2013 marked Pitt’s first season in the ACC after years in the Big East, and it was a good year for Paul Chryst’s team. The Panthers finished their season with a 7-6 record, and a 30-27 win over Bowling Green in the Little Caesars Bowl. In that final contest, freshman running back James Conner gained 229 yards and scored a touchdown on 26 carries, breaking Tony Dorsett’s record for rushing yards in a bowl game.
Another player on that Pitt team was a guy by the name of Aaron Donald, who put up 11 sacks in his final collegiate season. Rumor has it that Donald went on to a measure of NFL success. Donald had a sack and two tackles for loss in the game, and late in the game, it was decided that Conner would help the defense with a little bit of pass rush.
You can see how that worked out right here. Conner, who also played running back and defensive line at McDowell High in Erie, PA, knew how to turn on the gas for a quarterback pressure!
Here's James Conner (#40) being used as a situational pass rusher during his freshman year at Pitt.
(he also rushed for 229 yards this game) pic.twitter.com/vE6nobVxZL
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) June 27, 2020
“After the last game [a 41-31 loss to Miami], Coach told me they wanted to unleash me on both sides of the ball, so I’ve getting a lot of reps,” Conner said after the bowl victory.
Conner and Donald have stayed close — they work out together, and Donald supported his friend and former teammate as Conner fought [and recovered from] Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
What a difference 3 years makes @JamesConner_ 🙏 pic.twitter.com/mphStSPgz9
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 19, 2018
So, when Conner bounced off Donald for a touchdown in the Cardinals-Rams Monday Night Football game… well, we’re sure Donald wasn’t happy about it, but perhaps a small part of him was.
Seven straight games with a TD for @JamesConner_ 🔥@AZCardinals make it a 10-10 game. #RedSea
📺: #LARvsAZ on ESPN
📱: https://t.co/Z9HeRUNm0d pic.twitter.com/GKUfTfvqoS— NFL (@NFL) December 14, 2021
