ESPN Big East Blog

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

	Frank Victores/US Presswire
	If LeSean McCoy returns to Pitt in 2009, he'll be a Heisman contender.

Guess who's back, back again?

LeSean "Shady" McCoy told the Pittsburgh media Tuesday that he isn't ready for the NFL and that he will return for his junior year with the Pitt Panthers.

Now, we've heard several athletes over the years declare their solemn intentions to come back for another season, only to watch them bolt for the pro dollars at the draft-declaring deadline. Still, I think we have to take McCoy's word at this point, and he does genuinely seem like a guy who enjoys college and embraces the traditions at Pittsburgh. I remember talking to him after his big game at Navy this year, and his eyes lit up as he spoke about how Tony Dorsett had broken the NCAA career rushing record on that same field. Dorsett is the guy McCoy is most often compared to, and I think McCoy wants to become a Pitt legend, too.

McCoy immediately becomes a legitimate 2009 Heisman Trophy candidate, and the Panthers probably are the Big East favorite next year. Yes, they will lose some key pieces like linebacker Scott McKillop, nose tackle Rashaad Duncan, receiver Derek Kinder and center C.J. Davis. But they'll also bring back quarterback Bill Stull, receiver Jonathan Baldwin, defensive ends Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard and offensive tackle Jason Pinkston. That's one heck of a nucleus.