Pitt's offense is both diverse and balanced, and its strength is in the number of playmakers.

And, in recent weeks, that list has grown by one. Given his size and ability to catch, it has been a welcome addition to a group that already included Jonathan Baldwin, Dion Lewis, Dorin Dickerson and Nate Byham.

Redshirt freshman receiver Mike Shanahan has caught seven passes in the past three games and, seemingly, every one has been in a key situation.

Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said that Shanahan has become a valuable weapon for Pitt because he is such a big target (6 feet 5) and so reliable.

"There is no substitute for his height, and you combine that with a guy who has good hands," Wannstedt said. "He is a smart guy, too, so he is a fast learner. So, even though he is a redshirt freshman, he understands what we're trying to do and, when his number has been called, he has responded.

"He had a very good training camp before he broke that bone in his hand, so we were really disappointed when he got hurt because we expected him to be a big part of this thing. It is good to have him back."

Shanahan, from Norwin High School, graded out perfect nearly every day in terms of catching the football in fall camp. He was especially good at catching the jump ball/fade patterns in the end zone, which is no surprise because he was an excellent basketball player in high school and had a number of scholarship offers in that sport.

But, after a bone in his left hand was broken, he missed the first four weeks of the season.

He picked up right where he left off, however, and quickly made his way back into the four-man rotation at receiver within two weeks..

Although Shanahan has caught mostly short passes on third down, he cringes a little bit when he is referred to as a "possession receiver" because he also has made a few big plays and is faster than he looks.

Wannstedt agreed, adding that Shanahan will be more than just a possession receiver once he gets a little more experience and gets more chances to make plays.

"I would put him in the category of, I don't know what he runs in the 40, but he carries his pads well, he's all playing speed," Wannstedt said. "There are some guys who run a 4.5 40, but you put the shoulder pads on them and start banging them around and all of the sudden they have average speed. But he carries his pads well and, whatever he runs, it doesn't change when he is in the games.

"And he also has great body control because of the basketball."

Shanahan said he is OK with his role as long as he gets opportunities to show what he can do.

He said his excellent performance in preseason camp was not an accident, but rather the result of a lot of hard work in the offseason. He said he did not play as well as he needed to in the spring and that motivated him to work harder.

"At first, it was just a matter of getting adjusted again," Shanahan said. "But I just try to, in the run game, block downfield, and try to make catches and convert third downs. That is what my game is all about. I'm not the fastest, I'm not the most athletic, but I just try to get the job done."

So far, he has been able to do just that and he already has made a good offense more dangerous.

NOTES -- Wannstedt was named a semifinalist for the George Munger Award which is presented to the college coach of the year. ... Freshman tailback Dion Lewis, from Albany, N.Y., said he played one game in the Carrier Dome, Syracuse's home field. "It was like two years ago, we played in the state championship game and we lost, 33-7, or something like that," he said, then laughed.

Next

• Game: No. 14 Pitt (7-1, 4-0 Big East) vs. Syracuse (3-5, 0-3).

• When: Noon Saturday.

• Where: Heinz Field.

• TV: ESPNU.

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