Scott McKillop, ILB

Playing alongside his brother, Chris, a starting defensive end, Scott helped lead Panthers defense in 2007 that ranked fifth in the nation, allowing the opposition just 297.67 yards in total offense per game.

Taking over for departed 2006 Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year, H.B. Blades, McKillop repeated as the conference Defensive Player of the Year (by The NFL Draft Report and College Football News), en route to leading the nation with an average of 12.58 tackles per game.

McKillop's 151 total tackles in 2007 rank fourth on the school single-season record list and are the most by a Panther defender since the inception of the Big East Conference in 1991. Only Steve Apke (168 in 1984 and 162 in 1985) and Troy Benson (162 in 1983) have recorded more tackles in a season at Pittsburgh.

Proving his 2007 season was no fluke, he again led the Big East Conference and ranked tied for 10th in the nation with 137 tackles (10.54 tpg) in 2008. His 82 solo tackles (6.31 tpg) were good for third in the major college ranks, earning Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors.

At Kiski Area High School, McKillop earned Associated Press Pennsylvania Class AAAA All-State first-team honors. He was a member of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Fabulous 22" and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review "Terrific 25" teams, in addition to receiving Harrisburg Patriot-News "Platinum 33" and Valley News All-Star accolades.

McKillop was rated the 20th-best overall prospect in Pennsylvania by Rivals.com and rated the nation's 31st-best outside linebacker prospect by that recruiting service. He was rated the 24th-best prospect in Pennsylvania by Super Prep, as that service also named him to their All-Northeast team. He added Prep Star All-East Region honors and was selected to play in the Big 33 Football Classic.

McKillop's 161 solo stops and 332 total tackles are Kiski Area High career records. As an outside linebacker and fullback, he recorded 132 tackles as a senior and rushed for 1,121 yards with 14 touchdowns over his final two seasons. He led the team to three consecutive WPIAL Class AAAA playoff berths, earning three letters in football, three in wrestling and two in track and field.

McKillop enjoyed an exceptional wrestling career at Kiski Area, as he finished his senior season as the state runner-up (215-pound division) with a 38-1 record. He went 79-2 his last two years and had a career mark of 109-10. His record of 41-1 as a junior was the winningest season ever by a Kiski wrestler. He advanced to the WPIAL track and field championships in the shot and discus. Academically, he was an Honor Roll and National Science Merit Award winner, along with being a member of the Pride Club, German Club and Wrestling Club.

As a true freshman at Pittsburgh, McKillop spent the 2004 season on the scout team. In 2005, he played in 11 games behind H.B. Blades at middle linebacker. He recorded 28 tackles (13 solos) with three quarterback pressures. He also added five tackles on the kickoff coverage unit. Six of his tackles came on third-down plays, with another on fourth-down action.

In 2006, McKillop again backed up Blades. He tallied 29 tackles (18 solos), a sack and two stops behind the line of scrimmage. He batted away two passes and posted a pressure. He led the Big East Conference with 18 special team tackles, totaling 14 of those hits on the kickoff coverage squad. Six of his stops came on fourth-down snaps, as he stopped opposing ball carriers three times for no gains on nine running plays directed at him.

The All-American and All-Big East Conference first-team selection led the NCAA Division 1-A ranks with a career-high 151 tackles (98 solos) in his first season as a starter in 2007. Most middle linebackers compile most of their tackles via assists, but McKillop's average of 8.17 solo tackles per game was the second-best average of any major college defender during his junior campaign.

McKillop had seven double-digit tackle performances. He added three hits on special teams, three sacks, nine stops for losses and three pressures. He recovered three fumbles and caused two others, as he deflected seven passes and had his first career interception.

McKillop's numbers were even more impressive when it was revealed that 27 of his stops came inside the red zone, including 12 on goal-line plays. He delivered 23 third-down tackles and eight more on fourth down. Even though he was dominant vs. the run, as teams averaged just 2.56 yards per carry vs. him, he was even more impressive in pass coverage. The opposition completed just 21 of 56 passes (37.5 percent) vs. him, averaging just 3.41 yards per pass attempt, the lowest figure of any Division 1-A linebacker in 2007.

As a senior, the Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year and All-American choice led the league with 137 tackles (82 solos), adding four sacks, as his 17.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage was also a league-high mark. He picked off two passes, returning one for a touchdown and also deflected four tosses.

Positives: Productive, instinctual player who sorts through the trash to get to the ballcarrier, seems to have an innate sense of how and when to slide through oncoming blockers. … Very good backfield awareness, always seems to know where the ball is. … Recognizes tight ends going out on delayed routes. … Breaks down well in space and makes secure tackles in the open field. … Can get to the outside to meet the back at the edge. … Drops quickly and hustles to meet receivers in intermediate routes. … Gets a good hit on slot receivers to knock them off their route. … Knows where the sticks are and tries his best to keep underneath receivers from getting there. …

Negatives: Only adequately developed in the upper and lower body. … Does not have great speed to chase plays from behind, but generally makes up for it by taking good angles. … Lacks physicality and runs around blocks instead of taking them on. … Unable to get off blocks when engaged and is more of a catcher than a hard-hitter or fierce tackler. … Is not explosive off the snap when blitzing.

Compares To: ZACH THOMAS, Kansas City -- McKillop is slightly bigger than Thomas, but both rely on their field vision, intelligence and quickness to gain advantage on the blocker in order to compensate for a lack of ideal size. The Pitt linebacker is a classic knee bender who plays in good football position, as he always seems to be on his feet working through trash. He a smart playmaker who reacts decisively and can step up, stay square and take on/shed the bigger blockers with good force. He has that quick reactionary ability to fill holes and make plays in-line and even at his size, blockers struggle in attempts to contain him at the point of attack.

GENERAL REPORT: GRADE: 6.88

Body Structure: McKillop possesses very good lower body strength, which allows him to anchor firmly vs. double teams. He lacks fluid hip snap, but has minimal body fat and room to carry at least another 10 pounds of bulk without the added weight impacting his overall quickness.

Athletic Ability: McKillop has the functional burst and adequate quick feet to fill the rush lanes, just what you expect from a classic middle linebacker. He changes direction with good balance, showing good acceleration and burst to close. He runs with a normal stride and has good athleticism for his position, showing good urgency and a strong concept for angling when closing on plays in front of him. GRADE: 6.3

Football Sense: McKillop is an instinctive middle linebacker who is quick to read and react. Called by opposing coordinators the smartest linebacker in the Big East, he is quick to get into position and make plays. He is an Honor Roll student who also does well in the classroom and will have no problems digesting a complicated playbook. GRADE: 7.5

Character: McKillop is a respectful sort, very much into the science of the game and will more often be found breaking down game film rather than sitting in front of a video game. He comes from a supportive, sports oriented family. He has good bloodlines to the Pittsburgh program, as his brother was also a teammate (2005-07). GRADE: 7.0

Competitiveness: McKillop plays with good emotion. When he steps on the field, you know he is coming to play. He never gives up on plays and will not hesitate to go long distances to chase down the plays out of his area. Teammate Joe Clermond called him the "most prepared" player on the team. He can be a very violent hitter and sells out to make the plays. GRADE: 7.0

Work Habits: McKillop has that quiet strength in his approach to the game, but will not hesitate to take a teammate to task for less than stellar play. He is a very accountable player who might make good coaching material one day, as younger players could do well by emulating McKillop's work ethic. GRADE: 6.6

ATHLETIC REPORT: GRADE: 6.21

Key and Diagnostic Skills: McKillop plays with outstanding football instincts. He takes good angles to the ball and is a smart player who always seems to be in position to make the play. He reacts with the same decisiveness vs. the run and pass and it is rare to see him caught out of position. He does a nice job of slipping past double teams and avoiding trash while using his hands well to avoid low blocks. GRADE: 7.1

Playing Strength and Explosion: McKillop makes up for a lack of quickness and quick hip snap with good pop on contact and playing strength. He has the upper body strength to impact the lead blocker and clog the inside rush lanes. Even when he makes a wrong guess on a play, he is quick to recover and explode into his tackles. He stays square and can take on and shed with quick reaction off blocks. He is tough to knock off his feet and is involved in so many plays because of his ability to use his hands properly to shed. GRADE: 6.6

Lateral Pursuit/Range: McKillop shows good effort, but lacks the range and fluid hips to generate long chase. He is not the most mobile linebacker, preferring to make an impact going down hill rather than playing from sideline-to-sideline. This deficiency will probably relegate him to situational duties, as he is a liability in pass coverage (opponents completed 18of 24 passes for 234 yards vs. him in 2008). GRADE: 5.0

Use of Hands: McKillop needs to develop more natural hands to make the interception, but does extend well from the body's framework in attempts to make the pass deflection. He will deliver a strong blow to fend off bigger blockers and get off quick enough to close on the plays in front of him. GRADE: 5.8

