Three Pitt players named to Athlon Preseason All-American Teams

Athlon released its 2016 Preseason All-American Teams and three Panthers found their way onto the list.

Leading things off is offensive tackle Adam Bisnowaty, who made the second team. Defensive end Ejuan Price and safety Jordan Whitehead also made the cut for the third team.

Seeing Bisnowaty make a team was to be expected. He is a three-year starter that helped pave the way for James Conner's monster season two years ago and he made the All-ACC Coaches First Team last season.

It was also great to see Price and Whitehead get recognition. I think Whitehead especially deserved to be on a team, but I wasn't sure he would since he only made the ACC's Third Team last season. Judging these sorts of things are always sort of tricky since no one can see every player across the country all the time. But I was a big fan of what he did last year.

Price's situation is one I'll be watching this year. He had some gaudy stats last season with 11 1/2 sacks but it will be interesting to see if he's able to duplicate that again since five of his sacks came in one game against Louisville. But if you're looking for a more deserving guy in terms of what he's been through, I'm not sure there is one. He was a highly-touted linebacker that played well as a true freshman in 2011. In 2012, he redshirted and suffered a pectoral injury. He played only a half season in 2013 as a hybrid LB/DE before suffering a season-ending back injury then missed all of 2014 with a chest injury before last year's big season. It was amazing to see what he accomplished in 2015 for as little as he played in the three years before that.

Between injuries and position changes, that guy has been through it all.

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