June 30, 2008

       PITTSBURGH—Pitt’s LeSean McCoy, Scott McKillop and Derek Kinder have been named to the Maxwell Football Club’s “watch list” for two of college football’s most prestigious awards.

       McCoy, a sophomore tailback, and Kinder, a senior receiver, were named to the watch list for the Maxwell Award, annually presented to the nation’s outstanding player. McKillop, a senior middle linebacker, was named to the preseason list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, given each year to the country’s top defensive player.

       The Maxwell and Bednarik watch lists were both comprised of 75 players whose selections were based on their performance during the 2007 season.

       McCoy (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt/Milford Academy [N.Y.]) finished with a Big East freshman-record 1,328 rushing yards and led all freshmen nationally with an average of 110.67 yards per game. He was a unanimous Freshman All-American, the Big East Rookie of the Year and first team All-Big East Conference.

       McCoy set Pitt freshman records for points (90) and rushing touchdowns (14), breaking two longstanding marks established by the legendary Tony Dorsett (78 points and 13 rushing TDs) in 1973. After watching McCoy play last year, Dorsett quipped, “He reminded me of me.”

       Kinder (Albion, N.Y./Albion) is seeking a healthy return after missing all of last season due to a torn ACL sustained during training camp. He enjoyed an outstanding junior season in 2006, earning first team All-Big East. Kinder was also a 2006 semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, annually presented to the country’s top wideout, after leading the Panthers in both receptions (57) and receiving yards (847).

       Among Big East receivers that year Kinder ranked second in receptions per game (4.75) and third in receiving yards per game (70.6). His six TD catches were the second-highest total in the conference.

       McKillop (Export, Pa./Kiski Area) established himself as one of college football’s top defenders after leading the entire country in tackles last year (12.58 per game). He was selected to four All-America squads and additionally was a unanimous first-team All-Big East selection by league coaches and CollegeFootballNews.com’s Big East Defensive Player of the Year.

       McKillop was the centerpiece of one of Pitt’s finest defensive units in recent memory. The Panthers finished fifth nationally in total defense last year, yielding just 297.67 yards per game. The unit’s finest performance came in the season finale against West Virginia, a 13-9 upset in which Pitt yielded just one touchdown and only 183 total yards to the Mountaineers.

       It was McKillop who made one of the game’s pivotal plays, tossing aside a WVU offensive lineman and corralling tailback Steve Slaton a yard shy of the sticks on 4th-and-3 late in the fourth quarter. McKillop finished the year with 151 total tackles.

       Pitt opens the 2008 season on Aug. 30 against Bowling Green at Heinz Field. For ticket information, log on to PittsburghPanthers.com or call (800) 643-PITT.          

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