Tackling Ability: McKillop will over-run some plays, but does a good job of recovering to get back in the action. Right now, he is better in close quarters than in space, as he is more effective breaking down and wrapping in tight areas (tends to drag down more in the open field). He stays low in his pads and attacks blockers with good energy and passion, doing a good job of drop his weight to wrap and rise for a bone-jarring hit. GRADE: 7.1

Run Defense: McKillop is quick to fill the tackle-to-tackle holes and does a nice job of taking on and shedding blocks to make plays when working in-line. He plays much bigger than his size indicates in close quarters and gets off blocks well. Against the outside run, he lacks good range to the sideline and needs to keep his feet better to get through traffic. He will run a long way to make a play and shows good effort in his pursuit, even when he can't get to the outside play. He has enough anchor to work through blocks, using his hands with force to stack vs. the inside run. His functional quickness lets him fill the rush lanes and he has better balance to hold his ground and prevent blockers from washing him out when he stays low in his pads. GRADE: 6.4

Pass Defense: McKillop does a good job of mirroring tight ends and running backs in the short-area passing game, but he does not have enough speed to run stride for stride with his opponent on long patterns. He shows marginal turn-&-run motion moving in reverse and does not get good depth or the proper drop angle. There is evident hip stiffness when turning out of his backpedal and he needs to show better hands in order to secure the ball going for the interception. GRADE: 5.2

Zone Defense: McKillop does a good job of keeping the action in front of him. He will close and strike on receivers in his area and gets his hands up quickly to impede his opponent's vision trying to track the ball in flight. He just does not have the quickness to get into the intermediate zone. GRADE: 5.4

Pass Rush and Blitz: McKillop finds the rush lane shooting the gaps and is very good at delivering the heat. He can surprise a lineman with his tenacity, as his swim and spin moves will generally see him make plays slipping off blocks. With his ability to disrupt as a blitzer, the team should have taken better advantage of his ability to power through blocks, along with his burst to close on the quarterback. GRADE: 6.3

Long Snapping Skills: While not used in this capacity in a game, he does serve as a reserve snapper, showing good hand quickness and accuracy on his short snaps. Does a nice job of getting the ball back quickly enough with laces proper for the holder to get the ball down in time for the kicker.

Special Teams Skills: McKillop's kickoff coverage skills will see him become an instant fan favorite. He gets downfield quickly and uses his balance and change of direction skills well to break up the wedge, sift through trash and make the play. GRADE: 7.2

Compares To: ZACH THOMAS, Kansas City -- McKillop is slightly bigger than Thomas, but both rely on their field vision, intelligence and quickness to gain advantage on the blocker in order to compensate for a lack of ideal size. The Pitt linebacker is a classic knee bender who plays in good football position, as he always seems to be on his feet working through trash. He a smart playmaker who reacts decisively and can step up, stay square and take on/shed the bigger blockers with good force. He has that quick reactionary ability to fill holes and make plays in-line and even at his size, blockers struggle in attempts to contain him at the point of attack.

OVERALL GRADE: 6.32

--Report by Dave-Te' Thomas

McKillop started 25 of 48 games for Pittsburgh, recording 345 tackles (211 solos) with eight sacks for minus 64 yards, 28.5 stops for losses of 100 yards and 13 QB pressures … Also had three fumble recoveries with two forced fumbles, 13 pass deflections and three interceptions, returning one 18 yards for a touchdown … Collected 26 tackles (17 solos) with a fumble recovery on the special team coverage squads … McKillop led the nation with an average of 12.58 tackles per game in 2007 and placed second nationally with an average of 8.17 solo tackles per game that campaign … In 2008, he ranked tied for 10th in the nation with an average of 10.54 total tackles per game and his average of 6.31 solo tackles per game placed third in the major college ranks … His 151 tackles in 2007 rank fourth on the school single-season record list, topped only by Steve Apke (168 in 1984 and 162 in 1985) and Troy Benson (162 in 1983) … Closed out his career ranking tenth on the school's career record list with 345 tackles, topped by Arnie Weatherington (477, 1973-76), Hugh Green (441, 1977-80), H.B. Blades (433, 2003-06), Tom Tumulty (413, 1991-95), Gerald Hayes (402, 1999-2002), Apke (368, 1983-86), Jerry Olsavsky (367, 1985-88), Tez Morris (366, 2002-05) and Benson (351, 1981-84) … Fifty-four of his 345 career tackles came on third-down plays (15.65 percent), with 18 more hits coming on fourth downs … Made 45 of his career tackles inside the red zone (13.04 percent), including 16 on goal-line plays … On 264 plays vs. the run, the opposition managed 757 yards (2.87 ypc) and three touchdowns vs. the defender, as McKillop also stopped ball carriers for no gain on 21 of those attempts … His opponents completed 52 -of 117 pass attempts (44.44 percent) into his area, good for 453 yards (8.71 yards per pass completion/3.87 yards per attempt).

All-American first-team pick by The NFL Draft Report and the Football Writers Association, adding second-team honors from the Walter Camp Foundation … All-Big East Conference first-team choice and named the league's Defensive Player of the Year … Semi-finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the country's top defensive player … Also a member of the prestigious national award watch lists for the Rotary Lombardi Award (nation's top lineman or linebacker), Butkus Award (top linebacker) and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given to the nation's outstanding defensive player … Named a semi-finalist for the Lott Trophy, annually awarded to college football's "Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year." The award, named after Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, takes into account athletic performance and personal character. The trophy highlights the qualities of integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community and tenacity … Named the Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Week three times (vs. Buffalo, Iowa and Connecticut), as McKillop led the Big East and ranked tied for tenth in the nation with 137 tackles (82 solos ranked third nationally) … Had four sacks for minus 37 yards, as he led the league and ranked tied for 22nd in the nation with 17.5 stops for losses of 62 yards … Added six quarterback pressures and four pass deflections … The captain of a young defense that has allowed 124.15 yards rushing (29th in the nation, fourth in the Big East) 317.15 yards in total defense (27th nationally, third in the league) and 21.46 points per game (35th in the major college ranks) … On 113 plays vs. the run, the opposition gained 374 yards (3.31 ypc) with two touchdowns vs. McKillop, as his opponents managed to complete 26-of-46 passes targeted into his area (56.52 percent) for 194 yards, averaging 7.46 yards per pass completion and 4.22 yards per pass attempt.

Bowling Green … The defensive captain had a "quiet" game by his standards, as McKillop posted six tackles (3 solos) with 1.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage, a pressure and a pair of pass deflections in a 27-17 loss … Late in the first quarter, the middle linebacker stopped Marques Parks from getting to a Tyler Sheehan pass and on the next snap, he took down tailback Chris Bullock on a rushing attempt at the line of scrimmage … Tail-back Anthony Turner was later cut down by McKillop for no gain on a first-&-goal run at the Pitt 5 early in the second stanza … He later rerouted Bullock on Sheehan's incomplete toss midway through the third quarter … At the 2:09 mark of that quarter, McKillop showed why scouts compare him to Zach Thomas (Dallas), as he put on a pass defense clinic, first tackling Ray Hudson after just a 1-yard gain on a screen pass, followed by deflecting the next two passes, including Sheehan's third-&-7 toss, leading to a Bowling Green punt …

McKillop brought down Freddie Barnes behind the line of scrimmage at the BGSU 45 on a carry with 8:47 left in the game and then leveled Turner for a 3-yard loss on a run at the Falcons's 21 with 3:58 left on the game clock … In the post-game press conference, the defensive captain spoke about the season-opening loss, stating, "We came out in the first quarter and played well. In the second quarter, Bowling Green came out with a little more flash to their offense. They went to a quick hurry-up offense and caught us off guard. We have to come up with big stops. Our offense didn't perform as well as we'd like to today, but there are two sides to that. When adversity hits, the entire defense along with myself personally as a leader, needs to step up and make plays. We can't let them score like they did today in the red zone. If we played better in that aspect of the game, I think the result would have obviously been a lot better. To be a good defense we need to keep teams out of our end zone and not give up more than three points. We need to come in tomorrow, look at the film and see what we did well and didn't do well and improve on that. We were a minus-3 in turnover margin and we've been saying all preseason and even last season, whoever wins the turnover margin is usually going to win the game. It's something we need to work on." … Head to Head Competition: OC#61-Ben Bojicic (6:04-273) … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#33-Chris Bullock (5:11-222)-Seven carries for 44 yards, seven receptions for 49 yards … Defensive Impact: McKillop made five of his stops vs. the run, holding the opposition to minus 2 yards (0.40 ypc), as his opponent completed 1-of-5 passes thrown into his area for 11 yards … Made two stops for no gain and was involved in one third-down play, as the defense allowed 64 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries (2.29 ypc), while the opposition completed 26-of-42 passes for 190 yards, two scores and one interception, and generated 254 total yards on 70 plays (3.63 yards per attempt).

