By TRACY WATSON

For The Times Leader

PITTSBURGH — Having players run out of eligibility to play happens every year in college football, and third-year Pitt Head Coach Pat Narduzzi has definitely seen his share of it.

However, coming off of back-to-back 8-5 campaigns that each ended with bowl losses, Narduzzi wasn’t expecting to be hit as hard as his Panthers have been heading into the 2017 campaign.

Among the normal losses are former Atlantic Coast Conference Player-of-the-Year James Conner, who accounted for more than 1,400 yards and 20 touchdowns last year, and two-year starting quarterback Nathan Peterman, who threw for 2,855 and 27 scores with just seven picks.

Add to that list a very reliable tight end in Scott Orndoff, two all-conference offensive linemen and five of a nationally-ranked front seven on defense and you can see there is plenty to replace.

Unfortunately for Narduzzi the list ended up getting unexpectedly larger over the summer with defensive end Rori Blair, who had recorded 10 sacks over two seasons, dismissed from the team for disciplinary actions.

The Panthers will also be without standout junior safety Jordan Whitehead and senior Mike linebacker Quintin Wirginis, who will both serve three game suspensions, and offensive tackle Alex Bookser who will sit out the season-opener against FCS national power Youngstown State.

“This will be a disciplined program,” Narduzzi told the press earlier this summer. “We’re going to go by details inside too. I’m a coach’s kid. Growing up, if I was one minute late, I ain’t going out for the next month. That just how it is.

“We’re going to be disciplined. As soon as you lose your discipline, you lose your credibility as a football coach and as a program. It’s going to be little things. It’s going to vary from time to time. (These situations) are an accumulation of three months of stuff that comes out one day.”

Offensively the quarterback position is still up for grabs, however, senior Southern California transfer Max Browne (6-5, 230) has the inside track to start. Red-shirt sophomore Ben DiNucci (6-2, 215) is hot on Browne’s heels with.

“Max Browne has the confidence to make downfield throws,” Narduzzi said. “And Ben Dinucci has that confidence to put the ball where it needs to be and make that big throw.

“You have to be accurate. Ultimately, you want to keep your offense on the field. Those guys with long drives make life a lot easier for everybody. But those five-yard gains are good also.”

A pair of seniors return at wide-out in senior Jester Weah (6-3, 210) and junior Quadree Henderson (5-8, 190). Henderson, who caught 26 passes for 287 yards and a score, has also been used at running back, having ran for 631 yards on 60 totes and four scores last season.

Sophomores Aaron Matthews (6-4, 205) and Tre Tipton (6-0, 190) will also see plenty of playing time. The remainder of the wide receiving corps include juniors Rafael Araujo-Lopes and Kellen McAlone, sophomore Maurice French and freshmen Dontavius Butler, Ruben Flowers, Michael Smith, Darian Street and Michael Vardzel.

Junior Qadree Ollison, who was the starter in 2015 while Conner was out battling cancer, carried 212 times for 1,121 yards and 11 scores two years ago. Ollison (6-2, 225) will get the starting job back this season with freshman A.J. Davis (6-0, 205) nipping at his heels.

Others are Darrin Hall, sophomore Chawntez Moss and freshmen Todd Sibley, Kyle Vreen and Shawn Wood.

Returning at fullback will be junior George Aston (6-0, 245), who had five rushing touchdowns as a sophomore. Moss will be the top back-up with senior Colton Lively also available.

Senior Chris Clark (6-6, 255) gets the call at tight-end after playing at UCLA in 2015 and sitting out last season while senior Thomas MacVittie (6-5, 225) as his main back-up. Seniors Nate Bossory and Devon Edwards could see playing time with sophomore DeAndre Schifino and freshmen Tyler Sear, Charles Reeves, a Steubenville High School graduate, and Grant Carrigan on the roster.

