with a throwback style, Conner came into the season hoping to flash more of his all-around game.

"I can still make people miss," he told Adam Kramer of Bleacher Report. "And I try to make people miss first. I use my size to my advantage because I know it's not fun to tackle someone with a linebacker build."

McMurphy weighed in on Conner's injury, noting the rash of players who saw their seasons end in Week 1:

Not fair: James Conner, Taysom Hill, Eddie Vanderdoes, Jesse Ertz, Tarean Folston & Mike Williams all out for year

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) September 7, 2015

The injury will end Conner's Heisman chase and possibly keep him in school for another year. He entered the season with a clear path toward being one of the first running backs taken in the 2016 draft. But given that position's fungibility and Conner's specific skill set, this red flag would be a major step backward.

Sophomore Chris James will likely take over at running back for the Panthers.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.

The Pittsburgh Panthers will be without leading wide receiver Tyler Boyd and defensive lineman Rori Blair for their season-opening game against Youngstown State.

Sam Werner of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that both players were suspended for the game with the Penguins, while an official statement released on the school’s athletic website said: “The one-game disciplinary suspensions were the result of the players being involved in separate offseason legal situations involving motor vehicles.”

Andrea Adelson of ESPN.com noted that "Boyd was sentenced to one year of probation after he was charged with DUI in June. Blair was charged with driving under the influence of drugs after an arrest in March."

Coach Pat Narduzzi commented on the decision in the statement:

In addition to their game suspensions, Tyler and Rori have been, and will continue to be, subject to internal discipline and accountability. The situations were very disappointing and both young men have expressed their regret. Our expectation is that each of them, as well as our entire team, will learn from their mistakes and be better for it moving forward.

The loss of Boyd is particularly noteworthy because he was Pittsburgh’s best receiver during the 2014 season. In fact, he tallied 1,261 receiving yards and eight touchdowns as the team's one reliable downfield threat, while Manasseh Garner finished second on the team with a mere 201 receiving yards.

Blair is a key contributor along the defensive line and notched a sack in the team’s Armed Forces Bowl loss to Houston. He is expected to start this season.

The silver lining for the Panthers is the fact that the suspensions come against Youngstown State from the FCS. While it is important not to overlook any opponent at the college level, Pittsburgh will likely face much more difficult competition throughout the rest of the season after Boyd returns to the offense.

The Panthers face Iowa in their third game of the year and Virginia Tech in their fourth game, and they will need Boyd back on the field if they hope to walk away with early statement victories. What's more, Boyd's absence will give other receivers such as Dontez Ford the chance to establish an initial role in the passing game.

Jenn Menendez of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted that Ford in particular made an impression during spring practice as someone who can complement "Tyler Boyd at wide receiver to give the Panthers passing game more depth."

Ford, along with Pittsburgh’s rushing attack—which finished 16th in the country in 2014 in rushing yards per game—will likely fill the offensive void against the Penguins in the season opener.

Pittsburgh Panthers star wide receiver Tyler Boyd has received a 12-month probation sentence following a June arrest on DUI charges.

Adam Brandolph of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported the details of Boyd's punishment Friday: "Common Pleas Judge Robert C. Gallo ordered Boyd to spend 12 months on probation and take safe driving classes. His driver's license will be suspended for 90 days, and he also must pay court costs. If he successfully completes the program, he can ask the court to expunge his record."

The Associated Press (h/t USA Today) reported July 1 that Boyd waived his right for a preliminary hearing in an effort to receive probation for a first-time offense.

According to Sam Werner of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, on June 16 Boyd was formally charged with DUI and summary charges for underage drinking and traffic violations after he was arrested days earlier: "He was pulled over about 2:35 a.m. Friday after trying to pass another vehicle on Route 885 in Jefferson Hills. When stopped, the officer smelled a 'moderate amount of alcoholic beverage' on Boyd's breath, according to the police report."

As a result of Boyd's DUI charges, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi suspended the junior wide receiver from team activities for one month. He has since been allowed to return to the Panthers as they prepare to open the season on September 5 against Youngstown State.

