EL PASO, Texas -- Pitt tailback LaRod Stephens-Howling has become the Panthers' all-purpose utility player as he plays on all of the special teams and is used in a variety of ways on offense.

He likely will add one more title to his name -- punt returner.

Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said when the team arrived in El Paso to begin preparing for the Sun Bowl that the 5-foot-7, 180-pound senior from Johnstown will return punts against Oregon State.

That was welcome news to Stephens-Howling, who said he's healthy after playing sparingly in the Panthers' final two regular-season games because of a thumb and wrist injury.

"I feel good, I'll still have to wear a little cast but it won't hold me back," Stephens-Howling said. "I'm always excited about every opportunity they can give me, so I can't wait until I get out there and see what I can do returning punts. I have never done it before, but it is something I've practiced."

Stephens-Howling is obviously a good football player, which is why he is out on the field so much in so many situations. But he is also out there because Wannstedt is trying to get him as many chances as possible to be noticed by NFL scouts.

"That's what makes our coach special," Stephens-Howling said. "One of the things that made me excited about coming to Pitt once he was here is that he knows what it takes, he was in the NFL for a long time and he'll put us all in the best situation he can in order to give us a chance to get there."

On Friday, injured linebacker Adam Gunn (broken neck) ran some wind sprints with the team and that was a welcome sight to his teammates and coaches given the severity of his injury. Yesterday, Gunn took it one step further and participated in some of the bag drills with the linebackers.

Gunn, a fifth-year senior from Kiski Area High School, is not going to play in the game and Wannstedt said the university is looking into getting him a sixth-year of eligibility, but regardless of what happens, his presence has been felt.

"Adam has been a positive influence on our team, I think he'd make a great coach some day," Wannstedt said. "You are happy to see him out here just living a normal life, let alone running through bags again."

The Panthers had their first full practice yesterday. "It is work time now, we have to get refocused on football now because it has been a few days," Wannstedt said. "Today was sort of a catch-up day for us.". ... It has been about 50-60 degrees, but with the wind blowing it feels colder. Wannstedt said, "It is nice, the sun is out, we're in El Paso playing in the Sun Bowl. We're not going to complain about anything."