Buffalo … McKillop put in extra hours in the film room during the week leading up to the game, as he simply refused to have a repeat of the season opener, and in typical Scott McKillop fashion, he simply dominated in a 27-16 victory, picking up Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors. The middle linebacker delivered 15 tackles (9 solos) that included two third-down stops and another on fourth down. He also made one hit behind the line of scrimmage, batted down a pass and added two pressures, including one that caused an interception in the fourth quarter to seal the win for the Panthers … On the game's first possession from scrimmage, he deflected a Drew Willy pass and on third-&-6, stopped Brett Hamlin on a 4-yard reception, forcing the Bulls to attempt a 44-yard field goal, but the defensive front penetrated the backfield, blocking the kick and leaving Buffalo with no points to show for that 9-play drive … McKillop tackled All-MAC tailback James Starks for a 1-yard loss and later on that second quarter series, he came out of his area to assist Greg Williams in stopping Starks on a 14-yard run. A Buffalo personal foul on that snap brought the ball back 15 yards, killing another series … Ernest Jackson failed to get to back-to-back passes, as McKillop refused to let the flanker get into his route late in the third frame … McKillop also jammed Naam Roosevelt on a fourth quarter incomplete pass, then chased down Roosevelt on a 21-yard catch-&-run before tackling Starks for no gain on a run near midfield early in the fourth quarter … In the closing minutes of the game, he pressured QB Drew Willy, causing an interception on the opponent's pass attempt that was picked off by Pitt's Eric Thatcher at the Pitt 36, as the Panthers then ran out the clock to preserve the victory … Head to Head Competition: OC#79-Chris Lauzze (6:02-309) … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#19-James Starks (5:11-222)-20 carries for 97 yards, two catches for 7 yards … Defensive Impact: McKillop made ten of his stops vs. the run, holding the opposition to 24 yards (2.4 ypc), as his opponent completed 5-of-8 passes thrown into his area for 46 yards … Made one stop for no gain and was involved in two third-down plays and one more on fourth-down, as the defense allowed 125 yards and one touchdown on 32 carries (3.91 ypc), while the opposition completed 21-of-34 passes for 223 yards, one score and one interception, and generated 348 total yards on 66 plays (5.27 yards per attempt).

Iowa … For the second-straight week, the team captain earned Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors, delivering ten tackles (6 solos) with a 7-yard sack and 1.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage to lead Pitt to a 21-20 decision … A Hawkeyes late first quarter possession ended with a punt after McKillop jammed split end Andy Brodell at the line on QB Jake Christensen's incomplete third-&-15 toss … Midway through the second quarter, he chased down tailback Shonn Greene on a 32-yard run to the Pitt 13, preventing the runner from scoring … The middle linebacker later tackled Greene for a 1-yard loss near mid field during Iowa's first possession of the second half … On the Hawk-eyes' next series, he leveled fullback Jewel Hampton for a 1-yard loss at the Pitt 29 and then rerouted Trey Stross on a third-&-2 incomplete pass … With 4:03 left in the third stanza, McKillop slipped past center Rob Bruggeman to sack Christensen for a 7-yard loss near mid field … Another third-&-5 Christensen pass to Stross was incomplete, as McKillop prevented his opponent from getting to the ball, forcing Iowa to settle for a 39-yard field goal … In the post-game press conference, an excited McKillop talked about the hard-fought victory, stating, "I think our team got stronger as the game went on. That's a credit to strength and conditioning coach Buddy Morris. I think in the third and fourth quarter we were the best team. It was a great crowd out there today. In the fourth quarter the crowd really got up and that's just extra inspiration to the team just knowing the crowd is still there and behind us. I think our younger guys are heading in the right direction. A win like this builds great confidence for our team. Today we grew up a little bit and we had to grow up because we have the Big East coming up and we need to be ready." … Head to Head Competition: OC#58-Rob Bruggeman (6:03-287) … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#23-Shonn Greene (5:11-237)-23 carries for 147 yards and one touchdown, two catches for 5 yards … Defensive Impact: McKillop made nine of his stops vs. the run, holding the opposition to 4 yards (0.44 ypc), as his opponent completed 1-of-3 passes thrown into his area for 6 yards … Was involved in three third-down plays and one more on fourth-down, as the defense allowed 158 yards and two touchdowns on 39 carries (4.05 ypc), while the opposition completed 19-of-34 passes for 203 yards, and generated 361 total yards on 73 plays (4.95 yards per attempt).

Syracuse … Whether shouting encouragement from the sidelines to the Panthers' offense on the field or keeping his defensive mates in control from his middle linebacker position, there was no question that the team fed off McKillop's energy to rally in the fourth quarter for their third-straight victory, a 34-24 decision over the Orange, as the squad captain posted nine tackles (7 solos) with a stop for a 2-yard loss and two pressures … After taking down tailback Curtis Brinkley on a 4-yard run, he jammed receiver Da'Mon Merkerson at the line of scrimmage, preventing Syracuse QB Cam Dantley from completing a second-&-6 pass midway through the opening stanza … Later in the first quarter, he forced the Orange to punt, as he pressured Dantley on a third-&-1 incomplete deep pass intended for Mike Owen … Late in the second quarter, he helped tackle Doug Hogue on a third-&-10 Dantley toss that netted just 5 yards, forcing Syracuse to settle for a 25-yard field goal on that 7-play, 59-yard drive … McKillop ignited the team with a bone-jarring shot to Daniel Bailey's midsection that resulted the receiver collapsing for a 2-yard loss on a reverse, followed by the linebacker rerouting receiver Van Chew on a second-&-9 incomplete throw from Dantley midway through the third quarter … Dantley bolted on a bootleg late in the fourth quarter, but McKillop chased down the quarterback at the Syracuse 46 after an 11-yard run. The linebacker then pressured Dantley into throwing an incomplete pass on the next snap and then tackled Donte Davis on a 6-yard catch near mid field to stuff out the Orange's last-ditch drive, as Pittsburgh then ran out the clock … The media swamped McKillop with questions after the contest. Asked about Syracuse punting the ball away near the end of the game to seal the Panthers' victory, he stated, "Whenever a team doesn't go for it on fourth-and-one, it's a sign of respect for our defensive line. I think the penetration we were getting by the front four was something that they took into account. It definitely built up our confidence. As the game went on, we built upon that." … Talking about the defensive improvements that can be made by Pittsburgh, he noted, "We still need to make more plays. I think we only caused one turnover today. We have a great defense. We just have to cause more turnovers and be more effective. I think our front four showed up really big, but Jabaal [Sheard] was looking good on coverage, so that's really big. Our front four did a great job today." … Talking about the team's conditioning that led to the victory, he replied, "Like I said before, [our conditioning] is showing up. In the fourth quarter, I felt just as strong as I did in the first quarter. I think for myself and the team, it is something that helped us out. You could see that in fourth quarter we were a stronger team." … Asked about the game in general, McKillop said, "One of the things we didn't want to do with the defensive side of the ball was get down. We had a couple good plays before that pass and had to keep everybody at the same pace and let everybody know what happened, so we didn't have anyone thinking that they were playing faster or better. The receiver made a good play, it was a good throw by the quarterback. To be a secondary player, you have to have a good memory. You're put out there on an island, one-on-one, and sometimes the other team is going to have a big play. I think Aaron [Berry] bounced back well and I think from that play, we moved past it. You have to go one play at a time. You can't dwell in the past." … Questioned about him staying positive throughout the game, despite being down 24-13 in the third quarter, the defensive captain simply responded, "I think that shows maturity on the part of our team. Nobody shut down and everyone kept talking. As coach always says, sawing the wood. You're never too high, you're never too low, you just have to keep on and keep the same level. We were down double digits and I think if you went on our sidelines, you didn't see anyone getting down. Our spirits were still high and we knew that we should be in the game. They made a couple of nice big plays - two great catches by the receivers and we have to stop that. To be a great defense, we can't let them have big plays." … Pittsburgh defensive lineman Greg Romeus also spoke highly of McKillop's leadership to the press, saying, "I think we're definitely maturing a lot. We're definitely going from last year. The last two years, we haven't been much of a second half team. We have great leadership, Scott [McKillop] on the sideline was getting everybody's spirits up and letting everyone know that it's still a game and we have to stay in the game. The senior leadership was amazing. I think that's what really got us through. If Scott McKillop is out there telling what we need to do, that's our leader in our eyes. He's out there laying it on the line and he's motivating each of us every play." … Head to Head Competition: OC#60-Jim McKenzie (6:04-286) … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#22-Curtis Brinkley (5:09-203)-16 carries for 119 yards … Defensive Impact: McKillop made six of his stops vs. the run, holding the opposition to 26 yards (4.33 ypc), as his opponent completed 2-of-3 passes thrown into his area for 11 yards … Was involved in two third-down plays, as the defense allowed 126 yards on 27 carries (4.67 ypc), while the opposition completed 9-of-17 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns, and generated 263 total yards on 44 plays (5.98 yards per attempt).