Boyd's talent on the field is undeniable. He's had over 1,100 yards receiving in each of his first two years at Pittsburgh and made the All-ACC First Team in 2014.

Only three Division I schools felt strongly enough about No. 30 on the McDowell High School football team to offer him a scholarship. Only one of those three schools—the one closest to his Erie, Pennsylvania, home—wanted him to play running back.

One. That’s it. 

More than 100 others quickly glazed right over James Conner for reasons that are no longer relevant. And if we’re laying all the cards across the table, the coaching staff that offered him a spot on offense likely did so because backs it coveted more simply said no first.

So during high school playoffs, Pittsburgh phoned the nation’s No. 73 outside linebacker to see if he’d be interested in playing a position he was just beginning to learn. With offers from Toledo and Bowling Green, Conner, having just set the single-season and all-time quarterback sack records at his high school, wasted little time providing an answer.

“That was it,” Conner told Bleacher Report. “They said they wanted to try me at running back, and I was completely comfortable with it.”

At the time, Pittsburgh was taking a leap of faith. Prior to his senior year in high school, Conner’s history at the position was limited. Other than one full season, it was relatively nonexistent. But when he posted 1,680 rushing yards and found the end zone 21 times on only 155 carries, the Panthers decided he was worthy of a shot.

Two years after Conner determined he was comfortable playing a position he is now attempting to master, the decision has paid off. The forgotten recruit weighing limited options has ascended to running back stardom, even if many were too preoccupied to notice.

Last season, Conner ran for 1,765 yards and scored 26 touchdowns as a sophomore. He averaged nearly six yards per carry—many of which were earned yards after initial contact. Many more came after additional contact.

He delivered the first All-American season for a Pittsburgh running back since Craig "Ironhead" Heyward in 1987. He also broke multiple records held by the great Tony Dorsett, including total touchdowns in a season at Pitt. At a running back-rich program, he added more history.

And yet, not enough people celebrated one of the great rushing seasons over the past decade. Buried beneath the absurdity of Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon, the postseason wizardry of Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott and the magnificent debuts from a gifted crop of freshmen backs, few stopped to appreciate the greatness of No. 24 on the Pittsburgh Panthers—a cannon ball blessed with a Maserati engine.

Go back and watch last year's overtime loss against Duke—a game where Conner ran for a season-high 263 yards—and you'll find a collection of moves that were once reserved for much smaller humans.

“He’s the biggest tailback I’ve ever coached,” new Pittsburgh running back coach Andre Powell said of the 6'2", 240-pound back. “He’s slimmed down and dropped his body-fat percentage, but he would be probably 10 or 15 pounds bigger than any tailback I have ever worked with.”

Size, of course, is only a portion of the man. And on this random offseason day, right after he put his body through necessary and purposeful hell, I can sense Conner has heard enough questions about life as a bigger back. I can’t exactly blame him.

He answered them all, of course. Despite the violent nature of his running style and his love of contact, Conner is soft-spoken and personable. When he walks out of the tunnel, he flips on a switch. He spends the next few hours inflicting pain on men bold enough to stand in his way before he walks back through the tunnel and the switch flips back to its original resting position. He takes off one hat and puts on another.

For a moment, however, the switch flipped mid-conversation. Politely, while fielding another question about his Hulk-ish tendencies, Conner reminded me of something that is easy to forget.

“I can still make people miss,” he said, finally having heard enough. “And I try to make people miss first. I use my size to my advantage cause I know it’s not fun to tackle someone with a linebacker build.”

The full truth of this statement cuts deeper than the surface. If he wanted to—or if he had to—Conner believes he could easily shoot up to 270 pounds. Had he chosen a college other than Pittsburgh to play football, the coaching staff would have asked him to do precisely that while playing defensive line.

Even at his current playing weight, the former staff at Pitt toyed with the idea of playing him both ways. With the team in need of a pass rush, he practiced at defensive end against the linemen who made his life easier on the offensive side. He didn’t necessarily mind double-dipping, although he held on to his offensive mindset throughout.

With a new staff in place, there are no current plans to play him on defense, according to Conner. Even with a defensive-minded head coach in Pat Narduzzi, the team wants Conner to focus on what he does best: punish defensive players for trying to bring him down. But only if he can’t make them miss first.

