May 13, 2010

PITTSBURGH--Another leading college football annual has predicted big things for Pitt in 2010.

Lindy's Football Preview picks the Panthers to win the Big East Conference and earn a Bowl Championship Series berth. Pitt is ranked 14th in the magazine's preseason Top 25.

Individually, three Panthers were named to the Lindy's All-America Team. Sophomore running back Dion Lewis and senior defensive end Greg Romeus were named first team All-Americans, while junior receiver Jon Baldwin was a second-team selection.

The 5-foot-8, 195-pound Lewis (Albany, N.Y./Blair Academy [N.J.]) ranked third nationally in rushing last year (138.38 yards/game). He was named to no fewer than eight postseason All-America teams and also earned Big East Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors.

Lewis' running style and high production sparked comparisons to some of the top backs in school history. He finished with 1,799 yards and 17 touchdowns on 325 carries (5.5 avg.), the second highest yardage in Pitt annals. Only the legendary Tony Dorsett, who eclipsed 2,000 yards during his 1976 Heisman Trophy campaign, rushed for more yards in a single season at Pitt.

Romeus (Coral Springs, Fla./Coral Glades) was the 2009 Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year (shared with graduated teammate Mick Williams) after collecting 43 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and a team-high eight sacks. He additionally had three forced fumbles, an interception, a fumble recovery and blocked PAT.

The 6-foot-6, 270-pound Romeus was a finalist for the 2009 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award and additionally was selected to three different All-America teams, including CollegeFootballNews.com (second team), Sporting News (third team) and Rivals (third team).

Baldwin (Aliquippa, Pa./Aliquippa) was a first-team All-Big East performer after compiling 57 catches for 1,111 yards (19.5 avg.) with eight touchdowns. A big play waiting to happen, he had touchdown catches of 79 and 71 yards as well as a 61-yard rush last year.

Baldwin was one of only three receivers nationally to top 1,000 yards and average at least 19.5 yards per reception in 2009.

Over the past two seasons, Pitt has produced 19 wins, the second highest total in the Big East Conference and among the top 25 nationally. The Panthers are 20-7 (.741) over their last 27 games, dating back to the landmark 13-9 upset at West Virginia on Dec. 1, 2007 -- the first victory over a team ranked No. 1 in school history.

Pitt will play one of the most-anticipated season openers in the country in 2010 when it travels to Utah for a Sept. 2 game. The Panthers and Utes will kick off at 8:30 p.m. (ET) for a national telecast on Versus.

For season-ticket information, log on to PittsburghPanthers.com or call (800) 643-PITT.

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