Field day for Pitt contingent
Glamour portion of combine to start Friday for Panthers
The aftermath of Pitt’s loss to Northwestern in the Pinstripe Bowl was one of somber reflection for tight end Scott Orndoff, but he didn’t have to stew over it for too long.
Two days later, an awful feeling turned to awe when he learned all his hard work over the years would lead him to the biggest stage of the NFL draft process.
Orndoff is one of six Pitt players invited to the NFL scouting combine this week in Indianapolis, the largest contingent since 2011 and a group led by quarterback Nathan Peterman, who could have the brightest pro prospects of all.
The on-field portion of the annual football career convention — or meat market, for the more cynical — kicks off at 9 a.m. Friday morning with running backs, offensive linemen and specialists. It’ll be broadcast live on NFL Network, and it figures to be a busy day with tackle Adam Bisnowaty, guard Dorian Johnson and running back James Conner all hoping to build on the success they had at Pitt.
“I like the two offensive linemen. I think those are good players,” said NFL analyst and former Dallas Cowboys executive Gil Brandt. “I think they had a pretty good nucleus.”
While Conner’s story is well known, Bisnowaty and Johnson could find NFL teams that fall in love with the size and other physical attributes that carried them from the WPIAL to the ACC.
Bisnowaty, a Fox Chapel High School graduate, saw his hands measure up as the biggest of any offensive lineman in Indianapolis at 11⅜ inches.
Johnson, a Belle Vernon alumnus, has often impressed scouts with his wingspan as a 6-foot-5 guard, and his 35¼-inch arm length did nothing to dispel that.
The two road-graders up front are projected to be midround picks, and Conner could catch on with a team in the same range. Most of the attention in football circles, though, could be on Peterman.
After a stellar showing at the Senior Bowl practices and in the game in late January, not only has Peterman climbed up mock draft boards but he also has a standing invitation to talk shop with Jon Gruden on his ESPN show in the lead-up to the draft the final weekend of April.
“I’m not surprised at all,” Conner said last week. “I’ve seen him make NFL throws during games, after practice, during practice. I knew the talent he’s had and what he’s capable of doing. All the hype and buzz he’s getting right now is all well-deserved.”
Peterman’s position under center will always be the sexiest when draft time comes around, whether for teams looking to the future or for a current backup. He’s earning comparisons to Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins, a fourth-round pick from Michigan State in 2012 who has turned into an NFL starter.
Mitch Trubisky, Deshone Kizer and Deshaun Watson are the big names among signal-callers, but Peterman could be in the next tier.
“There’s no more sleepers, but I think he’s a guy that’s interesting in that he’ll bring a lot to camp,” said Brandt, who also likened Peterman to Dallas Cowboys rookie Dak Prescott. “I think any time you beat two teams in one season and the quarterback is very instrumental, as he was vs. both Penn State and Clemson, I think that’s the bottom line.”
For Orndoff and defensive end Ejuan Price, local players from Seton-LaSalle and Woodland Hills, the combine could present an opportunity to prove they’re worth a draft pick. Production wasn’t an issue for either, Price racking up 24½ sacks the past two seasons and Orndoff catching 35 passes for 579 yards and five touchdowns in 2016.
But Orndoff in particular knows that to be a weapon on offense at the next level, he’ll need to show some speed and quickness when he gets his 40-yard dash shot Saturday morning, along with Peterman and the other players at their spots. Price will run with the defensive linemen and linebackers Sunday morning.
“I still think I’m a little faster than people might think, so hopefully I can go out there and run a good time for myself, especially with all the training I’ve done,” said Orndoff, a Waynesburg native. “I feel like I can get some good times and show my athleticism that people might not have seen otherwise from watching film.”
Orndoff and his fellow Panthers are also excited to see each other once again. Odds are their time as teammates might be done. But maybe they’ll all end up on the same squad again somehow. At least one would make it happen if he were a general manager.
“To me, they’re all the best at every position,” Conner said. “Ejuan Price, I’m taking him on my team every day. Scottie, he’s a beast, I’m taking him on my team. Dorian and Biz, they’ve been blocking for me for years, so I’m taking them. And Nate, I’m taking him because he’s a great leader.”