When Zac Brown Zach Brown decided to transfer to Pitt, it seemed like the Panthers were going to have the change of pace back they needed. Brown was reportedly a bruising runner who could spell Ray Graham when needed and perhaps contribute as a third-down back.
Yeah, um, so that might not exactly be the case.
Take this for what it's worth, but Brown looks to be competing for more than that. For starters, the PG's Paul Zeise has taken notice of him in camp and says there's more to him than just being a bruiser:
Again, no pads, only shirts and t-shirts, but here is a guy I really like a lot - Wisconsin transfer Zach Brown - I think he can add a lot to this team. He is fast, faster than I thought, has quick feet and to me, looks like a guy who nobody really wants to tackle when he gets rolling. And he catches the ball well out of the backfield as well.
Now don't get confused - Brown himself says he's more of a tough runner and no one would know better than him:
"I have confidence and experience. I know I can play the game. I'm more between the tackles and more of a bruising back, where Ray [Graham] can make a man miss," Brown said.
But he could be bringing more to the table than simply chipping in here and there.
So, could Brown conceivably start over Graham?
He says that's the goal:
"Ray has the most experience right now with Pittsburgh," Brown said. "But we are all trying to be that guy."
"I did some research and looked around and saw that Pitt only had one running back on scholarship and that they were going to run this high-octane offense, so it seemed like a great fit," said Brown, who said outside linebackers coach Randall McCray, who coached at Wisconsin from 2006-09, helped the process.
"He has a lot of experience, he has good ball skills, he understands how to be a strong runner so he can break some tackles and do some of the power stuff. And to be honest, I envision him being a guy who is competing with Ray for the job and I know we will use both of them."