Tyler Boyd and Ray Vinopal should be two of Pittsburgh’s best players in the program’s second season in the ACC, and both met with reporters at this year’s ACC Football Kickoff. Here are the top nuggets from the two Panthers standouts:
*In just his second year at the college level, Boyd says he’s comfortable in a leadership role for Pitt’s offense. The sophomore said he was counted on as a leader last year after Devin Street went down with an injury against Syracuse. Boyd caught 17 passes for 271 yards and a touchdown in the two games following Street’s season-ending injury.
*Boyd didn’t hesitate to say that he believes the Panthers are contenders in the Coastal Division. On Monday, the media predicted Pittsburgh to finish sixth in the division, although the team did receive two first-place votes.
*Vinopal, who is entering his redshirt senior year, will be starting on his MBA this fall.
*During his freshman year, Boyd took both first- and second-team reps in practice and says he already has good chemistry with new starting quarterback Chad Voytik.