You never want to be the guy to follow up the guy. For better or worse, that task — and much of Kenny Pickett’s offensive personnel — fell to Kedon Slovis. And it didn’t work.
Pitt went 8-4 with Slovis under center, and even with a chance to win nine games this season, it’s felt like a disappointment. He was supposed to hit his stride and showcase the natural arm talent he displayed at USC. Each week was supposed to be the week.
It just never materialized. Instead of wondering if Pitt’s passing attack was finally going to break out on any given week, Slovis’ expectation devolved into just being able to do enough not to lose a football game.
The relationship between Pitt and Slovis didn’t work out, and he’s entered the transfer portal for the second time in two seasons — officially leaving Pitt.
Slovis was expected to use a season in Pittsburgh as a way to rehab his NFL Draft stock with a strong season. That turned into the hope that a second season at Pitt with Frank Cignetti Jr. would go more smoothly than the first — especially as Pat Narduzzi showed signs of wanting him back.
Slovis threw for 2,397 yards and 10 touchdowns in 11 games this season, completing 184-of-315 passing attempts (58.4%) with nine interceptions. It was the worst season of Slovis’ college career.
In five games this season, Slovis didn’t throw a touchdown pass. He threw an interception in seven games this season. His completion percentage tanked eight points from his previous worst — nearly 13 points from his previous best.
Pitt’s offense, outside of the rushing attack led by Abanikanda, didn’t click. The wide receivers and tight ends didn’t flash any sort of chemistry with Slovis, and the prevailing message each week was that it takes time to develop chemistry and rapport.
Well, I guess no one will know for sure how much time it would’ve taken for Slovis to fully integrate into the offense.
Frank Cignetti Jr. will now start anew with a Pitt quarterback, but it likely will not be from scratch though. Nick Patti and Nate Yarnell are the only scholarship quarterbacks currently on the roster, and it remains uncertain whether or not Patti will return.
Pitt will replace Slovis as it did with Pickett, a transfer portal addition.
good, Phil Jurkivic is a better QB
The downvotes on your comment are disgusting. Their numbers under the same OC speak for themselves.
I’m shocked!!! His ceiling has been reached, and I’m not sure he will get any better with his total lack of vision and mobility. He has average arm strength and accuracy but not any of the other intangibles needed to be a great or even above average QB. I saw let the young QB start the bowl.
Maybe now we can get a better transfer QB!
H2P!!!
I’m shocked too, but again who knows what goes on behind the scenes at Pitt. Was he asked to leave to free up a scholarship.
Answer would be yes.
Maybe he should go to Kutztown next.
Really? He’ll end up with greater College numbers than Kenny Pickett who is all-time stat leader in most categories at PITT. He got pooped on with run oriented, play-action, multi-tight end offense. As many as times he got whacked blind side can you blame him for re-entering the portal. Had he waited until January to transfer maybe he re-thinks it after the Cignetti hire. You did not see Caleb Williams getting too much in a hurry with the transfer portal commitment. It was just not a good fit. He was immobile or unwilling to scramble. Nick Patti will kick butt… Read more »
SRS, Slovis is the one who did the pooping on the team with his limited talents. You confirmed why he goy hit. He was immobile, and may I add, slow to see and react. Slovis, bless him, will give it one more try somewhere else.
I hope Patti still wants to play after what he went through. For sure Patti has shown character as he always has.
Was Slovis encouraged to move on to make room for Jurkovec?
At least Slovis won’t have to go to Morgantown as a Pitt Panther.
Indeed, no one deserves to do time in Morganhole.
Wonder if they throw lithium-ion AAs?
duzz must have been told by Phil he won’t come if Slovis is still here. duzz then tells Slovis he’s bringing in Phil to start and probably best you look for a fresh start. Perplexing, this is a lateral pickup at best. Everyone was ecstatic to get Slovis from USC and he was great, etc. If in fact Phil comes here to hand the ball off pitt didn’t get better, and he will probably be out for extended time after game 4. duzz is just trying to plug hole after hole with transfers and MAC 3*’s.
“Lateral pickup at best”?? I cannot stress to enough people making these sorts of baseless claims this morning to just make the slightest semblance of an effort to compare the numbers Jurkovec put up under Cignetti to those put up by Slovis under Cignetti. Phil isn’t coming here to “hand the ball off,” Cignetti would now have a QB he has some degree of faith in to run his offense – one who has actually ran HIS offense.
Agree 100%, and if you remember Jurkovic beat Pitt not that long ago. He can run and pass. I’m not sure he’s close to Kenny Pickett, but I feel he would be an upgrade from Slovis. I just hope he comes to Pitt!
