Hello and welcome to the first edition of the Pitt football Q&A. Camp begins next week which means this Q&A will again become a regular feature here at post-gazette.com. We will also begin with online Pitt football chats on Thursdays again later in the month so there will be plenty of opportunities to get all of your pressing Pitt football questions - as well as some Big East related questions - answered.

First, however, the format for the Q&A will be a little different this year. Instead of posting a large weekly Q&A, I will answer two or three questions and post them every day (Monday-Friday), so check in daily and feel free to ask as many questions as many times as you'd like. I'll also add some short camp observations on most days as well.

Let's get rolling.

Q: Do you think there will be any freshman starters for this upcoming football season and if so, who?

Ian Sowers, Lone Pine, Pa.

Zeise: Dave Wannstedt has begun to build enough depth in the program that relying on freshman to start is likely going to be a thing of the past. Pat Bostick could win the starting quarterback job and LeSean McCoy could emerge as the starter at tailback but they have a lot of work to do in a short period of time and I just don't see it happening. I could see a situation where both are starters by midseason, but I'd be surprised if either is the starter on opening day. Tommie Duhart isn't a freshman but he is a newcomer (JC transfer) and he should win a starting job at either defensive end or tackle. The other newcomer I expect to make an impact - at least as a returner - is Aundre Wright, who is said to be the team's fastest player, while Dom DeCicco will likely have a chance at some early playing time at safety as well. The Panthers are also thin at linebacker so one or two of the freshman linebackers will likely be forced into action.

Q: Can you size up the running back position?

Michael Buncher, New Hope, Pa.

Zeise: LaRod Stephens-Howling enters camp as the starter and will be a major factor at tailback for the entire season. And while I know a lot of people have already handed the job to LeSean McCoy, I think we've learned in the past two years that it is very difficult for true freshman to get on the field and make big contributions. McCoy is said to be the real deal and if he is, then he could develop into the Panthers featured back by midseason with Stephens-Howling being a third-down back and a player who is used in multiple ways (in the slot for instance) on other downs. Kevin Collier will have his work cut out to stay ahead of McCoy. Conredge Collins will take just about every snap at fullback with his primary back-up being Shane Brooks. That means the Panthers could potentially have a loaded backfield, but that's assuming McCoy is as good as advertised and Stephens-Howling stays healthy (which he's struggled to do).

Q: I see where Clemson backed out of its series with Pitt and being as the ACC was forced to schedule a certain number of games against Big East teams as part of the settlement for the Big East/ACC lawsuit, how was Clemson able to get out of this series?

Phil Miller, Del Rio, Texas

Zeise: The Clemson series was scheduled by Steve Pederson before the settlement and was not a part of the deal. Pitt's future games against N.C. State (2009 and 2013) and Miami (2010) are part of the settlement. There are Internet rumors floating that Pitt is going to replace Clemson with Georgia but so far they are just that, rumors.