Cancer free, Pitt star Conner ready to play football
The Pitt football team opens the 2015 season at home against Youngstown State at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 5, 2015.Photographer: Pete Madia/Pitt Athletics
Pittsburgh running back James Conner, left, talks with head coach Pat Narduzzi during the NFL scouts Pro Day college football workout at Pittsburgh, Wednesday, March 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
James Conner doesn’t care where he plays, how he plays or how much he plays, he just wants to play football.
That was the driving force behind the Pitt redshirt junior running back’s six-month recovery from Hodgkin lymphoma, and toward that end, he joined his teammates in the Panthers’ first day of training camp.
Conner was diagnosed in November but continued training and working out during his chemotherapy, even participating in spring practices with a surgical mask to protect his weakened immune system. In May, was declared cancer free by his medical team. Throughout, the goal was to get back on the football field.
“Being out there with my teammates who competed all summer with me and who stuck by my side through my whole journey, it’s just awesome to be back,” Conner said after completing his first practice.
Even before his diagnosis, Conner’s 2015 season had taken a frustrating turn. He tore a medial collateral ligament in Pitt’s season opener against Youngstown State and wasn’t able to return.
That means he has a decent amount of rust to shake off to return to the form that made him the ACC Player of the Year in 2014, when he rushed for 1,765 yards and scored 26 touchdowns. Physically, he has no limitations, but to get his timing back, it’s all about getting reps in camp.
“You have to be in shape, just getting the feel and getting back into the rhythm of things,” he said. “That’ll come with reps in practice. Every day, I work on every part of my game. It won’t take long.”
“It’s the mental part of the game that you need,” agreed coach Pat Narduzzi. “It’s not just running the ball. Some people might think that playing running back is easy – you just carry the ball and find a whole. But there’s a lot more to it than that.”
In Conner’s absence, Qadree Ollison turned in a 1,121-yard season that earned him ACC Offensive Freshman of the Year honors. They’ll be joined by senior Rachid Ibrahim, sophomore Darren Hall and freshman Chawntez Moss in what could be a crowded backfield.
“They’ve proven that they can carry the load,” Conner said of his backfield mates. “Without me, they had something great going. I’m just trying to add to it.”
The plethora of running talent has led to new offensive coordinator Matt Canada tinkering with some multi-back sets and with Conner lining up at wide receiver from time to time this season. Conner has done some pass-catching drills in addition to working out with the first team at running back.
Wherever he ends up and whatever his role will be, Conner feels forever changed by his experience.
“It’s bigger than the game of football,” he said. “It’s bigger than myself. The impact that I’ve had on others, I don’t take that for granted any more. I’m just thankful to God. My teammates won’t ever hear me complain again and they won’t be complaining, either. Anything is better than receiving chemotherapy. I’d rather be out here playing football.”
With one milestone checked off, Conner can turn his thoughts to the season opener Sept. 3 at home against Villanova, and his ultimate goal of leading the Panthers back out of the tunnel at Heinz Field.
The Panthers began the Narduzzi era with a promising 8-5 mark last fall. Enthusiasm surrounding the program is rising. There will be plenty of chances to make noise in Year Two thanks to a schedule that includes the renewal of an old rivalry when Penn State visits in September and a visit to Clemson in early November.
This is exactly what Narduzzi had in mind when he took over for Paul Chryst more than 18 months ago. A head coach for the first time in his career, he’s settled into the job. So, it seems, have the Panthers.
“I’m a little grayer, I’ve got a little less hair,” Narduzzi said. “Our kids know what they’re doing. There’s more recall in what we’re doing. They could go out there and really run the practice themselves. They know the offense, they know the defense, and they know the tempo we want.”
Pitt’s ability to reach improve on 2015 will depend on how quickly the offense gets going under Canada and if the defense can continue to make strides after an impressive start under Narduzzi’s watch last fall. The Panthers’ biggest issue in recent years has been consistency. Too often they will back up impressive wins with puzzling losses.