McCoy, McKillop Earn Big East Honors

The Pitt football team came close to sweeping the Big East's weekly awards, as sophomore tailback LeSean McCoy and fifth-year senior middle linebacker Scott McKillop earned top offensive and defensive honors, respectively for their performances in the Panthers' 19-15 win against West Virginia Saturday.

Pittsburgh fifth-year senior punter Dave Brytus made the Conference's honor roll, while Cincinnati place-kicker Jake Rogers earned the special teams award for booting three field goals -- including two 45-yarders -- in the Bearcats' Big East title-clinching 30-10 victory against Syracuse.

LeSean McCoy ran for a career-best 183 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns, including a score on the game-winning drive with 52 seconds remaining. McCoy leads the nation in scoring with 10.91 points per game, and he's eighth nationally in rushing with 118 yards per game. He has 35 total touchdowns in two seasons, eclipsing receiver Larry Fitzgerald's Pitt record for TDs scored as a freshman and sophomore (34 from 2002-03).

McCoy has produced back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons (1,308 this year and 1,328 as a true freshman) and currently ranks seventh all-time at Pitt with 2,636 rushing yards. It was the second time McCoy has earned the Big East's weekly offensive honor this year and the third time for his career.

Scott McKillop led the Panthers with seven total tackles and helped his team hold the Conference's most prolific rushing attack to nearly 100 yards less than its game average. A big chunk of West Virginia's rushing yardage came on the only touchdown Pitt allowed, a 54-yard jaunt by quarterback Pat White.

This is McKillop's fourth Big East weekly award this season and five overall. His play at the line against WVU was instrumental in holding dangerous tailback Noel Devine to just 17 rushing yards (1.4 yards per carry), which was nearly 100 yards less than his weekly average.

McKillop ranks first nationally in solo stops (6.91 per game), 12th in total tackles (10.27 per game) and 25th in tackles for loss (1.32 per game). He leads the Big East in each of those categories.

For more information, log on to LeSeanMcCoy25.com and ScottMcKillop40.com.

Brytus had four punts against WVU, including a booming 50-yarder, and all four were downed inside the 20-yard line. He averages 40.8 yards per punt this season with 17 kicks downed inside the 20 now, six that traveled more than 50 yards, 14 fair catches, two touchbacks and just one blocked.

Pitt plays at Connecticut Saturday in a noon ESPN national telecast. Already bowl eligible, the Panthers (8-3, 4-2 Big East) will be looking to enhance their post-season credentials with a win against the Huskies (7-4, 3-3).