South Florida … While the national media raved about USF defensive end George Selvie leading up to the game, it was McKillop who stole the national spotlight, further cementing his spot as one of the elite players in college football. The middle linebacker wreaked havoc in the South Florida backfield, as his constant harassment of QB Matt Grothe led to Pittsburgh's 26-21 upset victory. McKillop led the team with twelve solo tackles, as he produced two sacks and three stops behind the line of scrimmage … He out-muscled George Hill, taking the tight end out of his pattern on Grothe's incomplete pass early in the first quarter … On a late opening stanza series, McKillop chased down Grothe on a 27-yard bootleg, as the middle linebacker was the last player left before the quarterback would have found daylight for a touchdown run … Grothe was shaken up from McKillop's violent hit and was later replaced by Grant Gregory for a few snaps, but the middle linebacker denied Gregory on a fourth-&-5 option run, taking the QB down after a 1-yard pick-up to kill an early second quarter possession … With 0:22 left in the first half, he sniffed out the reverse and leveled Benjamin Williams for a 2-yard loss at the USF 26 … Grothe returned to action for the third quarter, but midway through that frame, his scrambling caught up with him, or rather, McKillop did, taking down the passer on third-&-5 for a 10-yard sack that forced UCF to punt on a three-&-out drive … South Florida again punted after their next possession, as McKillop took down Taurus Johnson on a third-&-20 swing pass that netted only 6 yards … Late in the fourth quarter, McKillop killed USF's last ditch drive, as he blasted past center Jake Griffin to chase Grothe in the backfield, resulting in a 14-yard sack, as the quarterback was penalized for intentional grounding on third-&-3, leading to the opposition again punting as McKillop killed yet another potential scoring drive … Head to Head Competition: OC#77-Jake Griffin (6:04-307) … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#26-Mike Ford (6:02-227)-14 carries for 73 yards … Defensive Impact: McKillop made eight of his stops vs. the run, holding the opposition to 22 yards (2.75 ypc), as his opponent completed 4-of-6 passes thrown into his area for 25 yards … Was involved in three third-down plays and one more on fourth down, as the defense allowed 116 yards and one touchdown on 35 carries (3.31 ypc), while the opposition completed 11-of-21 passes for 129 yards, one interception and one touchdown, and generated 245 total yards on 56 plays (4.38 yards per attempt).

Navy … McKillop had a busy day trying to stop the Midshipmen running game, as he made nine tackles (7 solos), all coming on the ground, while assisting on one stop behind the line of scrimmage … He crashed into Jarod Bryant, taking the QB down for no gain at the Navy 20 on a mid second quarter rushing attempt … On Navy's first possession of the second half, he again stopped Bryant for no yardage at the Navy 47 … Later in the third quarter, he slipped past center Ricky Moore to assist in taking Eric Kettani down for a 2-yard loss on a run near mid field … Head to Head Competition: OC#68-Ricky Moore (6:04-297) … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#26-Shun White (5:09-190)-10 carries for 70 yards and one touchdown … Defensive Impact: McKillop made nine of his stops vs. the run, holding the opposition to 65 yards (7.22 ypc) and a touchdown … Was involved in one third-down play, as the defense allowed 194 yards and three touchdowns on 47 carries (4.13 ypc), while the opposition completed 4-of-8 passes for 57 yards, no touchdowns and one interception, and generated 251 total yards on 55 plays (4.56 yards per attempt).

Rutgers … The middle linebacker delivered six tackles (4 solos) vs. the Scarlet Knights' rushing unit, adding a 6-yard sack … He rerouted Kenny Britt on a pass incompletion from QB Mike Teel on Rutgers' first possession of the second half … Later in the third quarter, he slipped into the backfield to sack Teel for a 6-yard loss … With 3:57 left in the game, he took down tailback Kordell Young for no gain on a run at the Pitt 43 … Talking to the media about the Panthers' loss and Rutgers' victory, McKillop stated, "We knew the type of players they had. We knew what they were capable of. Mike Teel is a proven veteran quarterback. Hats off to Rutgers. They played well both offensively and defensively. They controlled the game and it definitely showed on the scoreboard. They made big plays. On defense today, we didn't have anyone to step up and make big plays. We've got to play better. We just didn't play well as a defense as a whole. As a leader of this defense, I've got to take the blame for this. We need to be able to react and adapt to what they do. They hit a big play on us and it took the air right out of us. We've got to play better, we've got to tackle better and we've got to move faster. We need to regroup tomorrow, look at the film and prepare for a good Notre Dame team next week." … Head to Head Competition: OC#61- Ryan Blaszczyk (6:04-293) … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#8-Kordell Young (5:09-188)-20 carries for 83 yards and two touchdowns … Defensive Impact: McKillop made six of his stops vs. the run, holding the opposition to 15 yards (2.5 ypc), as his opponent completed 4-of-6 passes thrown into his area for 25 yards … Was involved in three third-down plays and one more on fourth down, as the defense allowed 116 yards on 35 carries (3.31 ypc) with two touchdowns, while the opposition completed 11-of-21 passes for 129 yards, one interception and one touchdown, and generated 245 total yards on 56 plays (4.38 yards per attempt).

Notre Dame … McKillop was all over the field trying to contain the Irish running game, making 14-of-15 tackles (8 solos) with a pair of stops behind the line of scrimmage vs. the Notre Dame rushing attack … Tailback Armando Allen was caught by McKillop for a 5-yard loss on a third quarter rushing attempt at the Pitt 42 … Reserve runner James Aldridge was stopped by McKillop for a 2-yard loss with 5:59 left in the third stanza … Allen was again brought down behind the line of scrimmage by the middle linebacker during a carry at the Pitt 3-yard line during the first overtime period … Head to Head Competition: OC#51-Dan Wenger (6:04-302) … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#5-Armando Allen (5:10-198)-19 carries for 73 yards, three catches for 13 yards … Defensive Impact: McKillop made 14 of his stops vs. the run, holding the opposition to 46 yards (3.29 ypc), as his opponent completed 1-of-2 passes thrown into his area for 6 yards … Was involved in four third-down plays and made two goal-line stops, as the defense allowed 115 yards on 39 carries (2.95 ypc), while the opposition completed 23-of-44 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns, and generated 386 total yards on 56 plays (4.65 yards per attempt).

Louisville … McKillop scored the first touchdown of his college career on an 18-yard interception return, adding seven tackles (5 solos) with a pressure … At the start of the fourth quarter, he killed a Cardinals drive, stopping Vic Anderson on a third-&-5 catch that netted 4 yards … With 0:50 left in the game, he sealed the 41-7 victory by picking off a Hunter Cantwell pass for an 18-yard interception return for a score … Talking to the media after the game, McKillop noted, "We played well today. There were a couple of times in the third quarter when our defense could have played a little better but that's one of the things we'll work on starting tomorrow. It's a big win. It's big for our team and it's big for Coach Wannstedt. It's his first winning season and I'm happy for him." … Asked about his first interception for a score, he replied, "That was the first time ever in my career returning a defensive play for a touchdown. I was running with the ball and thinking to myself that if I get tackled at the three or two-yard line, I'm going to hear about it forever because I like to joke around with the other guys in the locker room about things and I'm sure they'd be all over me." … Record Watch-His touchdown runback marked the first time a Pitt defender returned an interception for a touchdown since Gus Mustakas vs. Toledo (9 yards on 9/30/2006) … Head to Head Competition: OC#77-Eric Wood (6:04-309) … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#32-Brock Bolen (6:00-238)-Four carries for 18 yards … Defensive Impact: McKillop made three of his stops vs. the run, holding the opposition to 13 yards (4.33 ypc), as his opponent completed 5-of-6 passes thrown into his area for 37 yards … Was involved in one third-down play, as the defense allowed 96 yards on 39 carries (2.95 ypc), while the opposition completed 19-of-38 passes for 203 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, and generated 299 total yards on 68 plays (4.40 yards per attempt).

Cincinnati … The Panthers shut down the Bearcats' ground game, holding them to 87 yards, but Cincinnati's three touchdown passes handed Pitt a 28-21 loss. McKillop was in on a season-high 17 tackles (11 solos) that included a pair of stops for losses … He took down tailback Jacob Ramsey for a 1-yard loss at the Pitt 39 midway through the second quarter … Later in the third frame, he leveled tailback John Goebel for a 1-yard loss at the Pitt 40 … Head to Head Competition: OC#56-Chris Jurek (6:02-289) … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#20-Jacob Ramsey (6:00-230)-18 carries for 25 yards and one touchdown, three catches for 19 yards … Defensive Impact: McKillop made 14 of his stops vs. the run, holding the opposition to 36 yards (2.57 ypc), as his opponent completed 3-of-3 passes thrown into his area for 27 yards … Was involved in two third-down plays, as the defense allowed 87 yards and one touchdown on 38 carries (2.29 ypc), while the opposition completed 26-of-32 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns, and generated 396 total yards on 70 plays (5.66 yards per attempt).

