Pitt RB James Conner grateful as cancer goes into remission

FILE - In this April 16, 2016, file photo, Pittsburgh running back James Conner, who was undergoing cancer treatments and not playing, watches from the sideline during a spring NCAA college football game in Pittsburgh. Conner is cancer free and hopes to be ready in time for training camp after finishing up five months of treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File) FILE - In this April 16, 2016, file photo, Pittsburgh running back James Conner, who was undergoing cancer treatments and not playing, watches from the sideline during a spring NCAA college football game in Pittsburgh. Conner is cancer free and hopes to be ready in time for training camp after finishing up five months of treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)

By Associated Press May 24, 2016 3 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) – James Conner’s spring – much like that of former Pittsburgh teammate Tyler Boyd- included a phone call that changed his life.

Only this one had nothing to do with the NFL draft.

Months of worry and wearying cancer treatments that left the bruising running back exhausted at times ended for the Pitt running back on Monday, when Dr. Stanley Marks told the 2014 ACC Player of the Year his long bout with Hodgkin’s lymphoma was just about over.

“He said, ‘James, everything looks normal,'” Conner said. “At that point, so much relief went off my shoulders. Now it’s back to doing what I love.”

Well, almost.