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Pitt Punter Kirk Christodoulou Will Not Return Next Season, Punting Competition Will Take Place

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PITTSBURGH — Pitt redshirt senior punter Kirk Christodoulou is 24 years old, has earned two degrees from Pitt and will now try his luck at the NFL.

Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi announced Wednesday afternoon at Pitt’s signing day press conference that Christodoulou will not exercise his Covid season to return to Pitt next season. Christodoulou, who has spent four seasons at Pitt’s punter, will be replaced through a punting competition entering the next season.

“Kirk could come back for another year, but he’ll be 32 years old and he’s ready for — you know, he’s got two degrees,” Narduzzi said, exaggerating the age of his Aussie punter. “He could’ve come back, but we had this conversation a long time ago, that’s why he walked out Senior Day. He’s gonna move on and try his luck in the NFL, and if not that, he’ll be a successful guy in whatever he does.”

Christodoulou played 52 games at Pitt and attempted 237 punts over his career, averaging 42.4 yards per punt with 84 punts inside the 20-yard line and 50 punts of at least 50 yards. He’s been a mainstay in Pitt’s special teams’ unit during his time in Pittsburgh.

Pitt has redshirt freshman Cam Guess and freshman Caleb Junko as an inexperienced duo already in place at Pitt, but Narduzzi expects 2022 signee Sam Vander Haar to be a key factor in next season’s replacement decision. Vander Haar, a 24-year-old Australian from Prokick Australia, officially signed with Pitt Wednesday morning and is expected to enroll early this January.

“Sam would be the guy. You know, he’s going to be in competition, he’ll be a freshman but at least we got him for spring ball. We’ll find out — there’ll be a punting competition just like there was a kicking competition this year.”

An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Christodoulou’s age.

Sandy Schall, Coldwell Banker
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Justin Dietrich
Justin Dietrich
2 years ago

Score TDs and the non football players won’t matter…

Pittband
Pittband
2 years ago

Ask Wake Forest after Kirk pinned them inside the 10 on his last two punts.

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