Pitt's Conner Named To Fourth Preseason Watch List
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) - Pitt junior running back James Conner has received what appears to be an endless amount of preseason honors. The 6-foot-2, 240-pounder was named to the preseason watch list for the Walter Camp Award Friday, adding to an already loaded personal inventory of offseason recognition.
His name has also appeared on the watch lists for the Doak Walker Award (best running back), the Wuerffel Trophy (exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement) and the Maxwell Award (best football player). Additionally, Conner has been named a preseason All-American by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.
The Walter Camp Award is given every December to the nation's most outstanding player. Conner, an Erie McDowell High School graduate, will try to become the fourth Pitt player to claim the award. Tony Dorsett won it in 1976, while Hugh Green took it in 1980 and Larry Fitzgerald took it in 2003.
Last year, Conner became the first Pitt running back to receive first-team All-America honors since Craig "Ironhead" Heyward earned it in 1987.
Penn State junior quarterback Christian Hackenberg was also named to the watch list for the Walter Camp Award.