Pitt FB Recruiting
Pitt Lands Commitment from Grad Transfer Dartmouth QB Derek Kyler
Pitt’s quarterback room has shifted from being a bit bloated as the spring started to being a bit thin as the summer begins, and entering Wednesday morning, only three scholarship quarterbacks were rostered.
The room has received a boost from Dartmouth graduate transfer Derek Kyler now. Kyler, who has one season of eligibility remaining, announced that he’s committed to Pitt — coming a day after his unofficial visit.
I'd like to thank @CoachDuzzPittFB for this incredible opportunity I have been granted. With that being said, I will be committing to the University of Pittsburgh as a graduate transfer! #HailToPitt pic.twitter.com/RnEWmRwBhk
— Derek Kyler (@derek_kyler) June 8, 2022
With Kedon Slovis and Nick Patti competing for the starting spot, a strong duo at the top of the depth chart, Pitt is in good hands at starter. However, with just redshirt freshman Nate Yarnell on the roster as a scholarship option, Kyler provides a proven, veteran option at that No. 3 spot.
Kyler received scholarship offers from Chattanooga, Samford, New Mexico, Massachusetts and Eastern Illinois after entering the transfer portal in December.
In three seasons starting for Dartmouth, Kyler was very, very efficent. The 6-foot, 180-pound signal-caller from DeKalb, Illinois threw for 4,409 yards and 42 touchdowns (to just six interceptions) on 362-of-522 passing attempts. He also added 380 yards and three touchdowns on 119 rushing attempts.
As a senior starter at Dartmouth in 2021, coming off a COVID-canceled season in 2020, Kyler threw for 1,972 yards and 17 touchdowns (with just one interception) on 169-of-239 passing attempts to lead the 9-1 Big Green squad to an Ivy League title.
Kyler will help bridge the gap between the Pitt quarterbacks on the roster now and the likes of Yarnell and 2023 four-star quarterback commit Kenny Minchey in the future.
Kyler is the 85th scholarship player on Pitt’s roster, which is the limit for the 2022 season, so Pitt would have to make some maneuvers now to add any further scholarship players.
Pitt also recently added transfers in JUCO tight end Karter Johnson and Georgia Tech tight end Dylan Deveney.
Why would he give up a starting spot to be pitt’s 3rd option?
He may be at the point where he knows he’s not going pro, so a quality graduate degree to go with his degree from Dartmouth is much more important.
3rd option suggests both option 1 and 2 stay on the Team after August Camp and Starter is announced… whereas perhaps 3 becomes 2, and then one Nasty tackle it becomes 1. Just saying… it happened with Max Browne (USB inbound to injury) and Ben Dinucci (benched 17′ transfer to Delaware 18′) and MacVittie (transfer 17′). A small hand guy took-over with a glove…
Maybe he’s bored with the Ivy League and wants to see what the ACC is like.
Even in practice, he’ll see more competition than in the Ivy League. We were lucky that KP was so durable. NP lasted less than a quarter as his replacement.
I thought they had an extra ship since the freshman running back isn’t coming.
Dartmouth is a rushing team. He threw for 200 ypg and 8 ypp. Transfer offers were weak so PITT obvious choice