Published: August 11, 2007 11:56 pm         

Corson seeking eligibility

PITTSBURGH — Nothing has come easy for Scott Corson at Pitt.

First, the Greater Johnstown graduate had to try to learn a new position at the collegiate level.

Now, he’s battling just to be academically eligible so that he has a chance to get on the field.

“I’m sitting on an academic thing right now,” Corson said during the team’s media day on Monday. “Depending on last semester … I’m having trouble, me and this professor (with) a lost midterm. I’m still in the dark. I don’t even know yet. When the summer grades are out, I’ll find out.”

For now, Corson will just keep practicing, the same thing that he did all of last season while redshirting as a freshman. There was plenty to take in for Corson, who was a Tribune-Democrat All-Area team member as a senior guard for Johnstown in 2005. He made an abrupt change to center when he got to Pitt.

It wasn’t an easy transition.

He also got some reps at guard and tackle last year.

“I’m still working at center,” Corson said. “In the beginning (it was difficult), but I’m starting to learn everything a lot more. I’m learning all the aspects of playing center.”

Corson likely will serve as a backup this season, with senior Chris Vangas and redshirt sophomore John Bachman in a fight for the starting job at center.

During his media day press conference, Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt emphasized his desire to have senior starters on the line.

“Let’s not minimize the importance of our 11 (scholarship) seniors coming back – five of which are lineman,” Wannstedt said. “We have two starting defensive linemen, and we have two, maybe three starting on the offensive line… That’s what you like to see. We’d like to have 25 returning seniors, that would be really great, and we’ll get there, but right now you have to make sure that your senior class is linemen-heavy, because those are the guys that take the most time to mature and come along both physically and mentally.”

The mental and physical parts of the game have gone hand in hand for Corson, who is listed at 6 feet, 5 inches and 290 pounds.

“I’ve improved physically,” he said. “I lost a lot of weight. I leaned up and got a lot more in shape, got mentally tough. I learned a lot so far.”

For now, Corson will keep working on the physical and mental aspects of the game – and hoping that he gets a chance to show his talents on the field this year.

     

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