Pitt RB James Conner

Thanksgiving marks the 1-year anniversary of the cancer diagnosis that threatened the Pittsburgh running back’s career, one that kickstarted his remarkable comeback and turned Conner into an inspirational figure for others in the same fight.

Conner fully healthy and showing extended flashes of the raw brilliance that made him the ACC Player of the Year in 2014 will celebrate the milestone with a massive family meal sometime after the Panthers wrap up the regular season against Syracuse on Saturday at Heinz Field.

He also doesn’t want to be a distraction to the 19 teammates who will run through tunnel at home for the final time, most of whom arrived at Pitt alongside Conner in 2013.

A hastily arranged press conference the first week of December which most expected to be Conner announcing he was heading to the NFL instead turned into the disclosure that he was battling Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Conner put his challenge out there for all to see, joining his teammates for workouts and doing outreach to other cancer patients looking for someone to lean on.

After a sluggish start this fall in which he seemed intent on trying to turn every touch into something spectacular instead of just doing what he’s always done namely, keeping his legs and arms churning with a ferocity few in the country can match Conner has relaxed in recent weeks.

While offensive coordinator Matt Canada hopes to have Conner around next fall, he understands if Conner moves on.

One look at the way Conner is playing, including a stiff-arm during a 20-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter two weeks ago against Clemson that helped Pitt rally for a 43-42 upset, he certainly looks pro-ready.

It’s why even with a running back draft class that could include LSU’s Leonard Fournette, Georgia’s Nick Chubb and Florida State’s Dalvin Cook, Conner likes his chances if he opts to move on to the next phase of his life sooner rather than later.