Southern Miss running back Chandler Pittman wants to feel the hits.
No matter how bruising the physical sensation might be now on his knee, it was dwarfed by the mental strain caused by months on the sideline following a torn ACL suffered in October. Fully cleared to partake in the Golden Eagles' preseason practice, Pittman is reacquainting himself with pad-on-pad contact.
"It actually felt good," Pittman said. "I hadn't been tackled in a long time. Getting that feeling back, getting used to it again. I'm glad I'm able to."
Every step of the way, Pittman and his coaches have endeavored to rebuild confidence in the knee over the past several months.