Spring football sounds a little like an oxymoron, two words that just don’t fit perfectly into each other.

Purists believe football is meant to be played in the fall. Coaches love spring ball, however, for the foundation it lays for summer training camp and how it reveals players with potential and those whose life’s work may be calling soon.

But if players pay attention in the spring, nothing that pops up this summer will surprise them.

The past 14 practices at Pitt — with one more session scheduled Saturday at Acrisure Stadium in the Blue-Gold Game — have revealed some interesting information:

• There’s depth at wide receiver, even though some of it is young.

• Coach Pat Narduzzi did well in the portal, especially on the offensive line where transfers Jeff Persi and Kendall Stanley could be starters.

• There’s hope for a better pass rush, again thanks to the portal, with players such as Jaeden Moore, Blaine Spires and Joey Zelinsky.

• Young quarterbacks and running backs look good, but keeping Eli Holstein and Desmond Reid healthy all season gives Pitt the best chance to improve on last season’s 7-6 record.

• These guys genuinely like each other. They celebrate little victories in practice — catches, interceptions, etc. — like they’ve just won a real game. “You can just feel the energy out there,” Narduzzi said.

Not saying it will translate to a successful season, but it’s a good place to start.

Here are five more thoughts to ponder while taking your last look at the Panthers before August:

1. ‘Part of the job’

Narduzzi understands what the upcoming House settlement ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken of Oakland, Calif., means to college athletics. If approved, the settlement will require each school to begin paying roughly $20.5 million to its athletes by July 1.

Narduzzi understands “it’s part of the job now,” but he said he doesn’t think about it when the football team is his immediate responsibility.

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“After Saturday, we’ll have those conversations,” he said. “I got people to take care of that. I’m worried about being a football coach.”

Although several prominent college coaches have allowed the professional aspects of the job to chase them away, Narduzzi isn’t one of them.

“I like a challenge. You embrace it,” he said. “There is always going to be change, whether it’s rule changes on the field, rule changes off the field. You hope it gets straightened out and cleaned up a little bit. I have great support up on (Pitt’s) campus from the Chancellor (Joan Gabel) and coach Greene (athletic director Alan Greene). Alan’s done a great job helping us with whatever we need, every turn we take. Hopefully, we get better.”

Translation: Narduzzi loves coaching too much to let change spoil it for him, even change of this magnitude.

2. Depth at wide receiver?

Offensive coordinator Kade Bell said there are more wide receivers on the roster worthy of his trust this season than in the past.

“I kind of felt like last year we had four to five. This year, I think we’re going to be in the seven to eight range,” he said.

Injuries will limit or rule out holdovers Poppi Williams and Censere Lee and transfer Deuce Spann from Saturday’s game, but Narduzzi is publicly confident all injured players will be ready to go this summer.

Kenny Johnson, Zion Fowler-El, freshmen Tony Kinsler, Bryce Yates and Cam Sapp and transfers Andy Jean and Cataurus Hicks will be worth watching.

“That freshman class of wide receivers we brought in is pretty special,” Narduzzi said.

3. Is Baer ready for breakout season?

Here’s a name to watch, not only Saturday, but into the season: junior offensive tackle Ryan Baer.

“A lot of people take breaks after the season,” Bell said. “Next thing you know (after the GameAbove Sports Bowl on Dec. 26), he’s already back training (during Christmas break).

“He felt like he could have played better (last season). Now, he really understands the offense and what we’re trying to get accomplished. This spring, he’s been super consistent.

“He’s the type of kid who’s really hard on himself. He’s going to expect more from himself than anybody else. That’s what you want from a leader.”

4. Name dropper

Defensive coordinator Randy Bates dropped a few names on reporters that can be indicators of what’s to come in the fall.

Redshirt freshman linebacker Cameron Lindsey has made “great strides,” according to Bates.

Lindsey, an Aliquippa graduate, might be the backup at star and/or money linebacker to All-American Kyle Louis and Rasheem Biles. But that doesn’t mean Lindsey will stay on the sideline. Biles is injured and won’t play Saturday.

“Kyle can’t play every snap,” Bates said. “If you have a huge drop when Kyle comes off, that’s where you have problems, and I don’t think we’ll have that.”

Bates said safeties Cruce Brookins (Steel Valley) and Javon McIntyre are on track to follow the tradition of former Pitt safeties/NFL Draft choices Erick Hallett, Brandon Hill, Damar Hamlin and Jordan Whitehead.

“Cruce is a playmaker,” said Bates, alluding to Brookins’ helmet that is almost completely covered in stickers that coaches award for splash plays. “He looks bigger every time I see him. He has to take that to the fall. If he does that, who know how far he will go?”

He said McIntyre has been “a stabilizing factor, being calm, making calls, able to control everything.”

“I think he’s on par with Erick Hallett, Hamlin. When those guys have been good, we’ve been good.”

5. Watch, don’t bet

Narduzzi was reluctant to predict a winner in the Blue-Gold Game. But word on the street is Gold minus-8 1/2 is a good bet. Holstein will be playing for the Gold behind the first-string offensive line.

But the Blue team has top defensive line talent: tackles Sean FitzSimmons and Nick James and end Jimmy Scott. Louis and Braylan Lovelace (Leechburg) are Blue linebackers. So, don’t be so quick to bet against Blue.

“I don’t care who wins. To me, I’m going to be happy, either way,” Narduzzi said. “If it’s 7-0, I’m going to be happy for the defense, not happy for the offense. If it’s 54-51, I’m going to be happy for the offense and ask what the defense is doing out there.”

Bottom line for Narduzzi: “I’m rooting for Pitt to stay healthy.”

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