Scott McKillop Likely Out For Season

Former Pitt LB Scott McKillop was hurt during practice on Wednesday.  An MRI showed he is likely out for the season after tearing his patellar tendon and ACL.  McKillop was huge for the 49ers last season, leading the team in tackles on special teams.  And while he wasn't tabbed as the starter ahead of Takeo Spikes this season, he was a strong contender for the backup position.

It's even more unfortunate that the injury took place this season as it could be an audition of sorts to take over the MLB job if Spikes, in the final year of his contract, doesn't return.  His backup this season may have the advantage.  Still, McKillop is a hard worker, so it not be too much for him to overcome.

This ironically opens the door for Penn State draft pick Navorro Bowman to come in and get more playing time.

The injury is just the latest one of a handful of others for the 49ers.

Pitt's Satellite Sites Are Back

Pitt has again created satellite sites for a few of its players.  This year, Dion Lewis, Greg Romeus, and Jonathan Baldwin got the honors.  The pages are pretty extensive with photos, videos, stats, etc.

In past years, Lesean McCoy, Scott McKillop, and Andy Lee have had sites.

Pitt also has its special football-only satellite site again this year (http://www.gopittfootball.com/).

Nate Byham Inks Deal

Former Pitt Tight End Nate Byham signed a four-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers.  The Niners drafted him in the sixth round of the NFL Draft this Spring.

Byham joins several Pitt Alumni out in San Francisco including last year's draft pick Scott McKillop, Andy Lee, and Shawntae Spencer, who's been offering some advice during the recent minicamp sessions:

As a proud University of Pittsburgh alum, Spencer was pleased to see another Panther drafted by the 49ers in consecutive seasons. Spencer approached rookie tight end Nate Byham in the locker room on Thursday to check in and offer advice. “He said it’s been tough and I told him, ‘Just keep swinging. Keep your head up and stay positive.’”

He's also been busy out there making charity visits.  The 49er website has some video up of their new signee.

Off to Good Starts

Pitt's top two NFL Draft Picks, LeSean McCoy and Scott McKillop got off to good starts.

McKillop led the 49ers in tackles with nine (eight solo) in their 17-16 win over the Broncos. I watched this game and McKillop was all around the ball on a lot of plays.

Meanwhile, Shady (presumably getting the start with Westbrook out - I didn't see the game), led the Eagles with 55 yards rushing on 10 carries.

Yes, I know it's the preseason, but still...

Is it Sinking in Yet?

Not sure. But one thing is clear - McKillop is now a Pro, having signed a contract a while back.

Scott always seemed well grounded, but this still struck me a bit:

Scott McKillop isn't ready to splurge.

"I bought a computer, but that's about it so far," said the former Pitt and Kiski Area star linebacker. "I'm not getting a car or anything like that. I am going to invest it in the bank."

Maybe it's just me...maybe the 'splurging' will come. But that's pretty disciplined - not even buying a car? I wonder how long that will last. Good for him - it seems like he's headed in the right direction.

I'm extremely curious to see what kind of pro he'll make. I think he'll be a solid 8-12 year player in the NFL, barring injury. Don't think he'll turn into a star, but then again, he proved everyone wrong on the college level.

Scott McKillop Checks In

Scott McKillop is the latest athlete who will be doing one of the tired rookie draft diaries. His first entry doesn't share much - the most eventful part is when he talks about his bumpy flight out to the West Coast:

We actually hit some pretty bad turbulence flying into Denver. It was probably the worst turbulence I’ve ever had in my life, so I started to say my Hail Mary’s and the Lord’s Prayer over and over again. I’m sure everyone was a little worried; meanwhile I was gripping the chair in front of me as tight as I could.

Um, hopefully these get better...it's a long way till football season.

Local Markets React to NFL Draft

In the aftermath of the NFL Draft, Shady McCoy's high school coach sees shades of Ricky Watters:

Weachter coached McCoy at Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg. McDevitt also produced Ricky Watters, back when. Weachter did not coach Watters, but he is like the rest of us, interested in the comparisons between the two running backs. Weachter says he has a witness.

"My defensive coordinator was there when Ricky played," Weachter said. "He told me that at the end of LeSean's junior year, he was better than Ricky as a senior."

While, Larry Weisman of USA Today likes what the Eagles did, he's not sold on the 49ers draft...including the acquisition of Scott McKillop.

"WR Michael Crabtree fell to them and they grabbed him. They did not have much to work with after that, though, and they may not have done much with what they had. RB Glen Coffee shows few measureable NFL skills, does not approach what they have in Frank Gore. LB Scott McKillop is essentially Coffee's equal, though he excelled in combine workouts. Looks like a journeyman. QB Nate Davis joins a carousel, decent value in fifth round."

During his conference call with the media, McKillop says he didn't know of any interest on the 49ers end.

RE: Did you expect that the 49ers had a lot of interest in you?

