With the sheer volume of season ending injuries, there will be no shortage of stories on players coming back from injuries and ready to take the field for drills and get that first hit out of the way for the psychological portion of knowing they are truly healthy.

Derek Kinder is first up, because he was at the Big East Media Day and what else can you ask a player who missed all of last season.

Big East media day provided an interesting view as to just how much things have changed for Kinder.

When he attended the event last year, he was clearly Pitt’s big star and media darling, the one who attracted the most attention because of how well he played as a junior.

This year, however, he sat quietly, for the most part, between Panthers stars LeSean McCoy and Scott McKillop and watched as they received most of the attention. Kinder wasn’t bothered by that, though, because he’s too focused on the season he plans on having.

“Man, I think the key to me is this — I have been counting down the days to get back on that field once the initial shock of my injury wore off,” he said. “I just want to help my team win, nothing more or less. I am so hungry just to get back after it — I feel like I want to go outside in the parking lot and play right now. And these two guys sitting here with me [McCoy and McKillop] deserve all the attention they are going to get — they are both superstars and both great teammates who work hard.”

Kinder was already one of the best on Pitt’s team at knowing the right things to say. That hasn’t changed.

So inevitably the subject turned to the matter of getting back out there..

Kinder is bracing for the one-year anniversary of his injury — as well as the first day of practice in full pads. He participated in spring drills but only in non-contact work.

While Kinder claims to be 100 percent physically, he has to overcome the apprehension athletes face upon returning from a serious injury.

“I haven’t felt contact, getting hit with pads on, in over a year-and-a-half,” Kinder said. “So when I get hit for the first time and get up and I’m all right, that’s when I know I’ll be good to go.

“I’m definitely looking forward to getting hit on that first day in pads and feeling the ground for the first time in a while.”