West Virginia … McKillop had a quiet day, at least by his terms, in a 19-15 win, registering seven tackles (4 solos) … He rerouted tailback Noel Devine away from a Pat White second-&-goal incomplete pass at the Pitt 9-yard line on the first possession of the second half … On back-to-back plays, McKillop stopped Pat White for no gain on a bootleg, followed by taking down Devine for no gain on a third-&-9 carry at the WVU 24, forcing West Virginia to punt with 5:10 left in the contest … Talking to the media after the game, McKillop noted, "There were some times where we could of shut it down and put it in the tank but I think everyone on our team -- offensively, defensively and special teams -- we pushed through it. We had some people come up and make big plays." … Asked about how Pitt defended vs. mobile QB Pat White, he stated, "You have to keep him (Pat White) contained. We didn't do it the one time and he really hurt us. He hasn't become the NCAA's leader rusher as a quarterback for nothing. Pat had a good game today but we stopped him when we needed to." … Asked about the defense's unity throughout the game, he said, "We kept together as a team throughout the game. We weren't sitting there on the sideline screaming at the offense, we just did what we needed to do and that was go out there and take care of business on defense. I have faith in our offense and they came through today." … Head to Head Competition: OC#61-Eric Jobe (6:04-303) … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#7-Noel Devine (5:08-170)-12 carries for 17 yards, three catches for 6 yards … Defensive Impact: McKillop made six of his stops vs. the run, holding the opposition to 18 yards (3.00 ypc), as his opponent completed 1-of-2 passes thrown into his area for 7 yards … Was involved in one third-down play, as the defense allowed 157 yards and one touchdown on 32 carries (4.91 ypc), while the opposition completed 15-of-28 passes for 143 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions, and generated 300 total yards on 60 plays (5.00 yards per attempt).

Connecticut … McKillop closed out the regular season by coming up with thirteen tackles, two stops behind the line of scrimmage and a pass deflection … He took down tailback Donald Brown for no gain on a run at the Pitt 48 late in the second quarter and closed out the first half by forcing a Connecticut punt after deflecting a third-&-23 Tyler Lorenzen pass … On the Huskies' first possession of the second half, he tackled Brown for a 1-yard loss on a run, but later in the third quarter, Brown out-juked McKillop to break free for a 57-yard touchdown scamper … the middle linebacker stopped Brown for a 2-yard loss on a late third quarter carry and then jammed Brown, preventing the tailback from getting to a fourth quarter Lorenzen pass on a second-&-goal toss at the Pitt 9 with 6:46 left in the game … Head to Head Competition: OC#68-Keith Gray (6:02-283) … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#34-Donald Brown (5:10-210)-34 carries for 189 yards and one touch-down … Defensive Impact: McKillop made 13 of his stops vs. the run, holding the opposition to 93 yards (7.15 ypc) and one touchdown, as his opponent completed 1-of-3 passes thrown into his area for 9 yards … Was involved in two third-down plays, as the defense allowed 225 yards and one touchdown on 44 carries (5.11 ypc), while the opposition completed 6-of-31 passes for 80 yards, no touchdowns and five interceptions, and generated 305 total yards on 75 plays (4.07 yards per attempt).

Oregon State (Sun Bowl) … The teams failed to register any touchdowns, with the Panthers falling to OSU, 3-0. McKillop finished his career with his second interception for the year, adding eleven tackles that included one stop for a 4-yard loss … He rerouted tailback Ryan McCants away from QB Lyle Moevao's first pass of the game and with 0:06 left in the first half, the middle linebacker intercepted a Moevao pass in the end zone for a touchback, killing a 13-play, 61-yard possession … With 6:58 remaining in the game, McKillop assisted other Panthers on back-to-back stops of tailback Jeremy Francis (both plays resulted in a 3-yard loss) … Talking to the media after the 3-0 loss, McKillop said, "We left a couple of plays on the field today. We just didn't come out in the second half and set the tone." …

Head to Head Competition: OC#60-Alex Linnenkohl (6:02-288) … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#24-Ryan McCants (6:01-240)-Six carries for 23 yards, two catches for 6 yards … Defensive Impact: McKillop made nine of his stops vs. the run, holding the opposition to 14 yards (1.56 ypc), as his opponent completed 2-of-4 passes thrown into his area for 15 yards … Was involved in two third-down plays, as the defense allowed 80 yards on 30 carries (2.67 ypc), while the opposition completed 21-of-43 passes for 193 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions, and generated 273 total yards on 73 plays (3.74 yards per attempt).

All-American first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report and Scout.com, adding second-team honors from Sports Illustrated and College Football News, and third-team accolades from the Associated Press … Unanimous All-Big East Conference first-team choice, adding Big East Defensive Player of the Year recognition from The NFL Draft Report and College Football News … Earned All-Big East and All-Eastern College Athletic Conference All-Star honors from the media … Named the team's Defensive Player of the Year … Chosen Big East Player of the Week for his performance vs. Rutgers … Took over middle linebacker duties, starting all twelve games … Led the Big East and the nation with a career-high 151 tackles (98 solos), including three sacks for minus 21 yards, nine stops for losses of 31 yards and three quarterback pressures, as he averaged 12.58 hits per game … His average of 8.17 solo tackles per game ranked second nationally … His 151 tackles were the most by a Panther defender in a season since the university joined the Big East Conference at its inception in 1991 and also rank 11th on the conference single-season record list … Recovered three fumbles and caused two others … Only Steve Apke (168 in 1984 and 162 in 1985) and Troy Benson 162 in 1983) had more tackles in a season for Pittsburgh … Deflected seven passes and intercepted another … Collected three tackles and a fumble recovery on the punt coverage unit … Made 123 plays vs. the run, holding the opposition to 315 yards (2.56 ypc) and one touchdown on those rushing attempts, as the Panthers defense gave up 130.42 yards per game on the ground … Only 21-of-58 passes thrown (36.21 completion percentage) into his area were caught by the opposition (9.09 yards gained per pass completion/3.29 yards per pass attempt), as in addition to his eight passes defended (one interception, seven break-ups), his press coverage skills prevented those receivers from getting to 29 other throws … Helped the unit rank fifth in the nation, allowing only 297.67 yards per game, as the Panthers also ranked third in the Division 1-A ranks in pass defense, giving up 167.25 yards per game … 23 of his tackles produced third-down stops (15.23 percent of his plays), with eight more coming on fourth-down plays … Added 27 tackles inside the red zone (17.89 percent of his plays), including 12 on goal-line plays (7.95 percent of his plays) … Stopped opposing ball carriers for no gain on seven other rushing attempts … The defender recorded at least ten tackles in a game seven times during his junior campaign … 22.52 percent of his tackles (34 total) brought an end to opposing scoring drives (23 third-down tackles, eight on fourth down, three fumble recoveries).

Eastern Michigan … In his first career start, McKillop posted eight tackles (5 solos) with a stop for a 6-yard loss and a pass deflection, as he simply dominated vs. the run, making seven of his plays vs. EMU ball carriers that managed just 39 yards on 23 attempts vs. the Panthers … On the season's first series from scrimmage, the middle linebacker elevated to break up a pass from Andy Schmitt intended for halfback DeAnthony White … Late in the first half, McKillop jumped over a cut block by center Desi Mayner to sack Schmitt for a 6-yard loss … Midway through the third quarter, he forced EMU to punt when he took down tight end Josh LeDuc on a third-&-8 pass from Schmitt to the EMU 30 … Speaking to the media after the game, McKillop noted, "Everyone stuck to their positions tonight. We built confidence ourselves and we want to carry that throughout the season. Hopefully the performance we had erased some doubts about not being able to stop the run. It's the first game and I understand that. We still have a long way to go but hopefully we erased some people's doubts on our defense as a whole." … Head to Head Competition: OC#73-Desi Mayner (6:01-289) … Opposition Rushing Statistics: 23 carries for 39 yards and no touch-downs … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#32-Pierre Walker (5:08-191)-11 carries for 30 yards.