“Not really. The first time that I was able to meet with the 49ers was actually the last day I was at the combine when not Head Coach Singletary but his nephew I believe approached me. He had an opportunity to… He had previously coached at Buffalo and we had a little, quick time to talk for about 10 minutes and that was my first opportunity. I really wasn’t aware of this, but I’m more than happy right now.”

Meanwhile, the Bears only seem interested in Derek Kinder's blocking ability.

Kent Somers states what most of us already know - if LaRod Stephens-Howling has a chance to make the team, it's going to be because of his ability as a kick returner.

I know it's still to early to tell, but it looks like McCoy and McKillop could both be steals. We'll see.

NFL Draft Recap

After, getting some hosting and website issues resolved, hopefully this will be the last layoff in a long time.

This past weekend was fairly successful for the Panthers as several players were drafted...albeit, some a little lower than maybe they anticipated.

LeSean McCoy, hoping to be a first-round pick, fell to the lower end of the second round. As the article mentions, Shady may have cost himself as much as $30 - $40 million had he come back and been a top ten pick. That may be true, but considering where he was drafted, it would have been a reach for him to get that high. Many teams wait to select running backs and he would have really had to have a breakout year to move up that high.

Scott McKillop was next for the Panthers - down in the 5th round. But he didn't sound too disappointed in it. The PG played up the angle of McKillop going to play under Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary.

"It is great to be drafted by a guy who is the best player ever at the position I am trying to play," McKillop said. "I'm happy ... I said, just give me an opportunity and I'll make the most of it by any means necessary. Obviously I would have liked to get picked sooner, but the thing is, the 49ers have a spot for me and really wanted me, and that means more.

"I think finding the right fit for me was the most important thing and I really believe that this is a great, great situation for me."

Pitt then ended up with a pair of seventh rounders in LaRod Stephens-Howling and Derek Kinder. It was good to see both of them get drafted after some trying circumstances. LSH seemed genuinely excited about getting drafted:

“I couldn’t think of a better birthday present,” Stephens-Howling said from his Johnstown home, where he watched the draft with some immediate family members.

“I was told the whole time that I could go from the sixth round to free agent,” he said. “I just tried to relax as much as I could and take my mind off it. Seattle and Arizona called me about being a free agent before I got drafted, so I was thinking I was only going to be a free agent.

Kinder also got a mention in his local paper in Buffalo.

“I got a phone call first, and I was just getting antsy. I had to leave the house and play catch for a little bit with my (5-year-old) nephew when the Cardinals called. (But) it’s a great feeling. ... We just celebrated mine (pick), then saw (former Pitt player) Rashad (Jennings). I felt good for him, and then we saw Derek Kinder. It was great to see guys you know get a chance.”

Almost lost in the mix was former Panther Rashad Jennings who went on to have a pretty good career at I-AA Liberty with 1,500+ yards last year - he was drafted right before Kinder.

Another former Pitt player, running back Rashad Jennings, was chosen by Jacksonville one pick ahead of Kinder. Jennings played for the Panthers as a freshman in 2005, but transferred before his sophomore season to Division I-AA Liberty in his hometown of Lynchburg, Va.

After the draft, two Pitt players hoping to be drafted, long-snapper Mark Estermyer and offensive lineman C.J. Davis, quickly found homes with the Steelers and Carolina Panthers respectively. Was a little surprised to see C.J. fall. There had been talk about him getting drafted in a late round.

The Road to the NFL Starts Here

Lesean McCoy had a bout with the flu, strong enough to knock him out of the combine. Also, Shady admits he made a mistake when he basically guaranteed he would return to Pitt for his Junior season.

"I honestly made a big mistake," said McCoy, who is here along with hundreds of other draft prospects for the NFL Scouting Combine. "That close loss just had me so frustrated."

Meanwhile, as Scott McKillop prepares himself, scouting services appear unsure of where he could go in the draft.

ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay projects McKillop as a situational and special-teams player because of questions about his athleticism. McShay said he doesn't expect McKillop will get drafted until after the fourth round.

NFLDraftScout.com has McKillop rated at the No. 4 prospect at inside linebacker and projects the Export resident as a third-round pick because of his instincts and his production at Pitt.

Both McCoy and McKillop were named as two of the top five players that will be the toughest to replace in the Big East by ESPN Blogger Brian Bennett.

Also, lineman C.J. Davis is hoping for a shot.

Women's Basketball Links

Pitt seems to be doing quite a bit of this - making pages for individual athletes. They already exist for Lesean McCoy, Scott McKillop, and Conor Lee. Now, there's one for Shavonte Zellous. Maybe I missed the boat on these before, but I think they're fairly new.

In real news, guard Jania Sims is out for the season after playing in only the first game and forward Kate Popovec will be out for a few weeks with a sprained ankle. Sims will apply for a medical redshirt.

Also, as expected, the women's team fell out of the rankings after a week that saw them lose two games. They settled in just outside the AP's top 25 at #26.