Pitt seniors will work out for NFL scouts and personnel executives today at the school's annual Pro Timing Day, but things will be different than in past years.

Second-year coach Dave Wannstedt has made a number of changes to the schedule for the event this year in hopes that it will give more of his players a chance to get drafted or signed as free agents.

"We had to re-organize some things, just try and make it better for our players," Wannstedt said. "We have guys from about 20 teams coming in, from scouts to personnel guys and even some coaches and I will meet with them all before the workouts begin.

"It is something different I wanted to do for our players to show them we are committed to helping them get to the next level. It is the way they do things at programs like Miami that produce a lot of NFL players and it is the way we are going to do things here."

Wannstedt and his staff will meet with the scouts at 6 a.m. today at the UPMC Sports Performance Complex on the South Side and review tape with them. The team's medical staff will be available to answer questions and perform any tests that are requested. Wannstedt's assistant coaches also will meet with the representatives from the NFL teams to answer any questions about individual players.

The reason behind the changes to the format is so the Panthers can give as much information as possible to the NFL teams about every player who has aspirations to play professionally.

All of the seniors from last year's team -- as well as junior receiver Greg Lee, who left school a year early -- are expected to be in attendance at the combine-style workout today.

Lee, along with cornerback Josh Lay and offensive guard Charles Spencer, were at the NFL combine in Indianapolis a month ago and are the three Panthers who are likely to get drafted. But a number of other players, such as kicker Josh Cummings, linebacker J.J. Horne and tight end Erik Gill, should benefit from the exposure today and at least put themselves in position to sign free-agent contracts after the draft.

Wannstedt also will have his seniors-to-be, including Tyler Palko and H.B. Blades, work out for the scouts in order to get them some exposure as well.

"We're stepping it up big time," said Wannstedt, who spent 16 years as a coach in the NFL with the Cowboys, Bears and Dolphins. "I think it is my job to use all of my resources and knowledge of the game to give each of these guys the best shot possible of making it to the NFL. And for guys like Tyler and H.B., the experience will be invaluable.

"The goal is to get as much real exposure for our kids as possible."

The workouts are closed to agents, the media and public, but there will be a large number of potential recruits on unofficial visits in attendance.