The Pitt football team will be without two potential starters in the coming season, as the University announced on Thursday that senior wide receiver T.J. Porter and senior defensive tackle Tommie Duhart have left the team and will transfer.

Head coach Dave Wannstedt was not available for comment on Thursday, but University sources indicated that Duhart is considering a transfer to Valdosta State in Georgia. Porter's destination is unknown at this point.

Porter was suspended indefinitely prior to spring practice after an arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol in February, his second such incident in the past year. Duhart participated in spring camp until he was suspended for the final week.

Porter appeared in 35 of 37 games during his three years at Pitt. In total, he caught 65 passes for 704 yards but never recorded a touchdown reception. He led Pitt with 37 catches in 2007, registering 329 yards and setting his career high for receptions in a game with seven against Cincinnati and South Florida.

Last season he was Pitt's third-leading receiver with 25 catches for a career-best 357 yards, including a four-catch/109-yard performance in the Panthers' loss to Rutgers.

Duhart came to Pitt in the class of 2007 as a four-star junior college transfer from Coffeyville Community College in Kansas after originally signing with the Panthers in the class of 2005. He appeared in all 12 games in 2007 and started three, recording 24 tackles, 12 solo stops, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 pass breakup. He also recovered a fumble in the season finale against West Virginia that season, and he registered career highs in tackles (5) and sacks (1) in that game as well.

In 2008, Duhart appeared in only seven of the Panthers' 13 games. During that time he made three tackles and one pass breakup.

Porter, who was noted for his quickness and big-play potential, was projected to be a starter in 2009. To replace him, Pitt returns senior wideouts Oderick Turner and Cedric McGee, as well as sophomore Jonathan Baldwin, redshirt sophomores Aaron Smith and Aundre Wright, and redshirt freshmen Mike Shanahan and Cameron Saddler. Senior Greg Cross also moved from quarterback to wide receiver prior to spring camp, and true freshmen Todd Thomas, Devin Street, and Ed Tinker will join the group this summer.

Duhart was rather enigmatic in his time at Pitt. He clearly had talent and potential, but repeated off-field issues - most resulting from lack of focus and motivation - hindered his on-field time and productivity. He wasn't a likely starter, but was expected to figure into the Panthers' defensive tackle rotation.

At defensive tackle, Pitt has redshirt seniors Mick Williams, Gus Mustakas, and Craig Bokor, redshirt junior Tyler Tkach, and redshirt sophomores Myles Caragein and Chas Alecxih, and Steel Valley's Tyrone Ezell will be added to the mix for training camp.