The writing was on the wall for Joey Yellen at Pitt, competing behind Kedon Slovis and Nick Patti for third-string opportunities, and he’s decided to look for increased playing time.
According to On3’s Matt Zenitz, Yellen has decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal — his second trip to the portal after leaving Arizona State for Pitt — as his path to playing time has evaporated.
Yellen, a former four-star quarterback out of Mission Viejo High School in California, enrolled at Arizona State in 2019 and preserved his redshirt — throwing for 296 yards and four touchdowns and two interceptions against USC in his lone outing.
Arriving at Pitt as Kenny Pickett’s backup in 2020, Yellen played in four games as a redshirt freshman, throwing for 402 yards and a touchdown with three interceptions on 35-of-78 passing attempts. Patti ascended the depth chart in 2021, supplanting Yellen, and Yellen didn’t see the field as a redshirt sophomore.
Since Yellen will be transferring for a second time, he will not be immediately eligible for his next team, but he will have the ability to play multiple seasons at his next destination.
As a former Top 300 recruit in the class of 2019, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound signal-caller will suitors despite his inconsistency at the collegiate level thus far.
With Slovis and Patti, along with redshirt freshman Nate Yarnell on scholarship, Pitt’s quarterback room is being thinned out. But recruits from the classes of 2023 and 2024 will soon be factors in the equation.
After the transfers of Davis Beville, Kaymar Mimes and JoJo Belgrave in roughly the last month, Pitt has a few scholarships to play with. After the addition of Louisiana Tech wide receiver Bub Means, Pitt still has two available scholarships.
Not surprised. Unfortunately it didn’t work out for him at Pitt. Both he and Beville were looking at another year (or two) as backups. Best wishes for a successful new start.
I hope he had an Offer in hand before entering. 247sports site shows a good many athletes without receiving another D1 offer after giving up a Scholarship. PITT may want to Consider adding a Portal CB.
wish beville had more playing time. He played well against Mi State.
Sorry I disagree. Was at the bowl game and he wasn’t ready to step on for Patti.
Wish Yellen well.
I’m glad it was Yellen rather than Yarnell. Yarnell’s high school highlight reel looked quite promising — plus he’s a Freshman.
Being a freshman means nothing these days. In the past you had a kid for at least 3 years, not with free agency in CFB kids will leave after one year if not playing. Yarnell will be one to watch on this front. Kids want to play and NIL only increases this. If he thinks he’s buried he’ll be gone right away.
depending on what “buried” means … he most likely will not see a start until the 2024 season, absent beating out Slovis or other recruit/transfer before then. Upcoming season is the Patti/Slovis show and after that, if Slovis isn’t cutting it, the coaching staff will bring in a grad/other transfer.
buried means exactly what you said. He saw the writing with Slovis/Patti and incoming QB’s. Kid’s don’t stick around and fight anymore, they take the path of least resistance.. Ohio State will probably feel it again before the summer is up.