Few players ΓÇö and even fewer linemen ΓÇö enjoy running conditioning sprints when the thermometer creeps north of the 100-degree mark. But when walking off the field Friday afternoon in 102-degree heat after going through his paces with teammates in the SMU MustangsΓÇÖ voluntary workout, Marquis Frazier was nearly beaming. The reason for his glee? Frazier has been moved back to defensive end after spending the 2010 season at nose tackle.

The reason for the shift? Torlan Pittman is back on the SMU roster.

After growing up in Bryan, Texas, Torlan Pittman said his first game back with the SMU Mustangs will be made more special by the fact that it will be played at Texas A&M (photo by David Mojica).

It was no secret that Frazier didnΓÇÖt like playing in the middle of the PoniesΓÇÖ defensive line last season. He played defensive end in 2009, but he had to slide inside when Pittman was arrested in January 2010 and charged with aggravated sexual assault after an alleged incident at a party in Huntsville, Texas. After several delays, the case went to trial in late June and was resolved when Pittman pleaded guilty to reduced charges.

But before the case was resolved last month, Pittman played a 17-month waiting game. After he posted bond, Pittman remained a student at SMU and retained his football scholarship while the legal system ran its course, but was unable to work out with his teammates. He saw some of his teammates around campus, but his connection to the team was largely through conversations with his roommate, linebacker Victor Jones, and their neighbors, safeties Chris Banjo and Ryan Smith. He worked out on his own, lifting weights, running and playing basketball at SMUΓÇÖs Dedman Center, and went to watch his teamΓÇÖs games with his girlfriend.

ΓÇ£That was frustrating, I can tell you that,ΓÇ¥ he said. ΓÇ£Watching those guys out there ΓÇö theyΓÇÖre my second family. Legally, I didnΓÇÖt break any laws. I know that morally, I made a bad decision ΓÇö call it an ΓÇÿungentlemanlyΓÇÖ decision. I knew I didnΓÇÖt do what I was accused of, but I also knew I couldnΓÇÖt speed everything up, so I tried not to worry about things I canΓÇÖt control.

ΓÇ£I enjoyed hearing about what was going on with the team, what happened at practice (from Jones, Smith and Banjo, and other teammates). It helped me stay with the team as much as possible, even though I wasnΓÇÖt officially associated with it. I enjoyed hearing how everyone was doing.ΓÇ¥

Pittman said he tried not to consider the idea that he might not play again at SMU ΓÇö he said he never had an interest in leaving ΓÇö and is grateful not only to return to the field, but glad his first game will be at Texas A&M.

ΓÇ£I never thought about leaving SMU,ΓÇ¥ he said. ΓÇ£I love SMU so much, IΓÇÖm so comfortable here.

ΓÇ£IΓÇÖve been looking forward to the Texas A&M game for two years. IΓÇÖm from Bryan, which is right next to College Station. I can see (Texas A&MΓÇÖs) Kyle Field from my house. I have a lot of friends who go to A&M, and all of my friends and family will be there. IΓÇÖm grateful to be back, and the fact that I get to come back in time to play in that game, that makes it better ΓÇö a lot better.ΓÇ¥

Pittman said he is well aware of how his trial placed a strain on those close to him, and said he is grateful to those who stood by in him throughout the duration of his case.

“I give thanks to God, first, because without Him, I don’t know if I would have gotten through this,” Pittman said. “The support of my mom, my dad, my brother, my grandmother, my girlfriend … they were there for me the whole time. Coach Jones didn’t have to keep me on scholarship, but he did. My mom called me every day, asking how I was doing. My girlfriend stuck with me — that shows so much about her character and who she is.

ΓÇ£Of course I was happy (when the case was resolved), but I was almost happier for them. I know the stress was pretty heavy on my friends and family.ΓÇ¥

Pittman acknowledged that the last year and a half helped him realize how much he needed to mature.

ΓÇ£When I got here (as a freshman), I didnΓÇÖt know how to work,ΓÇ¥ he said. ΓÇ£Going through all this, I learned how to focus better. I tried to work out as much as I could. My grades skyrocketed.ΓÇ¥

Now Pittman has his focus trained on his return to the field. When working out at Dedman Center, Pittman ΓÇö one of the MustangsΓÇÖ strongest players ΓÇö lifted weights religiously, played basketball almost every day and put in some work on the treadmill. He admits heΓÇÖll have to shake off some rust, both in terms of football technique and his fitness, but said he could end up a better player as a result of the year away from the game.

