College football training camps are like those among NFL teams in these aspects: Players sweat, muscles twist, bones might break and players occasionally look for the nearest spot to grab a nap.

But they are different from the NFL because there are no games against enemy competition to break the monotony and spark debate. No basis to argue about the identity of the backup quarterback (a Pittsburgh Steelers fan’s staple). Yet, everyone has an opinion about one thing or another.

Here are a few:

1. What about Pitt’s offensive line?

The men on Pitt’s offensive line are no bigger than most you’ll find in the ACC. But there is plenty of heft and experience, fortified by the addition of left guard Marcus Minor (6-foot-4, 325 pounds).

“Biggest, strongest I’ve been since I’ve been in college,” said Minor, who transferred from Maryland.

Everyone is 305 or better, led by 325-pounders Minor, tackle Gabe Houy and backup center Blake Zubovic. Houy, Matt Goncalves (320) and Carter Warren (315) are competing for two tackle jobs. Meanwhile, Warren is turning into a leader in his senior season. Right guard Jake Kradel is the lightest (305), slightly less than center Owen Drexel (310).

That’s seven names, and if you want a prediction how it might look for the opening series Sept. 4 against UMass, here’s one (from left): Warren, Minor, Drexel, Kradel and Goncalves. But you can bet Houy will get his uniform dirty. Also, tackles Warren and Goncalves might flip-flop, but it’s hard to predict that because Warren has 21 starts on the left side.

Minor said he has fit cleanly into the mix.

“I feel like I’ve been here for four years. It’s crazy,” he said.

2. Izzy and Vincent

Let’s see how these guys do against another team, but running back Izzy Abanikanda and Vincent Davis look like a solid pair, with power and speed. Hard to tell who’s faster. Davis is 40 pounds lighter (175/215), but when Abanikanda gets moving, he’s not easy to slow down.

The talk around Abanikanda is what you might hear about a back with at least one 500-yard season behind him. He rushed for 95 in seven games as a freshman.

Davis has amassed 946 in two seasons, but 247 of those yards (26%) came in one game last year. His second-best performance in 2020 was 66 yards against Syracuse.

3. Big man at tight end

It’s no secret Lucas Krull is a big guy. He’s 6-6, 260, and you can imagine what that looked like when he stood on a pitcher’s mound for Jefferson (Mo.) College in 2018 and struck out 27 batters in 162⁄3 innings.

He’s equally imposing on a football field, something that was stunning to see when Pitt practiced Thursday at Heinz Field and he stood next to defenders who were about 6 inches shorter and 60 pounds lighter. It will be much of the same during the season.

It’s a mismatch quarterback Kenny Pickett won’t ignore. It also will open avenues for wide receivers Jordan Addison, Jared Wayne, Shock Jacques-Louis, Jaylon Barden, Taysir Mack and Melquise Stovall. Yes, the depth looks good at wide receiver.

4. Secondary thoughts

Many questions tossed at coach Pat Narduzzi this summer are related to holes in the secondary. And they are not insignificant after safeties Damar Hamlin and Paris Ford left for the NFL.

But no one mentions that Pitt was 3-1 after Ford opted out. Hamlin also missed the final game of the season, a 34-20 victory at Georgia Tech.

No offense to those players who had the right to follow their own path that led them to NFL contracts. But life goes on, and Narduzzi seems satisfied with safeties Erick Hallett and Brandon Hill. Narduzzi also might turn to Kentucky transfer M.J. Devonshire, Judson Tallandier and/or Buddy Mack.

5. Nonconference games

Pitt never has been undefeated in its nonconference games while a member of the Big East or ACC. This season offers that opportunity with games against UMass, Tennessee, Western Michigan and New Hampshire.

But don’t ignore the Western Michigan game. The Broncos of the Mid-American Conference haven’t had a losing season since 2013.

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