Conner is a unique man to game-plan against. He’s listed at 240 pounds on his official team bio, which is down from last year. That is not by chance; it's been a focus this offseason.

Regardless of what the scale reads, he will not be a prisoner to this number. He doesn't need to be one, given how mindful he is of what enters his system. For him, it’s more about feel. And right now, coming off an offseason where he pushed himself to the brink, his body has never felt better.

“He does not want to be known as a big back because he knows what label goes with that,” Powell said. “Now, he does not mind running through tackles, but he wants people to know that he has legitimate speed.”

His new position coach isn’t particularly worried about his star player’s physical makeup. That part comes naturally. Instead of obsessing over an ideal playing weight, Powell has worked diligently with Conner on improving his overall F.B.I.—his football intelligence.

After stops at Virginia, North Carolina, Clemson and Maryland, Powell landed at Pittsburgh when Narduzzi reached out. Having known Narduzzi for more than 20 years—“longer than my wife,” Powell said—he didn’t hesitate to join an old friend.

A college coach since 1989, Powell has coached some unique backs with unique physical attributes: Thomas Jones, Tiki Barber and C.J. Spiller all thrived under his tutelage. Each back was undeniably great and also undeniably different. That same theme holds true with his new project.

“He’s different from anybody I have ever coached,” Powell said on Conner. “If you played C.J. Spiller, he could get one step on you, and it was over. Against Tiki Barber, you had to defend him in the running game and the passing game. James is a big man who can really run. To get him on the ground, you’re going to have to step in front of him, and I can’t imagine that’s much fun when he’s at top speed.”

Finally comfortable in his new digs, Powell oftentimes has company in his work space. It is not unusual for him to swing open his office door and find Conner already cemented in the enclosed room, deeply entrenched in game film.

The two have worked hard not just on watching tape but also studying specific plays and moments. Powell wants Conner to be more of a factor in the passing game, both as a blocker and as a wideout. This offseason has been all about taking that next step.

“In years past, he wasn’t in the game on some passing downs,” Powell said. “We want to change that. He’s got tremendous ball skills out of the backfield, and that was not something they asked him to do a lot last year. But he can do it."

Conner has embraced the art of consuming film. The allure of the NFL has him.

It’s his ultimate goal to play at the next level, right alongside playing in the championship game he never got to experience in high school. Winning the ACC comes first—then the rest can fall into place.

These are the things that drive the young man. The new faces around him can feel that drive. They can sense what he is working toward. Now it's simply a mater of getting everyone else on board. 

“What has impressed me is that he wants to be even better,” Narduzzi said. “James has said he wants to be a more complete and well-rounded back. When you have the ACC Player of the Year saying publicly he wants and needs to get better, that sets a strong example for the rest of the locker room.”

The goal is to never go unnoticed again—no matter what the scale reads or the story the stats may tell. Last year, they told a tremendous tale that wasn't told enough. They reminded us that a nation of talent evaluators missed out on a golden opportunity. They reminded us that one team, whether it knew it or not at the time, had it right.

But Conner can't possibly stop now that he has made it, because in his eyes, he is nowhere close. There are still bone-jarring hits to be delivered. There are still defenders to outrun. There is still a long list of items to master.

Having finished his morning workout and fielded each ridiculous question about his build—graciously, I might add—Conner is finally ready to unwind and flip the switch off for the day.

Months away from the first game of his junior season, he can, at least momentarily, relax.

After this conversation ends, he will finally be able to do what he loves most. He will head to his favorite spot these days, the place where he spends much of his free time. It's a place that reminds him of how far he's come and how much further he needs to go.

The film room.

Adam Kramer is the College Football National Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Unless noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand. Recruit rankings are courtesy of 247Sports.

Twelve years after Larry Fitzgerald was the No. 3 overall pick of the 2004 NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Panthers could have another wide receiver come off the board very early in the 2016 draft, with Tyler Boyd ranking as the top prospect at his position heading into the 2015 college football season.

