The player who will be counted on to help Pitt improve on its .500 record from last season:

Oderick Turner's value to the team doubled, perhaps tripled, the day Derek Kinder went down for the season with a knee injury. Turner, a redshirt sophomore, was the Panthers' second-leading receiver last season with 44 receptions for 660 yards. He averaged 15 yards per catch and led the team with eight touchdown receptions. Turner, a big receiver (6-3, 200) with great leaping ability, is the Panthers' deep threat. If he has a good season, it will force defenses to keep their safeties deeper in coverage and open things up for the Panthers' other talented receivers. If he doesn't pose a threat, defenses will give the Panthers' receivers much less room to operate.