Grambling State … The Panthers rolled to a 34-10 victory, as the defense allowed just 239 yards, including 84 yards on 31 carries. McKillop chipped in with another eight tackles (4 solos), as he also deflected a pass and recovered a fumble on the punt coverage unit … Two of his hits came on goal-line plays, as he delivered three tackles inside the red zone while making a pair of fourth-down stops … Midway through the opening frame, the middle linebacker recovered a blocked punt at the GSU 16, as the Tigers were penalized for holding the Panther defender, but he still made the play. That set up Pitt tailback LeSean McCoy's 7-yard touchdown run on the next play … GSU tailback Cornelius Walker had to leave the game after McKillop clobbered him on a first-&-goal run that netted four yards and three plays later on fourth-&-goal, the linebacker broke up a pass intended for Tim Abney, leaving the Tigers with no points to show for an 8-play, 42-yard series … At the start of the fourth quarter, GSU saw another scoring opportunity be destroyed by McKillop, as the defender raced out of position to tackle Clyde Edwards on a third-&-10 catch that netted 8 yards and on fourth-&-2, he slammed Brandon Leonard to the ground for no gain on a run at the Pitt 4, killing a 60-yard, 11-play drive … After the game, McKillop stated in the team's press conference, "We had a lot of adversity in the second half with us being so close to our own goal line but we had a bunch of people step up and make plays. We had a sound defense against both the run and the pass and we kept them out of the end zone the second half and that's really important." … Head to Head Competition: OC#67- Tavares Cockrell (6:02-329) … Opposition Rushing Statistics: 31 carries for 84 yards and no touch-owns … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#27-Cornelius Walker (5:11-180)-12 carries for 54 yards and no touchdowns, two catches for 2 yards.

Michigan State … McKillop posted double-digit tackles for the first time in his career, coming up with 17 hits (7 solos), including one on the punt coverage unit. He made 15 of his stops vs. the run, producing two third-down hits and two more on fourth down, as he also had three tackles inside the red zone, with two coming on goal-line plays … He chased down Terry Love on an 11-yard punt return midway through the opening frame and he forced MSU to punt in the third quarter after he tackled tailback Javon Ringer on a third-&-26 run that netted 5 yards … At the start of the fourth quarter, he drove his helmet into Ringer, preventing the tailback from getting into the end zone on a second-&-goal carry …

Head to Head Competition: OC#65-Joel Nitchman (6:03-299) … Opposition Rushing Statistics: 51 carries for 144 yards and one touchdown … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#23-Javon Ringer (5:09-202)-20 carries for 95 yards and no touchdowns, three catches for 31 yards.

Connecticut … The Huskies punished the Pitt defensive line, scoring three times on the ground, as McKillop delivered nine tackles (7 solos), including a pair of stops inside the red zone … Connecticut runner Donald Brown had to leave the field for several series after he had his "bell rung" after colliding with McKillop on a 1-yard run at the Pitt 10 late in the first quarter … Late in the second quarter, he prevented a potential touchdown, after he chased down Larry Taylor on a third-&-2 catch that netted 24 yards to the Pitt 16 … Talking to the media after Pittsburgh's 34-14 loss, the defensive leader said, "We have to be able to get off the field on third down opportunities. We had them in a couple of third-and-long situations and we weren't able to capitalize and make plays. We paid for it. In a game like this, turnovers were important. It's one of the things the coaches were stressing before today--we have to be able to create turnovers. I think everyone right now is a little shell-shocked. We're a little surprised but I think everyone will come in tomorrow and realize what we did wrong and how we can correct that and move on and look forward to Virginia.

One of the keys that Coach Wannstedt has always stressed is trust. We have to trust that our offense is going to go out and play well. We have faith in them that they're going to turn things around … Head to Head Competition: OC#68-Keith Gray (6:02-294) … Opposition Rushing Statistics: 46 carries for 115 yards and three touchdowns … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#34-Donald Brown (5:10-213)-18 carries for 53 yards and one touchdown.

Virginia … McKillop began a string of three consecutive games with double-digit tackle totals, posting fifteen hits (9 solos) with an assisted stop for a loss, as he also showed off his pass coverage skills, deflecting three throws and jamming receivers to prevent the opponents from getting to four other throws. He had four goal-line tackles among his six hits inside the red zone, coming up with a pair of third-down stops, as he also stopped Cavalier runners four times for no gain … On the game's opening series, McKillop chased down Cedric Peerman after the tailback broke two tackles on a 16-yard catch-&-run play … On the next drive, he stopped Peerman for no gain at the Pitt 5 on a first-&-goal carry … Late in the second quarter, he broke up a Jameel Sewell pass and on the next snap, he jammed Peerman, causing the runner to drop a third-&-5 toss from Sewell, forcing Virginia to punt … Late in the third frame, the linebacker took down Peerman again for no gain on a run at the Cavalier 12 … A mid-fourth quarter series was evident that McKillop has the ability to simply take over a game. Despite an illegal block from tight end Tom Santi, the Pitt defender still tackled Sewell on a 1-yard run at midfield. On the next snap, he batted a Sewell pass out of Santi's hands and then returned a "favor" for Santi's late hit by knocking the tight end down at the line of scrimmage, causing Sewell to misfire on a pass. Peerman took the ball on the next snap, only to have McKillop stop him after a 1-yard gain. Santi was again clobbered by McKillop attempting to catch a pass and on first-&-goal, a frustrated Peerman was again taken down by McKillop for no gain. Sewell then kept the ball on a bootleg, as McKillop slipped into the backfield to upend the QB for a 2-yard loss. The middle linebacker then stopped Peerman from getting to Sewell's third-&-goal toss on the next snap … Head to Head Competition: OC#63-Jordy Lipsey (6:03-284) … Opposition Rushing Statistics: 42 carries for 173 yards and three touchdowns … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#37-Cedric Peerman (5:10-208)-24 carries for 87 yards and two touch-downs, four catches for 44 yards.

Navy … McKillop was one of the defense's few bright spots, as that unit allowed the Mid-shipmen to amass 331 yards and four touchdowns rushing. The middle linebacker was in on 14 tackles (12 solos), all on running plays (opposition netted just 42 yards), as six of his hits were inside the red zone, including a fourth-down stop and two third-down tackles … The linebacker killed an early fourth quarter drive as he took down Greg Veteto on a fourth-&-3 run for just a 1-yard gain … Talking to the media about Navy's offense, McKillop replied, "We knew they liked to run the ball but we also knew that they have the ability to pass the ball. They're exactly what we thought they would be. It's tough when you don't see an offense like that all the time. We got a great look from our scout team in practice but they weren't Navy." … Head to Head Competition: OC#63-Antron Harper (6:00-272) … Opposition Rushing Statistics: 70 carries for 331 yards and four touchdowns … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#36-Eric Kettani (6:01-233)-19 carries for 72 yards and no touch-downs.

Cincinnati … The Pitt middle linebacker tallied sixteen tackles (9 solos) with a pressure and assisted on a stop behind the line of scrimmage. He made eleven of his plays vs. the pass, coming up with two third-down hits, as he also rerouted receivers eight times on pass attempts … The Bearcats were forced to punt in the second quarter after McKillop drove QB Ben Mauk into the ground just a yard short of a first down on a third-&-10 bootleg … Later in the first half, he jammed Marcus Barnett at the line on a first-&-goal Mauk pass, as Cincinnati would then miss on a 26-yard field goal, leaving them with no points on a 67-yard, 9-play series … At the start of the third quarter, he collided with Butler Benton, taking the runner down for a 1-yard loss … The team's 24-17 victory was sealed when McKillop pressured Mauk into throwing a pass that was intercepted by Pitt's Aaron Berry with less than three minutes left to play … After the game, McKillop told the press, "We made plays and capitalized today. It put our team in a good position to win and we did. We had to put pressure on their quarterback. Ben Mauk's a great quarterback and if you leave people open, he'll find them. I thought we did a good job of shutting him down today." … Head to Head Competition: OC#56-Chris Jurek (6:02-293) … Opposition Rushing Statistics: 28 carries for 121 yards and two touchdowns … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#23-Butler Benton (6:01-221)-12 carries for 35 yards and no touchdowns, three catches for 57 yards, one fumble lost.

Louisville … A pass interference penalty by McKillop negated a Pittsburgh interception of a Brian Brohm pass, but the middle linebacker registered nine tackles (8 solos) and stopped his pass coverage assignment from getting to three other throws … Brohm's third-&-8 crossing pattern to Mario Urrutia was stopped one yard short of a first down by McKillop early in the first quarter … In the fourth quarter, he jammed tailback Anthony Allen at the line, stopping the runner from getting to a Brohm screen pass … Head to Head Competition: OC#77-Eric Wood (6:04-297) … Opposition Rushing Statistics: 39 carries for 120 yards and one touchdown … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#42-Anthony Allen (6:01-232)-8 carries for 33 yards and no touchdowns.

Syracuse … McKillop would begin a string of three-straight double-digit tackle contests, producing 12 hits (7 solos) with a pressure while also assisting on a sack. Ten of his plays came vs. the run, as Pitt held the Orange to 30 yards on 31 carries and the linebacker was credited with four third-down tackles for the day … On Syracuse's game-opening drive, the Panther defender pressured QB Andrew Robinson into throwing a third-&-8 incomplete pass, forcing the Orange to punt … Early in the second quarter, Robinson was stopped by McKillop after a third-&-9 bootleg netted 4 yards, as 'Cuse settled for a 36-yard field goal …

On the next series, the linebacker assisted in sacking Robinson on third-&-13 for a 9-yard loss that resulted in another Syracuse punt … A late third quarter Orange series ended with another punt, after McKillop brought down Max Suter on a third-&-20 3-yard run … Head to Head Competition: OC#60-Jim McKenzie (6:04-288) … Opposition Rushing Statistics: 31 carries for 30 yards and no touchdowns … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#32-Doug Hogue (6:02-217)-12 carries for 10 yards and no touchdowns.

