With no immediate need to prepare for an opponent, Pat Narduzzi can do almost anything with his roster during Pitt spring drills.

To that end, he’s not afraid to use players on both sides of the ball, even if it’s just as a temporary experiment.

Redshirt freshman Kaymar Mimes, still playing tight end, is also getting a reps at defensive end. Sophomore V’Lique Carter, a running back with game-breaking skills, is lining up at cornerback.

“It’s tough when you have two mid-year guys (entering the program),” Pitt’s coach said, “and you lose 20 (departing seniors). Your numbers are down. Spreading the wealth a little bit.”

Until the remainder of the 21-man recruiting class arrives this summer, Narduzzi must get creative.

Mimes, who came to Pitt as a defensive end, received an education Tuesday when he rushed the quarterback and actually hit him, which is not permitted in practice.

“I wasn’t really trying to do anything crazy,” Mimes said. “I’m a nice guy, but it turns quick (when he lines up on defense). I wasn’t trying to hurt anybody.”

Narduzzi is OK with Mimes’ aggression, unless it becomes a habit.

“He doesn’t know any better,” the coach said. “He got a sack as well as a couple of receptions. He can do a lot of different things for us. Just trying it out. He’ll probably be back at tight end.”

Which is where he was Thursday, catching passes and working with tight ends coach Tim Salem. At least the coaching staff was able to add defensive end to his dossier, in the event a need arises in the future.

Narduzzi said Carter, who came to Pitt as a cornerback before rushing for 137 yards last year against Duke, is “hitting it faster, starting to mentally pick it up (at running back). That transition that he made is paying off.

“Also got some corner (time) as well. Doing a little bit of both.”

No surprise, Mimes has no preference.

“Whatever it takes to help the team,” he said. “I played a little bit of defensive end in high school (Long Branch, N.J.). Little different, but I like it. It’s fun.

“Whichever one gets me on the field, whichever one helps me help out the team is the one I like the most, honestly.”

One change he has to make is adjusting to different position coaches — Salem at tight end and Charlie Partridge on defense.

“They call him Timmy Turbo for a reason,” Mimes said. “He’s a firecracker. He’s got a lot of energy and gets us all juiced up. Coach P is a fun guy but a serious guy at the same time.”

If Mimes needs some advice on how to play defense, he need only call his brother, Oakland Raiders linebacker Shilique Calhoun, who played for Narduzzi at Michigan State.

“When I moved to tight end, he said, ‘It’s a shame you’re not on defense.’ I haven’t talked to him yet (about moving to defense), but (he’ll say), ‘Yeah, yeah. Go crazy. Go crazy.’ ”

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