Pitt Football: Another Look At Redshirting Isaac Bennett

Last week, I mentioned the possibility of Pitt redshirting Isaac Bennett. I still stand by that and think it would be a good move if Ray Graham and Rushel Shell can stay healthy, but I can understand the logic that Pitt could use all three.

ESPN's Andrea Adelson seems to think using all three would be best.

In answering a question last week from a reader, Adelson says there's room for the trio:

Anybody who has seen Chryst at Wisconsin knows he is not afraid to play three running backs, so my guess on what they do with Shell really depends on how ready he is to contribute right out of the gate. We have no idea what shape Graham is going to be in when he returns, so that is also a major question mark. But given the way Pitt wants to run the ball this season, I think there is more than enough room for Graham, Bennett and Shell. You can't just have two running backs ready to go anymore.

Adelson's clearly right about needing more than just two backs. But as I said, if Graham and Shell are healthy (and assuming Shell beats out Bennett), time will be hard to come by for Bennett. Because of that, I'd play someone capable, such as Corey Davis, as the third back instead.

By redshirting Bennett, he'd be eligible to come back in 2013 and still have three years ahead of him. And if he's better than Davis, that move would make all the sense in the world as long as Graham and Shell take the bulk of the carries in 2012.

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