H2P!!!
OK, if that actually makes you feel better. Your above statement is silly. Are you saying he had no faith that Slovis could run his offense? If so, why bring him in at all and why not give Patti a chance? Phil put up slightly better numbers under Cignetti but there are many factors that go into that. Upgrade is minimal at best, and you have to hope his history of injuries doesn’t creep up especially with the OL
Slovis committed to PITT and Narduzzi in December 21′, Cignetti was hired in January 22′. Not a good fit.
Pump the brakes on Jurkovec, see if Jeff Sims will bite. We need a dual-threat.
On Campus Stadium, Are you serious? Did you not see how SLOW Slovis was all year? The films PITT coaching staff saw of Slovis belied what he had become. There doesn’t seem to be any try outs for the transfer portal. By Spring ball it was too late. Cignetti didn’t pick the guy.
Phil would be a big upgrade. Now PITT needs some portal receivers and linemen.
Don’t worry about that troll. He’s a Ped State fan anyway
Not a particularly bright one, either.
Maybe he’s one of Jerry’s kids.
On Campus Stadium Please, everybody was NOT ecstatic to get Slovis. It was the media and Narduzzi who did the false overselling job. Even after we saw him in the Spring game through the first part of the season he was still praised. Narduzzi is the coach and his job is to encourage his players, but the media knew better. Patti is the guy who lost the most by this fiasco. Slovis even knows his limitations. By the way, the future for all “serious” teams, especially PITT, is the transfer portal.
Jared Wayne threw a couple this year. Maybe if he throws it up high and deep he can go catch it too, Bugs Bunny baseball style.
KS seemed like a really nice young man and acted like he cared about Pitt and his team mates. He didn’t seem the same after coming back from the concussion. FC and PN gave him a lot of chances to perform and they showed a committment to him. I wish him the best.
Nick Patti gets his shining moment in the Sun Bowl. I hope he stays healthy for the entire game.
Randy, Don’t know why Slovis’s poor play is always blamed on the concussion he received during the Tenn game. I reviewed all his prior play in the WVU game and his play up until he was hurt in the Tenn game. He didn’t PLAY WELL! The defense saved us against WVU. He NEVER PLAYED WELL in any game other than moments in games.
We needs to look more into this Cole Feuerbacher that they offered a PWO to. This kid is athletic and can make every throw necessary to win big games. He is a blue collar kid that was also the Defensive POY in basketball; great work ethic and would be a steal. Lots of schools coming in to see him, so he may be lost without a scholarship opportunity.
Forget Phil. Concentrate on Nick and Nate. Develop an offense that can showcase both a strong passing game and strong running game. And examine other teams red zone offenses and learn from them.
Welcome the new world of nonsensical D1 Sports. Sad but True!
Will he be refunding that NIL money?
You know what “Wood”y Hayes, Ohio State’s HC, said about certain magazines and playing football. Slovis said it was a no brainer in December last year, maybe his PITT soccer girlfriend’s eligibility is all gone.
Does he have to sit a year to use his 5th if he transfer again?
Any other P5 or 4*/5* QB have an athlete girlfriend at PITT?
Last two Pitt OC’s lasted 1 and a half seasons after Pitt. Be careful what you wish for. Clemson just jettisoned Uiagalelei, a 5 star out of high school. Everybody is looking at teams who built thru the portal to see a winning formula. Don’t want to follow the Lincoln Riley formula, a bit too slimy for me.
Do I have a crystal ball, no. Stay tuned.
Everyone badmouthing Slovis–I get it. He came in overhyped, and quite honestly was a challenge to follow KP. But the receivers (Mumfield and Means, along with Bradley) dropped numerous passes. They never got in sync. Additionally Addison immediately transferred. Wayne, who is a terrific player had some drops middle of the season as well. And the play against Tenn where he got absolutely destroyed was the worlds most ridiculous play call ever by Narduzzi where he didn’t even have a punt returner on the field the prior play. Narduzzi deserves more blame than Slovis imo. He failed the kid. Tennessee… Read more »
Let the Yarnell era begin. The kid looks to have all of the tangible, and intangible, tools to significantly surprise to the upside. I don’t understand why more people are not making some noise promoting Yarnell. Acres of diamonds…
Slovis had a pretty successful career at USC, top seven all time in several passing stats, Pac 12 freshman of the year, sophomore Pac 12 division winner. So, if he transfers and has a productive year at his new school next season, can we at least acknowledge that maybe he doesn’t stink as a QB and was just a bad fit in Cignetti’s system at Pitt.