Boyd, who is listed at 6’2” and 190 pounds on Pittsburgh’s official athletics website, has a dynamic combination of speed and agility that enables him to make plays all over the field. Perhaps the most well-rounded receiver in the nation, Boyd projects to make an immediate impact in the NFL in 2016.

On 78 receptions, Boyd accumulated 1,261 receiving yards last season, the fourth-most among Football Bowl Subdivision receivers who returned to school this year, and eight touchdowns.

Those numbers, which followed up an 85-catch, 1,174-yard freshman year, are impressive by themselves. Even more impressive, however, was Boyd’s market-share production last season. On a run-heavy offense led by a shaky quarterback (Chad Voytik), Boyd completed the 2014 season with more than 41 percent of Pittsburgh’s total catches, 52 percent of the team’s receiving yards and 47 percent of the team’s touchdown receptions. 

Name	Receptions	Yards	Touchdowns
Tyler Boyd	78	1261	8
Rest of Team	110	1156	9

Given the opportunity to play in an NFL offense, in which he should have the advantage of much better quarterback play and teammates to draw coverages around him, Boyd has the tools to potentially follow in Fitzgerald’s footsteps and become a star.

 

A Dangerous Weapon in Many Ways

Speed is a highly valued factor in the predraft evaluation of a wide receiver prospect. That part of the equation should presumably only help Boyd.

Like a sprinter coming out of the blocks, he shows a natural ability to accelerate out of his stance and get up to speed quickly.

The velocity at which Boyd can move makes him a threat to win deep at any time. That was never more apparent than in the first quarter of Pittsburgh’s win against Virginia Tech this past season, when Boyd burned Hokies cornerback Kendall Fuller—also a projected first-round pick in the 2016 draft—up the seam for a long catch en route to a 54-yard touchdown.

Against top-level cornerbacks in the NFL, Boyd likely won’t be able to use his speed to separate from coverages the way he does against collegiate opponents, but there’s more to his game than just speed that makes him a dangerous downfield weapon.

Exhibiting an innate ability to track the ball with his eyes and position himself to make a play, Boyd can skillfully employ his body control and length to attack passes in the air and haul them in, even when he is covered or when he has to make a difficult adjustment to the football.

An excellent example of that skill came last season against Duke, when Boyd was covered deep over the middle by not one but two Blue Devils defensive backs. He still managed to make a play on the ball through contact for a 48-yard reception.

Boyd is far more than just a deep receiver, however. He is a threat to scythe through defenses at all levels of the field, as well as on special teams.

When working as an intermediate receiver, Boyd consistently shows an understanding of where the line-to-make is on crucial downs and runs his routes accordingly. Possessing the agility to quickly stop his feet and change directions, he is often able to gain separation with the rapidity of his route breaks.

Body can also be very effective in the short passing game. Frequently utilized on bubble screens at Pittsburgh, his acceleration enables him to gain chunks of yardage in short order, while he also has the lateral agility and moves to make defenders miss in space.

Those qualities also give Boyd high playmaking upside on kickoff and punt returns, both capacities in which he has gained experience during his first two seasons at Pittsburgh. He has only one return touchdown in his collegiate career and might not project as an NFL regular in either area, but his versatility to pitch in on special teams as needed only bolsters his value.

Physically, he has the makeup of a special talent. Paul Chryst, who was Pittsburgh's head coach during Boyd's first two collegiate seasons, says the wide receiver also has the attitude to be great.

“Guys look at him and to him to see how he is going to respond,” Chryst said last November, according to Jerry DiPaola of TribLive.com. “There's no doubt in my mind that he wants one thing, and that's for this team to win, and I think we have other guys like that.”

Boyd, per DiPaola, "said he tries to set an example, often getting vocal in the huddle during crucial moments."

“I'm a game-changer,” Boyd told DiPaola. “That's what I try to do for the team. I'm trying to better everybody else around me, and I hope everybody else around me is taking that in.”

How Early Could Boyd Be Drafted?

Highly productive in college with explosive athleticism, ability to extend plays in the open field and versatility to play a variety of roles, Boyd projects as a comparable prospect to former Clemson wideout Sammy Watkins, who was the first wide receiver drafted and the No. 4 overall pick in 2014.

