James Conner continues his remarkable recovery in Kenan Stadium.

Once the best running back in the ACC, Pitt’s James Conner is again behind the quarterback carrying the ball about 20 times a game for the Panthers. Conner was injured last season and then diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma, which he beat in the off season to return to the team over the summer.

Conner is No. 1 on the depth chart, having carried the ball 63 times for 281 yards in three games. But the Pitt coaches are being very careful with the bull-dozing tailback, who continues to work his way back into full shape after his battle with cancer.

The man who controls his snaps has a Carolina connection, running backs coach Andre Powell, who was on John Bunting’s staff for most of Buntino’s six years as head coach of the Tar Heels. Powell was fired with Bunting after the 2006 season, so you know this game carries extra incentive for him.

But Powell has a far more important responsibility, making sure that Conner is used enough but not too much for the Panthers. Conner played well in Pitt’s 45-38 loss at Oklahoma State, but Powell says he may have left Conner in the game too long during the last drive. There are two other running backs on the depth chart, neither with the experience or skill set of Conner.

But Powell and Pat Narduzzi’s coaching staff must weigh the short-term gain against the long-range benefit for both the young man and his team. Pitt and UNC open their ACC schedule Saturday, and both are considered favorites for the ACC Costal Division title. It’s the first of eight league games for each team, and how long and well Conner plays will determine a lot about his team’s success.

Conner claims he is back to full strength and wants to play every snap. But he admits to having gotten tired late in the loss to Oklahoma State and the victory over Penn State the week before. So Andre Powell, on the opposite sideline from where he once stood at Kenan, has a delicate balance that he has to consider with his courageous young star.

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