Panthers In All-Star Games

The University of Pittsburgh football program will have strong representation in this month's college football all-star games.

The Panthers will have four players participating in postseason games, including the Senior Bowl and Texas versus the Nation All-Star Challenge.

Pitt's Senior Bowl participants include All-America linebacker Scott McKillop and long-snapper Mark Estermyer. Played in Mobile, Ala., the game will be a 7 p.m. (ET) telecast on the NFL Network January 24.

McKillop enjoyed a highly-decorated final season at Pittsburgh this past fall. The 6-foot-2, 240-pounder was named to the 25-player All-America Team selected by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and additionally was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year by both Conference coaches and the media.

McKillop was one of the country's most prolific tacklers during the past two seasons, which were his only two as a starter. He had a team-high 137 stops as a fifth-year senior and compiled 344 for his career to rank 10th all-time at Pitt. He led the nation in tackles as a redshirt junior in 2007.

Estermyer, also a fifth-year senior and former walk-on, was a valuable contributor to Pitt's record-setting kicking game. He finished his career as a four-year letterman and impressed the Senior Bowl selectors with his exceptional reliability at the long-snapper position.

Senior fullback Conredge Collins and senior offensive lineman C.J. Davis will play in the Texas versus the Nation All-Star Challenge. The game, a CBS College Sports telecast, will be held January 31 at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. The game will kick off at 3 p.m. ET.

A three-year starter at Pitt, Collins gained recognition as one of college football's most diverse fullbacks. More than a just blocking back, an area where he excels, Collinshe also was solid carrying the football and as a receiver out of the backfield.

Davis was one of Pitt's most durable players, starting 43 consecutive games on the offensive line to close his career. A first-team All-Big East selection, Collins displayed his versatility this year when he moved from his familiar left guard position -- where he started three previous seasons -- to starting center due to injuries on the Panthers' offensive front.

Pitt finished the 2008 season with a 9-4 overall record and 5-2 mark in Big East play to finish second in the Conference standings.