Just realized I missed a few tabs in the browsers and a couple other things I came across to toss into the mix.

The Austin American Statesman is doing its own top-25 and put Pitt at #21.

Pitt is an experienced team, but it has only nine seniors on scholarship. Pinkston is the only senior who starts on offense. Romeus is one of three seniors starting on defense.

Well, the only seniors who are set at the positions. Alex Karabin is a 5th year senior that could be the starting Center by the time of the Utah game.

Karabin worked with quarterback Tino Sunseri last year on the second team and has a natural chemistry with this year’s starting signal-caller.

“We kind of know what the other one’s going to say before he says it,” he said.

And Karabin is the team’s greybeard, thanks to his year in prep school and a redshirt season. He’ll turn 24 this fall.

“I’m pretty sure I’m the oldest guy on the team,” he said. “I’m always telling the freshmen and the young guys on the line what they have to do and what’s expected.”

Karabin is expected to make all the calls and anchor an O-line that was arguably the best in the Big East last year. And to do so while still paying his own tuition. He said earning a scholarship would be great “but that it’s more important to win games.”

Odds are if Pitt has an available scholarship, Karabin will get it.

Speaking of seniors, SI.com published some of TFYDraft.com’s grades for top seniors. Greg Romeus graded out 6th and Jabaal Sheard also placed among top seniors.

Greg Romeus/DE/Pittbugh/6.8: Romeus has been a force for the Panthers defense since his freshman season. He’s a terrific athlete with an NFL body (6-5, 267).

…

Jabaal Sheard/DE/Pittsburgh/6.2: Sheard is a terrific player and a solid pass rushing end yet can be overlooked playing on the same line as Greg Romeus.

As has become seemingly common — especially at the skill positions — the juniors (not graded in that list) are going to be high on the actual draft list next winter.

The low grades for senior wide receivers won’t matter next April since the elite pass-catchers have been leaving early for the NFL. Georgia’s A.J. Green, Alabama’s Julio Jones, Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd and Pittsburgh’s Jon Baldwin, all juniors, should make a splash in next year’s draft.

Not sure which is really the best WR of the bunch. Should be quite a debate.

Brandon Ifill — incoming freshman defensive back — was named the male athlete of the year by the Post-Gazette for the East region.

“He’s a high-character young man, the type of kid who held the team together through adversity,” [Penn Hills Head Coach Ron] Graham said. “Some of the things that came as far as what we faced this year, he was the one who held it all together.”

In addition to his football skills, Ifill is also a standout in track and field, winning the WPIAL 200-meter dash title.

For his leadership as much as for his 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash, Ifill has been selected as the PG East Male High School Athlete of the Year.

A Pitt football recruit, Ifill was chosen over candidates at high schools throughout the PG East circulation area.

“When things changed or became challenging for us, he was one of the kids who maintained discipline,” Graham said. “He just was a real leader on and off the field.

“He’s a good student who was well-respected on the team and within the school. He’s just one of those kids you like to have in your program. He’s really just an excellent student-athlete.”

Nicely done.