Rutgers … If the national media had not heard of McKillop before, his performance vs. the Scarlet Knights certainly made all take notice. The middle linebacker earned National Player of the Week (The NFL Draft Report) and Big East Defensive Player of the Week honors (media), as he collected 16 tackles (10 solos)with 1.5 sacks, 2.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage, an interception, two pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. He had one fourth-down stop and two more on third-down while also stopping his pass coverage assignments from getting into their routes twice … On the game's opening drive, he broke up a pair of Mike Teel passes, including one on third-&-10, forcing Rutgers to settle for a 30-yard field goal … He sacked Jabu Lovelace for a 7-yard loss, causing a fumble that he recovered at the Rutgers 12, setting up Pitt QB Pat Bostick's 1-yard scoring lob to tight end Darrell Strong … Early in the second quarter, he picked off a Mike Teel pass for his first career interception … On Rutgers' next series, he assisted in sacking Lovelace for minus 8 yards on third-&-2, as the Knights were again forced to punt … Rutgers' first drive of the second half ended with another punt, as the linebacker chased down Lawrence on a third-&-13 bootleg that netted 5 yards … In the fourth quarter, McKillop recovered a fumble by Lovelace, after the QB was sacked for a 9-yard loss by Pitt's Shane Murray. That recovery set up a Panthers 32-yard field goal … On Rutgers' next series, he tackled tailback Ray Rice for a 1-yard loss and with 3:48 left in the game, McKillop slammed Rice to the ground for no gain on a rushing attempt at the Rutgers 26 … Talking to the press about the game overall, McKillop commented, "I think we played against a great back today and we kept [Ray Rice] below his average. They had some big plays. One thing our coaches tell us, is you can play 60 total plays and 57 can be good ones, and three are bad ones, but that's 21 points right there. I think we played good but there's always room for improvement." … Asked about the Pitt defense giving its offense good field position, he stated, "You have to trust your offense. You want to put them in a good position to capitalize. You have to trust that they're going to play their game and we're going to play our game. You can't doubt anyone. You can't have the offense and defense butting heads. You have to be a team and play together." … Asked about the game's final call that resulted in a 20-16 Rutgers win, he replied, "I learned in high school that you can't put the game in the referee's hands. You have to take care of the game yourself, so that's the way it's going be. You have to take care of it. It came down to that last play but we had other plays we didn't capitalize on." … Head to Head Competition: OC#61-Ryan Blaszcyk (6:04-289) … Opposition Rushing Statistics: 40 carries for 111 yards and one touchdown … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#27-Ray Rice (5:09-207)-26 carries for 112 yards and one touchdown.

South Florida … Both offenses combined for 745 yards in a 48-37 Pitt loss, as the nation's leading tackler compiled a career-high eighteen tackles (14 solos) with two of those hits coming on the punt coverage unit. He delivered three stops behind the line of scrimmage, causing a fumble while adding one pressure. He posted three stops inside the red zone, with a trio of third-down tackles and two more on fourth down. It marked the seventh time this season that McKillop recorded at least ten tackles in a game … Pitt Defensive End Joe Clermond praised his middle linebacker after the game, stating, "Scott (McKillop) plays well every week. He comes out and plays the same way he prepares." … The Panther defender was simply dominant, evident by his performance late in the first quarter. He first took down tailback Mike Ford for a 1-yard loss, tackled Jessie Hester on a 10-yard swing pass on the next play, followed by stripping the ball from George Hill on a screen pass at midfield, but South Florida recovered the ball. Two plays later on third-&-19, he chased down Hester on an 11-yard catch … Midway through the second quarter, USF was forced to punt when McKillop stopped Benjamin Williams on a third-&-5 run that netted 5 yards … He later tackled Carlton Mitchell for a 5-yard loss on a rushing attempt at the end of the first half … Showing that "blue collar" work ethic, McKillop beat off an illegal block by USF's Lucas Darr (penalized 10 yards), to take down Marcus Edwards on an early third quarter 5-yard punt return … Edwards would break free for a 25-yard punt return before McKillop would run him down later in the third frame … QB Matt Grothe also fell victim to the Pitt linebacker's wrath, losing one yard on a late third quarter bootleg at the Pitt 19 … A USF fourth quarter series ended with a punt after McKillop brought down Benjamin Williams a yard short of a first down on a third-&-3 run … The defender later stacked up tailback Mike Ford at the line of scrimmage for no gain on a first-&-goal run at the Pitt 1 … Head to Head Competition: OC#77-Jake Griffin (6:04-307) … Opposition Rushing Statistics: 44 carries for 193 yards and four touchdowns … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#26-Mike Ford (6:02-227)-14 carries for 63 yards and two touchdowns, one fumble lost.

West Virginia … McKillop closed out his first season as a starter leading a fired-up defense that allowed the Mountaineers' renowned ground attack to gain just 104 yards on 41 tries and held their passing game to 79 yards in a 13-9 upset Pit win that knocked West Virginia out of contention for the national championship game. The middle linebacker was in on nine tackles (6 solos), including a stop behind the line of scrimmage, as he jammed WVA receivers twice at the line of scrimmage, posted three third-down tackles and delivered eight of his hits vs. the running game … On the game's opening drive, McKillop kept the Mountaineers out of the end zone, chasing down QB Patrick White on a second-&-goal run that netted 3 yards … He forced a mid-first quarter punt after stopping Jock Sanders on a third-&-11 4-yard catch … At the start of the fourth quarter, he leaped over center Mike Dent to tackle QB Jarrett Brown behind the line of scrimmage on a bootleg … Later in the final frame, he stopped White for no gain at the Pitt 33 on another QB option … Head to Head Competition: OC#68-Mike Dent (6:04-294) … Opposition Rushing Statistics: 41 carries for 104 yards and one touchdown … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#10-Steve Slaton (5:10-191)-Nine carries for 11 yards, one catch for 4 yards.

McKillop played in 12 games behind Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year, H.B. Blades, at middle linebacker … Recorded 29 tackles (18 solos) with a 6-yard sack, two stops for losses of 7 yards and a quarterback pressure … Deflected two passes and also recovered one fumble … Led the Big East special teams players with 18 tackles on the coverage unit, making 14 hits vs. the kickoff return and four more covering punts … Two of his tackles came on third-down plays and six others on fourth down … Stopped opposing ball carriers three times for no gain at the line of scrimmage, as he held the opposition to minus 4 yards on nine plays he made vs. the running game … Three of his stops came inside the red zone, including two on goal-line plays.

Virginia … The reserve linebacker posted two solo tackles with a 6-yard sack on defense, adding one more stop on the kickoff coverage unit … He tackled Michael Johnson after a 20-yard kickoff return in the second quarter and sacked QB Jameel Sewell for a 6-yard loss at the Cavalier 45 late in the final frame … Opposition Rushing Statistics: 33 carries for 107 yards and no touchdowns.

Cincinnati … In his most extensive action as a sophomore, McKillop delivered a season-high seven tackles (4 solos), adding six stops on special teams, as he made two fourth-down hits, one other inside the red zone and stopped a ball carrier for no gain on one rushing attempt … Derrick Stewart was corralled by McKillop on a 15-yard punt return early in the first quarter … With 1:38 left in the first half, he took down Dominick Goodman on a 23-yard kickoff return … He stopped Goodman on a 24-yard kick-off return to start the third quarter … Goodman gained 24 yards on another kickoff return in the third quarter before McKillop stopped him … Stewart added 21 yards on a fourth quarter kickoff return before the linebacker upended him … With 4:15 left in the game, McKillop tackled Dustin Grutza on a fourth-&-1 bootleg by the Cincinnati QB … On the game's final kickoff, McKillop leveled Stewart on a 10-yard return … Opposition Rushing Statistics: 35 carries for 90 yards and no touchdowns.

Michigan State … McKillop made two of his three tackles on special teams, posting one fourth-down stop … At the start of the second half, he leveled Terry Love on a 9-yard punt return at the MSU 36 … He stopped A.J. Jimerson for a 1-yard gain on a second-&-2 rushing attempt late in the fourth quarter … Opposition Rushing Statistics: 20 carries for 81 yards and one touchdown.

The Citadel … McKillop made a tackle that stopped a ball carrier for no gain and broke up a pass in limited action on defense … He batted away a Duran Lawson pass intended for Derek Moore at the start of the fourth quarter and later tackled Ben Carnell for no gain at The Citadel 36 on a rushing attempt with 7:14 left in the game … Opposition Rushing Statistics: 36 carries for 145 yards and two touchdowns.