To reach the same heights as a prospect as Watkins and Amari Cooper, who followed Watkins as the No. 4 overall pick and top wide receiver selected in 2015, Boyd must continue to become a more polished route-runner and a more consistent pass-catcher.

Boyd is already skilled enough in both areas to be successful in the NFL, but he would benefit from additional diversity in his route-running. He has also suffered from occasional drops, including a costly one late in Pittsburgh’s Armed Forces Bowl defeat to Houston last season.

Boyd, who struggles as a blocker, will be expected to continue adding bulk to his frame as he moves closer to the NFL. While he is currently listed at 190 pounds, he will ideally need to weigh closer to 210 pounds—without sacrificing any speed or agility in the process—to maximize his draft stock. 

As it currently stands, neither Boyd nor any other wide receivers in the 2016 draft class deserve to be held in the same regard as Cooper, Kevin White or DeVante Parker, who were all top-14 picks in 2015, or Watkins, Mike Evans and Odell Beckham Jr., who each went in the top 11 of the 2014 draft.

With at least one full collegiate season still to play, however, the rising junior certainly has the tools to establish himself as a solid top-15 selection, if not a top-five or top-10 pick, during the 2015 season.

That’s not to say that Boyd doesn’t have competition to be the top wide receiver drafted in 2016, assuming he declares. His toughest competition could come from Ole Miss wideout Laquon Treadwell.

A five-star recruit who has been productive in each of his first two collegiate seasons, Treadwell is an excellent talent who is very good at taking advantage of his size and is also, like Boyd, dangerous in changing directions and making plays in the open field. Treadwell’s draft stock is somewhat up in the air heading into the 2015 season, however, as he has to prove he is healthy after suffering a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle last year.

Other wide receiver prospects with first-round potential for 2016 include Notre Dame junior Corey Robinson, who has a terrific package of size and athleticism and is the son of NBA legend David Robinson; Colorado State junior Rashard Higgins, who led the FBS in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns last season; plus a number of other talented wideouts, including Auburn senior D’haquille Williams, LSU junior Travin Dural, Ohio State junior Michael Thomas and Clemson junior Mike Williams.

Teams who value size among specific traits at the wide receiver position might prefer Robinson, assuming he raises his production in his junior season, or Treadwell, who is not much larger than Boyd at 6’2” and 210 pounds but exhibits more strength and blocking ability.

Among other draft rankings, CBSSports.com currently ranks Boyd as the No. 1 wide receiver prospect in the junior class, while WalterFootball.com ranks him as the 2016 draft’s top wideout. Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller ranks Boyd as the No. 3 wide receiver in his preseason 2016 draft rankings, behind Treadwell and Robinson, but does list Boyd as the “Best Slot Receiver” and “Best Route-Runner” in the class.

In December, ESPN.com's Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl ranked Boyd as the No. 20 underclassman in college football, behind only Treadwell among wide receivers on the list.

"He is a smooth and flexible athlete who runs fluid routes and has a strong feel for the position," Muench and Weidl wrote. "Boyd has excellent overall ball skills, showing the body control to adjust to throws outside of his frame, and will often make the tough catch look routine."

In comparison to the past two drafts, Boyd is more similar to Cooper and Watkins while Treadwell and Robinson are more comparable to White, Parker and Evans.

It is likely that Treadwell, Robinson or other wide receivers will generate significant hype over the course of the 2015 season, some perhaps more than Boyd if they have better size or other physical traits. Nonetheless, Boyd should still have a great shot at becoming the 2016 NFL draft’s top receiver if he can maintain his ranking as the draft class' most well-rounded wideout through the 2015 college football season.