ΓÇ£I played as a true freshman, so I never took my redshirt year,ΓÇ¥ he said. ΓÇ£So IΓÇÖll be a redshirt junior in the fall.

ΓÇ£When I played in ΓÇÖ09, I started the season at about 270 pounds. By the time we got to Hawaii, I was about 280. Now IΓÇÖm 295, which is right where I want to be for the season.ΓÇ¥

He might be at his target playing weight, but Pittman was quick to point out that his body is not yet ready for the season.

ΓÇ£IΓÇÖve got a lot of work to do,ΓÇ¥ he said. ΓÇ£ThereΓÇÖs no way to train for ΓÇÿfootball shapeΓÇÖ except to play. IΓÇÖm training to prepare better for the experience, but all of the running and lifting and even practicing donΓÇÖt get you ready to play football as much as playing. IΓÇÖm going to do all of those things to get ready, and IΓÇÖve got a month to go, so I should be good. I always cramp up the first couple of games, but after that, IΓÇÖll be good.ΓÇ¥

Pittman said he is grateful to be back on the SMU team again, but acknowledges he has considerable work to do in order to be ready for the 2011 season (photo by Travis Johnston).

PittmanΓÇÖs return to the field not only is great news for him, but it also changes the front seven of an already-solid front seven for the SMU defense. Frazier has been moved back out to defensive end, while the Ponies could be five-deep at nose tackle, where Pittman is joined by Aaron Davis, Jordan Favreau and freshmen Darrian Wright and Rishaad Wimbley. Having a player with PittmanΓÇÖs power and quickness also should allow the linebackers more running room behind him, as he is more than adept at tying up blockers.

ΓÇ£Having ΓÇÿPittΓÇÖ back is huge ΓÇö not just for me as an inside linebacker, but for the whole defense,ΓÇ¥ MIKE linebacker Taylor Reed said. ΓÇ£I thought we had very few holes as a defense, anyway, but with ΓÇÿPittΓÇÖ back, just got deeper.

ΓÇ£Marquis is a defensive end. Circumstances caused him to play nose last year, and he did a heck of a job there, but he was a defensive end playing in the middle. ΓÇÿPittΓÇÖ is a nose tackle. HeΓÇÖs very quick for a big guy. He just has to get back in shape. He still has the strength ΓÇö I have seen that in the weight room ΓÇö so all he has to do is get back in football shape.ΓÇ¥

In his excitement over PittmanΓÇÖs return, and his own move back out to defensive end, Frazier explained that he is looking forward to the extra running required of defensive ends.

ΓÇ£ItΓÇÖs really hard playing inside,ΓÇ¥ Frazier said, ΓÇ£but ΓÇÿPittΓÇÖ is going to be great in there. HeΓÇÖs shorter than I am (Frazier is listed at 6-4, four inches taller than Pittman). I had pretty good leverage for a taller guy, but you want to get under the guy blocking you, if you can. ΓÇÿPittΓÇÖ is a little shorter than I am, but he also plays low, and heΓÇÖs so strong. HeΓÇÖll be able to plug up the middle. IΓÇÖll have to run more to get ready to play outside again, but thatΓÇÖs OK. I canΓÇÖt tell you how excited I am to have him back.ΓÇ¥

Pittman laughed when told of FrazierΓÇÖs comparison of the height between the two.

ΓÇ£At nose, your job is to hold up blockers and take on double-teams,ΓÇ¥ he said. ΓÇ£For me, being ΓÇÿvertically challengedΓÇÖ kind of plays to my advantage. IΓÇÖm able to get under blockers more.ΓÇ¥

Despite having played two seasons already, Pittman said that he expects to be nervous when he suits up again with his teammates Sept. 4 against the Aggies.

ΓÇ£IΓÇÖm never nervous until the first snap of a game,ΓÇ¥ Pittman said, ΓÇ£and then after the game starts, itΓÇÖs just football again. IΓÇÖll probably be a little more nervous this time, because A&M is in my hometown and all my friends and family will be there, but once we get started, it will be football again. I have a lot of work to do between now and then, but IΓÇÖm looking forward to the work and looking forward to playing again for SMU. IΓÇÖve been waiting a long time for this.ΓÇ¥