Toledo … The linebacker delivered six tackles (4 solos) with a stop behind the line of scrimmage, adding a pass break-up and one pressure. Two of his stops came on third-down plays, with one more on fourth down, as he made a pair of hits at the goal line …

Despite being held by Toledo's Jeff Green (who was penalized 10 yards on the play), McKillop still managed to stop Jalen Parmele on a 24-yard first quarter kickoff return …

Early in the fourth quarter, he stopped DaJuane Collins for no gain at the Pitt 3 on a first-&-goal run, followed by tackling Collins for a 1-yard loss on the next snap. Off-setting penalties negated McKillop's deflection of an Aaron Opelt fourth-&-goal pass, but on the repeat of that down, he pressured Opelt into throwing an incomplete pass, giving Pitt the ball at their own 3-yard line … He prevented a possible Toledo touchdown on the next series, chasing down Steve Odom on a 20-yard gain of a third-&-16 catch at the Pitt 36 …

Opposition Rushing Statistics: 43 carries for 185 yards and three touchdowns.

Syracuse and Rutgers … McKillop did not record any tackles in either game.

Central Florida … Two of McKillops's three tackles came on the kickoff coverage unit …

He took down Kenny Jackson on a 14-yard kickoff return in the first quarter and on a 24-yarder later in the third frame … He also stopped Jason Peters on a 2-yard run to the Pitt 24 in the fourth quarter … Opposition Rushing Statistics: 45 carries for 261 yards and three touchdowns.

South Florida … McKillop's only tackle came in the first quarter, stopping Ricky Ponton on a 3-yard run … Opposition Rushing Statistics: 23 carries for 55 yards and no touchdowns.

Connecticut … Limited to special teams duty, McKillop made one tackle on the kickoff coverage team and another on the punt coverage squad … He chased down Darius Butler on a 16-yard kickoff return at the end of the first quarter … At the start of the second half, he tackled Larry Taylor at the UConn 25 on a 4-yard punt return.

West Virginia … Continuing to excel on special teams, he made both of his tackles on the kickoff coverage unit … McKillop leveled Vaughn Rivers on a second quarter 16-yard kick-off return and took down Darius Reynaud on a 26-yard kickoff return to start the second half.

Louisville … McKillop closed out his sophomore season with one stop on a kickoff return and another for the punt coverage unit … He chased down JaJua Spillman on a 26-yard punt return to the Pitt 42 at the start of the second quarter … Midway through the second frame, he tackled Spillman at the UL 25 after a 24-yard kickoff return.

McKillop appeared in eleven games, playing behind H.B. Blades at middle linebacker, as he recorded 28 tackles (13 solos) with three quarterback pressures on defense while posting five tackles on special teams … Made 19 of his plays vs. the run, holding the opposition to 72 yards on those carries (3.79 ypc) while stopping one runner for no gain at the line of scrimmage … His opponent hit on just 3-of-7 passes vs. him for 53 yards, as they averaged 7.57 yards per pass attempt … Made six of his tackles on third-down plays and another on fourth down.

Notre Dame … McKillop made his collegiate debut by posting a pair of tackles, both vs. the run … His first career tackle prevented a potential touchdown, as he chased down QB David Wolke on a third-&-6 bootleg that netted 22 yards late in the fourth quarter … He also stopped tailback Jeff Jenkins on a 4-yard run to the Pitt 7.

Ohio University … McKillop held the opposition to minus one yard on three running plays he was involved in, finishing the day with five solo tackles … At the start of the second half, he forced OU to punt after tackling fullback Brad Young on a third-&-2 run that netted just one yard … In the fourth quarter, he chased down Voncarie Owens after the receiver turned a short catch into a 17-yard gain.

Nebraska, Rutgers and Syracuse … Did not record any tackles in any of these games.

Youngstown State … McKillop assisted on two tackles and also registered a fourth down QB pressure … He teamed with defensive end Joe Clermond to stop Justin Reams a 1-yard run at the Pitt 31 and then pressured QB Vince Gliatta on a fourth-&-6 incomplete pass to kill that 49-yard, 10-play drive.

Cincinnati … McKillop registered two of his three tackles on the kickoff coverage unit and also caused a Cincinnati holding penalty on a fourth quarter rushing attempt … He took down Dominick Goodman on a 13-yard kickoff return to start the fourth quarter and later in the final frame, the Bearcats were penalized 10 yards after tight end Brent Celek held McKillop on the play, but the linebacker still managed to tackle Butler Benton on a 1-yard run to the Cincinnati 46.

South Florida … McKillop did not see much action until the game's final ninety seconds, but he made the most of limited playing time, posting a solo tackle with a pressure while also preventing a receiver from getting to a crucial third-down pass … He chased down tail-back Andre Hall at the Pitt 35 after a 14-yard catch, followed by jamming Taurus Johnson at the line of scrimmage, stopping the receiver from getting to a second-&-6 pass at the Pitt 16. On third-&-6, he pressured QB Pat Julmiste into throwing an incomplete pass, rattling the passer on the play, causing the USF player to again misfire on fourth-&-6, ending an 11-play, 65-yard series.

Louisville … McKillop's only tackle came when he took down Montrell Jones on a 13-yard kickoff return to open the second half.

Connecticut … The linebacker assisted in tackling Courtney Robinson on a 19-yard kickoff return to open the game.

West Virginia … Pitt fans got a glimpse of great things to come in the future, as McKillop replaced an injured H.B. Blades at middle linebacker early in the game, going on to make a season-high thirteen tackles (4 solos), including a trio of third-down stops. He also had one pressure and made one tackle on the kickoff coverage unit … McKillop brought the crowd to its feet with his first tackle of the day, a crunching shot that flattened tailback Steve Slaton at the line of scrimmage for no gain on a first-&-goal run five minutes into the contest … Later in the opening frame, he stopped Antonio Lewis on a 17-yard kickoff return … On the ensuing drive, he chased Slaton out of bounds on a third-&-5 carry that netted 7 yards … Early in the third quarter, he ran across the field to tackle Darius Reynaud on a 22-yard gain of a third-&-17 pass from Patrick White. Later on that drive, he pressured White into throwing a third-&-9 incomplete pass at the Pitt 12, forcing the Mountaineers to settle for a 29-yard field goal to salvage some points from that series … Head to Head Competition: OC#76-Dan Mozes (6:03-311) … Opposition Rushing Statistics: 62 carries for 451 yards and four touchdowns … Rush Coverage Assignment: HB#10-Steve Slaton (5:10-191)-34 carries for 179 yards and two touchdowns.

Red-shirted as a freshman.

No injuries reported.

Combine: 4.70 in the 40-yard dash … 1.56 10-yard dash … 2.75 20-yard dash … 4.39 20-yard shuttle … 7.00 three-cone drill … 35.5-inch vertical jump … 9'11" broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 27 times … 31 7/8-inch arm length … 9 5/8-inch hands.

Attended Kiski Area (Export, Pa.) High School, playing football for head coach Dave Grimm … Earned Associated Press Pennsylvania Class AAAA All-State first-team honors … Member of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Fabulous 22" and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review "Terrific 25" teams, in addition to receiving Harrisburg Patriot-News "Platinum 33" and Valley News All-Star accolades … Rated the 20th-best overall prospect in Pennsylvania by Rivals.com and rated the nation's 31st-best outside linebacker prospect by that recruiting service … Rated the 24th-best prospect in Pennsylvania by Super Prep, as that service also named him to their All-Northeast team … Added Prep Star All-East Region honors and was selected to play in the Big 33 Football Classic … McKillop's 161 solo stops and 332 total tackles are Kiski Area High career-records … As an outside linebacker and fullback, he recorded 132 tackles as a senior and rushed for 1,121 yards with 14 touchdowns over his final two seasons … Led the team to three consecutive WPIAL Class AAAA playoff berths, earning three letters in football, three in wrestling and two in track and field … Enjoyed an exceptional wrestling career at Kiski Area, as he finished his senior season as the state runner-up (215-pound division) with a 38-1 record … Went 79-2 his last two years and had a career mark of 109-10 … His record of 41-1 as a junior was the winningest season ever by a Kiski wrestler … Advanced to the WPIAL track and field championships in the shot and discus … Academically, he was an Honor Roll and National Science Merit Award winner, along with being a member of the Pride Club, German Club and Wrestling Club.

Business/Marketing major … Interned during the summer of 2007 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, serving the Major League Baseball franchise in its special events department …

Son of Monika and Robert McKillop … Brother, Chris, was a teammate and starting defensive end at Pittsburgh (2004-07) … Another brother, Robert, was a heavyweight wrestler at Slippery Rock University … Born Scott Kenneth McKillop on 3/04/86 … Resides in Export, Pennsylvania.