Pitt FB Recruiting
Pitt Gets Commitment From Penn State Transfer Quarterback Christian Veilleux
For the second time this offseason, Pitt has landed a quarterback from the transfer portal.
First, it was former Boston College quarterback Phil Jurkovec, and today, it’s former Penn State quarterback Christian Veilleux.
Being at Penn State has been nothing but a blessing. I want to thank my teammates, coaches, and staff for memories that I’ll cherish forever. I will be entering my name in the transfer portal with 3 years of eligibility. pic.twitter.com/7uE4hdKlW5
— Chr1st1an Vei11eux (@VeilleuxQB11) November 29, 2022
Veilleux announced his decision to transfer from Penn State in November and has kept information regarding his second college recruitment very quiet. Pittsburgh Sports Now believes that Veilleux made this decision to commit to Pitt following an official visit this weekend.
As a true freshman in 2021, Veilleux played in two games and completed 16-of-26 passes for 238 yards and 3 touchdowns. This past season, he fell down on the Nittany Lions depth chart due to the arrival of Drew Allar and appeared in only three games, completing 7-of-9 passes for 44 yards.
Prior to committing to Penn State, Veilleux (6-foot-4, 200 pounds) held offers from Arizona State, Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Indiana, Kentucky, LSU, Louisville, Michigan, Pitt, Purdue, Rutgers, South Carolina, Syracuse, Tennessee, UCLA, Virginia Tech and West Virginia. In the end, the native of Ontario committed to Penn State over Clemson and Tennessee.
These two quarterback additions dramatically change Pitt’s quarterback depth chart for 2023 as Jurkovec and Veilleux will no doubt start the season as QB1 and QB2 respectively. Although he has the option to return, the arrival of these two quarterbacks most likely means Nick Patti will choose to move on following the bowl game. It also likely puts the future of Nate Yarnell as a Panther into question. Pitt also has a verbal commitment from 2023 three-star quarterback Ty Dieffenbach.
Veilleux arrives at Pitt with three seasons of athletic eligibility still remaining.
Veilleux > Jurkovec
H2P
If Jurkovec gets hurt you now have a top line player to step in. Veilleux steps in as the starter the following season with 2 years eligibility. Also, with three years of eligibility left who needs Kenny Minchey? The portal fills the gaps when players bail on you. Great pick up and the QB position is better now then it was this year in two quick moves.
The new way…
I’m not crazy about it. But I’m surprised and happy PITT is keeping up with this “new way”.
WOW never gave Yarnell areal shot. The last QB transfer people anointed the next savior wasn’t that good. Yarnell has been here 2 years he deserves a shot.
If Yarnell was any good, they wouldn’t be looking at the transfer portal. Slovis committed before Cignetti was hired and although Slovis didn’t do that well, he was not a good fit for Cignetti’s offense. No one deserves a shot, you earn your shot in practice and obviously he wasn’t that good over a 2 year period so it is time to move on from Yarnell and he can head to a DII school.
Yarnell had been dealing with injuries. Under the circumstances, he looked quite promising during his Western Michigan start. He indeed deserves a real shot. It’s kind of BS for him to get no respect. You have way too much faith in our coaches ability to accurately assess talent.
He has a scholarship. He is not promised a shot. The 2 new QBs are better. The days of a freshman sitting and waiting his turn are over with now because of the transfer portal.