Cancer survivor Conner shines bright for Pitt in season opener

To manifest a thought, then ultimately put that thought into action, is one of the best feelings when persevering through adversity.

Pittsburgh running back James Conner personified the true spirit of determination not just by beating cancer, but also in returning to the field Saturday with his teammates against Villanova.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound power back finished the season opener with 53 yards rushing on 17 carries for a touchdown, adding three catches for 16 yards and another score in the 28-7 win.

"I know it was a 'comeback' game, but it's felt like regular football since (fall) camp," Conner told USA Today's Nicole Auerbach. "My battle was already won, beating cancer. Everything else is just a bonus and a reward."

Last season, Conner suffered a knee injury in the season opener against Youngstown State. During the rehab process, Conner noticed he was getting out of breath very easily and was having trouble sleeping. Antibiotics didn't help, and his doctors initially weren't sure what was going on. Eventually an ear, nose, and throat specialist determined Conner's sinuses were fine, and subsequently ordered an X-ray. The results of the X-ray led to him having a PET scan that discovered a large tumor.

"You've got two veins; one carries blood directly to the body, one carries blood to the heart. That tumor was growing and was pressing on that vein. That vein was getting skinnier and skinnier," Conner said.

"If I never had this knee injury I would've been on the field and I probably would've been feeling out of shape and that I’ve got to work even harder. I’d be taking shots to the chest. I could've died on the field. I’m very thankful for my knee injury - I know He did that to save my life. He didn't want to harm me when He did my knee injury. He did it to save me."

Conner dealt with 12 chemotherapy treatments in fighting to regain control of his body. He was also running a day after treatment, which his doctors told him to keep up because it would help with his recovery.

Conner was named Pitt's starting running back three months after his final PET scan - which affirmed he was cancer-free - on May 23.