BY ERIC KNOPSNYDER
Most Pitt fans might not know Marco Pecora’s name, but coach Dave Wannstedt expects that to change.
Pecora, a Richland graduate, didn’t get a chance to step on the field with the Panthers this season, but he got the attention of the Pitt coaching staff behind the scenes. A 5-foot-10, 180-pound defensive back, Pecora redshirted this season.
But he was still able to be an impact player on the practice field.
Pecora won the award for the special teams scout player of the year. He was instrumental in helping the Panthers prepare for each week’s opponent.
“We couldn’t block him,” Wannstedt said. “That’s a guy there that I can’t wait until the spring (to see more of him). I think this kid is going to make an impact on our team next year, whether it be special teams or eventually at safety or linebacker. I’m not sure where he’s going to end up, but I think Marco is going to be a good football player for us.”
The walk-on did whatever he could during his redshirt season, playing on the kickoff and punt return teams as well as both coverage units.
“You just have to take the mentality of getting better and better each day for next year,” he said. “It’s tough when you know you won’t have a spot on the field, but you have to keep working.”
That work ethic impressed another local player. LaRod Stephens-Howling, a Greater Johnstown graduate who is known as one of the team’s hardest workers, liked what he saw from Pecora.
“He does whatever is asked of him and works hard,” said Stephens-Howling, who thinks UPJ wrestling coach Pat Pecora did a good job of instilling the work ethic in his son. “I know his father from wrestling, and that’s the way he’s been raised. I love to see Johnstown guys come here and work hard.”
Marco Pecora has had to work even harder to pick up his defensive assignments, since he spent most of his time at Richland as a standout quarterback.
“The hardest part has been making the checks, reading the formations, and reacting when the play starts,” said Pecora, who noted that his experience on offense makes it easier to play safety. “It helps a lot. When you play quarterback, you knew what everybody was doing and reading the defensive coverages. Being a safety is like being the defensive quarterback, so that really helps me.”
