Freshman running back La-Rod Stephens is the shortest and lightest player on Pitt's roster.

But the coaches have quickly figured out that Stephens' talent trumps his lack of height or weight.

	More on Pitt: COUNTDOWN: 11 DAYS Game: No. 23 Pitt vs. Notre Dame in the season opener. When: 8 p.m. Sept. 3. Where: Heinz Field. TV: WTAE.

Wherever he has been, he always has been told he was too short to play football and too small to play running back. And his response has always been the same -- on and off the field.

"All I ever want is a chance," said Stephens, 5 feet 7, 165 pounds. "Usually that's all it takes. When people tell me I am too small, that motivates me. I know it is something I'll hear for the rest of my life, but I've played football my whole life and I've never thought about my height or my size. I just go out and play to the best of my ability and let my performance speak for itself.

"Just don't tell me I am too small until you see me play, that's all I ask. Once people see me play, they usually change their opinion."

Pitt running backs coach David Walker admits he might have been apprehensive about Stephens when he first saw his size. But he was a quick convert as well -- and that was before he met Stephens or saw him play.

"You know once I saw his film, I was excited because I knew he was capable of a lot of things," Walker said. "He may be small in stature, but that's the only thing that's small about him. He plays big, he'll block, he'll run inside the tackles. He's everything he was advertised to be coming out of high school.

"The only thing that is different about him and those other guys is his size. He plays just as big as they do."

Stephens, who is competing for time at tailback, has been one of the pleasant surprises in camp. He seemingly breaks at least one big run each day and usually his routine runs are exciting.

His strengths are his speed and his ability to change direction. But, as Walker said, Stephens is surprisingly strong and durable and is able to shed tacklers as well.

"Most of my touchdowns in high school were from 30 yards or more," said Stephens, who rushed for 4,597 yards and 57 touchdowns and averaged 8.9 yards per carry in his career at Johnstown. "That has a lot to do with my speed, but I think one of the things I was always pretty good at is having good vision and seeing the holes. Once I see a hole, I hit it at full speed and I guess that's one of the things coaches like about me."

Stephens will not be the featured tailback this season because Tim Murphy and Rashad Jennings are ahead of him on the depth chart. However, Stephens likely will see some playing time because of his breakaway ability.

The coaches are working on ways to get him involved as a third-down back or a change-of-pace type player. They have even talked about a package of plays each week specifically for him.

Stephens said he is fine with any role as long as he's able to contribute to the team.

"Some guys need a lot of carries to do their thing," he said. "I always say any play can go the whole way. So whatever coaches decide to do with me, I'll make it work. I've always considered myself to be a big-play back, and no matter how many carries I get, I just want to make the most out of all of them.

"I'm just really excited about being out here and getting a fair shot."

Stephens played for Pennsylvania in the Big 33 game this summer but was listed on some rosters as "LaRod Stephens-Howling."

He said he added the name Howling because it is his father's last name and his mother and father were married within the past year.

"It was something I did just for the Big 33 game so people knew I really was a Howling," Stephens said. "But now that it has been out there already, it doesn't really matter so I am just going by 'LaRod Stephens' again."