Freshman WR taken to ER during practice

Pitt freshman receiver Darius Patton left Thursday's practice and was taken to the emergency room due to an unspecified medical condition, head coach Todd Graham said at his daily press briefing.

"Darius Patton had to go to the ER today with a medical condition," Graham read from a statement. "He's awake and alert, his vital signs are very good, and we're waiting for more information.

"That's all the information I'm going to give you on that. We hope he's going to be fine."

Graham said that Patton left approximately 45 minutes into the late-afternoon practice, which was held on Pitt's outdoor practice field. He said that Patton's condition was not contact-related but did not provide any further information.

"I don't want to say something that I don't know; that's all I really know," Graham said. "I wanted to know that he was okay, and they told me that he was doing okay and that his vital signs were good and that he was alert and responsive and doing fine. That's all I know."

Later on Thursday, Pitt released a statement updating Patton's status.

"During Pitt's afternoon practice session, freshman receiver Darius Patton passed out while participating in a non-contact exercise. He was subsequently transported to UPMC Presbyterian, where he was awake, alert and had strong vital signs. Darius will be kept overnight for observation but all initial indications are positive."

Patton was one of the early standouts in training camp, taking multiple second-team snaps at wide receiver and also fielding kicks and punts in Pitt's return units.

A Penn Hills native, Patton signed with Pitt as a three-star recruit out of Poland Seminary in Ohio.