prospectus

2015 PITT PANTHERS SPRING FOOTBALL
Zach Challingsworth
Wide Receiver
6-2 • 190 • SO*
McDonald, Pa.
80
• Challingsworth 2014 Review
• Played in 10 games in his first active collegiate season, primarily
in special teams capacities, to letter
• Challingsworth Career Highs
Receptions: 0
Receiving Yards: 0
Receiving TDs: 0
• Challingsworth Career Statistics
Receiving G/GS Rec. Yards Avg. Long TD Pts.
2014 10/0 0 0 — — 0 0
James Conner
Running Back
6-2 • 250 • JR
Erie, Pa.
24
• Conner 2014 Review
• Established himself as one of the country's elite offensive
players with a decorated and prolific sophomore season
• Rushed for 1,765 yards and 26 touchdowns on 298 carries
(5.9 avg.)
• Named a first team All-American by the American Football
Coaches Association (AFCA), becoming Pitt’s first running
back to garner first-team All-America honors in 27 years;
was a second-team All-America pick by the Associated Press,
Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Phil Steele,
Sporting News, Walter Camp Football Foundation and USA
TODAY
• Selected the ACC Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the
Year by the league's media and coaches
• Ranked third nationally in rushing TDs, fourth in scoring
(12.0 ppg./156 total points), sixth in rushing yards per game
(135.8 avg.) and seventh in total rushing yards; led the ACC in
each of those four categories
• Broke the legendary Tony Dorsett's longstanding Pitt singleseason
records for rushing TDs (22), total TDs (23) and points
(140) set during Dorsett's 1976 Heisman Trophy year
• Conner's 26 rushing TDs also set an ACC record, surpassing
Ryan Williams' (Virginia Tech) mark of 21 set in 2009.
• Conner's 1,765 rushing yards rank third in ACC history and
fourth in Pitt annals
• Achieved his impressive rushing total despite being hindered
with a hip injury his final two regular-season games (Syracuse
and Miami); Conner played less than two quarters against the
Orange after sustaining the injury in the first half
• Has 11 100-yard rushing games for his career, including eight
in which he had more than 150 yards and four 200-yard
games
• Conner's four 200-yard games are tied for the most by an
active Bowl Subdivision player (tied with Navy quarterback
Keenan Reynolds) entering the 2015 season
• Conner Career Highs
Rush Attempts: 38 vs. Duke (11-1-14)
Rush Yards: 263 vs. Duke (11-1-14)
Rush TDs: 4, twice, last vs. North Carolina (11-15-14)
Receptions: 2, twice, last vs. Virginia Tech (10-16-14)
Receiving Yards: 40 vs. Miami (11-29-14)
Receiving TDs: 0
• Conner Career Statistics
Rushing G/GS Att. Yards Avg. Long TD Pts.
2013 12/0 146 799 5.5 45 8 48
2014 13/13 298 1,765 5.9 74 26 156
TOTAL 25/13 444 2,564 5.8 74 34 204
Receiving G/GS Rec. Yards Avg. Long TD Pts.
2013 12/0 3 33 11.0 13 0 0
2014 13/13 5 70 14.0 40 0 0
TOTAL 25/13 8 103 12.9 40 0 0
Devon Edwards
Tight End
6-4 • 260 • SO*
Columbus, Ohio
45
• Edwards 2014 Review
• Played in all 13 games in his first active collegiate season to
letter
• Served in special teams capacities and as a reserve tight end
• Edwards Career Highs
Receptions: 0
Receiving Yards: 0
Receiving TDs: 0
• Edwards Career Statistics
Receiving G/GS Rec. Yards Avg. Long TD Pts.
2014 13/0 0 0 — — 0 0
Dontez Ford
Wide Receiver
6-2 • 205 • JR*
McKees Rocks, Pa.
19
• Ford 2014 Review
• Played in all 13 games, starting three at receiver
• Moved into a starting role the final three games of the year
(Syracuse, Miami and the Armed Forces Bowl vs. Houston)
following an injury to senior starter Manasseh Garner
• Totaled three receptions for 50 yards (16.7 avg.) and a TD on
the season
• Had two catches for 24 yards (12.0 avg.) and an 11-yard TD
reception against Syracuse
• Ford Career Highs
Receptions: 2 vs. Syracuse (11-22-14)
Receiving Yards: 24 vs. Syracuse (11-22-14)
Receiving TDs: 1 vs. Syracuse (11-22-14)
• Ford Career Statistics
Receiving G/GS Rec. Yards Avg. Long TD Pts.
2013 1/0 0 0 — — 0 0
2014 13/3 3 50 16.7 26 1 6
TOTAL 14/3 3 50 16.7 26 1 6
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