This article is part of a series on the projected top prospects at each position for the 2016 NFL draft. Also read:

Meet Jared Goff, the 2016 NFL Draft's Top QB Heading into Next Season

Meet Ezekiel Elliott, the 2016 NFL Draft's Top RB Heading into Next Season

Meet Evan Engram, the 2016 NFL Draft's Top TE Heading into Next Season 

Meet Ronnie Stanley, the 2016 NFL Draft's Top OL Heading into Next Season

Meet A'Shawn Robinson, the 2016 NFL Draft's Top DT Heading into Next Season

Meet Joey Bosa, the 2016 NFL Draft's Top DE Heading into Next Season

Meet Jaylon Smith, the 2016 NFL Draft's Top LB Heading into Next Season

Meet Vernon Hargreaves III, the 2016 NFL Draft's Top CB Heading into Next Season

Meet Jalen Ramsey, the 2016 NFL Draft's Top Safety Heading into Next Season

All statistics courtesy of Pittsburgh's official athletics website unless otherwise noted. All GIFs made at Gfycat using videos from Draft Breakdown.

Dan Hope is an NFL/NFL Draft Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

Follow @Dan_Hope

After years of being listed among the top head-coaching targets in college football, Pat Narduzzi has finally landed a program of his own. The Michigan State defensive coordinator was named Pittsburgh's head coach Wednesday, as expected, ending more than a decade of grooming under Mark Dantonio.

Sam Werner of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette showed the school's official release on Friday:

OK, I guess it's officially official now. pic.twitter.com/nu2K95LLHl

— Sam Werner (@sjwerner11) December 26, 2014

Pitt football provided a few quotes from Narduzzi from his introductory press conference:

"Today is the beginning of a dream come true for me and my family, and I hope it will be one for many years to come"- Coach Pat Narduzzi

— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) December 26, 2014

"We'll play with a tough blue collar mentality, and how else would you want it in the city of Pittsburgh." -Coach Pat Narduzzi

— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) December 26, 2014

ESPN's Joe Schad first announced that the contract was done.

Narduzzi, 48, takes over the Panthers program from Paul Chryst, who was named Gary Andersen's replacement at Wisconsin this month.

A 2013 recipient of the Broyles Award, given to the nation's top assistant coach, Narduzzi joins a program that's struggled to find itself in recent seasons. Chryst landed the Wisconsin job despite posting a 19-19 record, and he's the second straight head coach to bolt for greener pastures. Todd Graham, Chryst's predecessor, left for Arizona State after a lone 6-6 season.

The Panthers have not had more than seven wins since 2009. This season, they were plagued by inconsistent quarterback play and a defense that ranked 73rd in FBS, per Football Outsiders' FEI-plus ratings. Pittsburgh managed to sneak into bowl eligibility with wins over Syracuse and Miami to close its season, and it plays Houston in the Armed Forces Bowl on Jan. 2.

While the program has increasingly been seen as a coaching stepping stone, Narduzzi might be the perfect man to bring the Panthers instant success. He has been one of the nation's best defensive coordinators for more than a decade, following Dantonio from Cincinnati to East Lansing.

At Michigan State, the Spartans were consistently among the nation's best defensive attacks. They've finished inside the top five of defensive FEI-plus three of the last four seasons, though they dropped to No. 24 in 2014. 

"In regards to Pat, I think he's been up there and talked about quite a lot," Dantonio told reporters of his top lieutenant becoming a head coach, "and I've continually said it's going to happen at some point in time. When that point in time happens, it's going to be right for him, and he's going to be prepared."

The Panthers are hoping Narduzzi's defensive background can help solve their recent woes. Pittsburgh has not had a top-25 unit since 2009.

On offense, there is plenty of reason to be hopeful. Quarterback Chad Voytik, running back James Conner and top receiver Tyler Boyd are all due back for their junior seasons in 2015 and should lead one of the ACC's most promising units. Conner rushed for 1,675 yards and 24 touchdowns as a sophomore and has a bruising style not unlike former Michigan State star Le'Veon Bell.

Pittsburgh, on the surface, will likely take on a Michigan State-lite feeling, with Voytik doing his best Connor Cook impression. It's unclear at this time if Narduzzi will be allowed to bring anyone from the Spartans staff along with him to Pittsburgh, though it's likely at least a couple of guys will tag along for the ride.

If the result looks anything like the job Dantonio's done at Michigan State, Pitt could be on its way to a renaissance. If not, well, recent history says Narduzzi will probably trip, fall and find his way to another high-profile gig anyway.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.