Freshman Justin Morgan (6-6, 355) could see playing time until Bookser returns while senior Alex Officer (6-4, 335), a two-time All-ACC performer is the left guard. All-conference left tackle Brian O’Neill (6-6, 300) returns while senior Jaryd Jones-Smith (6-7, 325) is at right tackle and junior Connor Dintino (6-3, 310) is the center.

Officer could also move to center if needed while Tony Pilato (6-5, 320), Brandon Ford (6-5, 300), Justin Morgan (6-6, 355) and Bryce Hargrove (6-4, 300) are the top reserves on the offensive line.

Other linemen are Jerry Drake, Jr, Owen Drexel, Brandon Ford, Mike Herndon, Gabe Houy, Jimmy Morrissey, Brian O?Neill and Carter Warren.

Getting the call at one defensive end will be junior Dewayne Hendrix (6-4, 260), who hasn’t played since 2014 at Tennessee, while junior James Folston, Jr. (6-3, 245) gets the call on the other end with Blair gone. Senior Allen Edwards (6-4, 245) will also see playing time.

Others who will battle for playing time are Bryce Hargrove, Zack Gilbert and Shane Roy.

Senior Jeremiah Taleni (6-2, 290) is back at nose-tackle with freshman Keyshon Camp behind him while sophomore Amir Watts (6-3, 285) gets the call ahead of Roy.

A large group of back-up line is led by Deslin Alexandre, Kamonte Carter, Julian Desire?, Connor Dinitino, Patrick Jones II, Jaylen Twyman, Carson Van Lynn, Rashad Weaver and Rashad Wheeler.

Freshman Chase Pine (6-2, 240) could get his shot at Mike linebacker with Wirginis’ suspension while sophomore Saleem Brightwell (6-0, 210) is the Money backer, Elijah Zeise behind him, and junior Oluwaseun Idowu, who was third on the team in tackles a season ago, the Star linebacker. Sophomore Anthony McKee is the back-up.

Also available are Cameron Bright, Dominic Cuono, Peyton Deri, Jim Medure, Kyle Nunn, Brian Popp, Kaezon Pugh, Elias Reynolds, Erik Sellers and Albert Tucker.

Senior Avonte Maddox (5-9, 175) is at corner with junior Phillipie Motley (5-10, 175) while junior Dennis Briggs (5-10, 190) is scheduled to fill in for Whitehead at strong safety. The free safety is sophomore Jay Stocker (6-2, 185) with Paris Ford behind him while sophomore Dane Jackson (6-0, 180) starts at the other corner with Damar Hamlin in the wings.

Other defensive backs will be Cal Adomitis, Mark Bernsdorff, Rob Boatright, Conrad Blake, Phil Campbell III, Therran Coleman, Rimoni Dorsey, Bricen Garner, Malik Henderson, Damarri Mathis, Henry Miller, Jason Pinnock, and Jalen Williams.

Freshman Alex Kessman will handle the placekicking with senior Ryan Winslow back to punt and hold for placements. Nate Bossory is the long-snapper while Henderson and Maddox will handle returns.

Narduzzi has vowed to keep his sideline demeanor in check this season, something that has not always been the case.

“I’m going to try and always protect our football team,” he said. “I don’t ever want to be that guy that people say, ‘he doesn’t really care, he looks disengaged?. I’m going to be engaged and I’m going to try and show my personality.

“I’m not going to get a 15-yard penalty, I can tell you that. That’s not going to be me, I’ll have to control that. But I have taken it as close to the edge as I could (in the past).”

(Time TBA Unless Noted)

Sept. 2 — Youngstown State, 1

Sept. 9 — at Penn St., 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 16 — Oklahoma St., noon

Sept. 23 — at Georgia Tech

Sept. 30 — Rice

Oct. 7 — at Syracuse

Oct. 14 — N.C. State

Oct. 21 — at Duke

Oct. 28 — Virginia

Nov. 9 — N. Carolina, 8 p.m.

Nov. 18 — at Virginia Tech

Nov. 24 — Miami