Jan. 20, 2010

   PITTSBURGH—The Pitt Panthers will be well represented in this month’s college football all-star games.

   Pitt will have three players participating in postseason games, including the East-West Shrine Game and Senior Bowl.

   The Panthers’ East-West Shrine Game participants include cornerback Aaron Berry and tight end Nate Byham. Played in Orlando at the Florida Citrus Bowl, the game will be a 3 p.m. (ET) ESPN2 telecast on January 23.

   The following week, tight end Dorin Dickerson will represent Pitt in the Senior Bowl, which will be held January 30 in Mobile, Ala., at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The game will be a 4 p.m. (ET) telecast on the NFL Network.

   Berry finished his career as a two-time All-Big East selection. As a senior, he was a first-team honoree after collecting 31 tackles, 10 pass breakups and an interception despite missing two games due to injury.

   Byham is the first tight end in Pitt history to twice be named to the All-Big East Team. He was an integral contributor to the Big East’s top rushing attack this past season and also had 10 receptions for 108 yards (10.8 avg.).

   Dickerson was named to the 25-player All-America Team selected by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) following a highly productive senior year. He set a Pitt single-season record for a tight end with 10 touchdown catches and had 49 receptions for 529 yards (10.8 avg.) overall.

   Dickerson became the first Pitt tight end to earn first-team All-America status since the legendary Mike Ditka was honored in 1960. He additionally was named a finalist for the 2009 John Mackey Award, annually presented to the country’s top tight end, and selected first-team All-Big East.

   Pitt finished No. 15 in both The Associated Press rankings and USA Today coaches’ poll. The lofty rating was earned following a 10-3 season that included a 19-17 victory over North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. 

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