The most experienced running back on Pitt's roster is redshirt sophomore Shariff Harris, who gained 21 yards on 12 carries last season. That might not seem like much, but it's a lot considering the experience level of his two chief rivals in the competition for starting tailback.

Chris Burns redshirted last season and Dion Lewis, who completed high school early and enrolled at Pitt in January, was playing his final season at Blair Academy in New Jersey last fall.

The Panthers lack experience at tailback because LeSean McCoy is leaving school early to pursue an NFL career and LaRod Stephens-Howling will graduate.

"They're all a little different," Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said of his prospects yesterday. "The challenge will be as a staff and players to say, 'OK, one guy might not get 35 carries, but what can I contribute to the team? What is my role on the team?'

"As coaches, we have to put them in positions where we can maximize their abilities. I think the running back position ... will be that way. Things could change, but I would anticipate that there will be some really good competition throughout [summer] camp and into the season.

"When you run the ball like we do, you need all the backs you can get. We've proven that. They'll all be a part of the success we have. Someone has to start, and I wouldn't see my declaring a starter until a week before the opener."

Lewis, who is 5 feet 8 and 190 pounds, was rated as one of the top 20 all-purpose backs in the country by Rivals and the No. 14 player in New Jersey.

Wannstedt has been impressed by his ability as well as his demeanor during the first few months he has been on campus.

"I've been very impressed. When a freshman comes in, you know that he has ability to play. The biggest factor with a freshman coming in early is how does he handle the transition from high school to college and do it at a time when no other freshmen are around? He's the only high school kid in his dorm. That's a little bit different. His class is showing up in June. He's here now.

"You have to be a special person," Wannstedt added. "You have to have a sense of maturity, a sense of responsibility to be able to come in and deal with that and be very productive out here. And he's doing that. He's doing a great job with that, a lot better than I anticipated, and that's why he's in the mix."

Accountability addressed

Wannstedt has been juggling his starting lineup at a few positions but said it has nothing to do with the on-field performances of the players that have temporarily lost their jobs. He said his issue with three players has more to do with their off-field responsibilities, including weight room, offseason program and academics.

For the time being, Lucas Nix is starting ahead of Joe Thomas at right tackle, Alex Karabin is starting at center ahead of Robb Houser, Antuan Reed is starting ahead of Aaron Berry at one cornerback position, and Andrew Taglianetti is getting more repetitions with the first team at safety.

"Sometimes a player might be doing well on the football field, but in my opinion he's not doing things to the best of his ability in other areas," Wannstedt said. "We got a few guys I'm not concerned about where they are football-wise, but I am concerned about them doing everything that's expected of them in all areas that affect this program."