How would Pat Narduzzi describe Phil Jurkovec? Big, athletic, tough, leader.
A 6-foot-5 (maybe 6-foot-6), 215-pounder from Pine-Richland High School in Gibsonia by way of Notre Dame and Boston College. He’s big and athletic, yes, but the toughness and innate leadership stand out to Narduzzi.
“Something we desperately needed in that room, and I think Christian (Veilleux) is the same way,” Narduzzi said Wednesday. “But he brings the leadership that maybe we lacked a year ago.
“And again, he’s tough. He’s had some great years up there at Boston College. We’re happy to be able to finally bring him home because we recruited him hard for years, and he’s gonna have the best year of his life here in Pittsburgh this season.”
Jurkovec entered the transfer on Dec. 2. Kedon Slovis entered the transfer portal on Dec. 5 just after 10 a.m., and Jurkovec committed to Pitt just after 1 p.m. Pitt had its eye on Jurkovec even before Slovis entered the transfer portal. Narduzzi just wanted to be ready.
“You’ve gotta have a plan,” Narduzzi said. “We had a strategy, and we had our talks in the office about what our quarterback situation was like and what might happen, and as soon as we knew which direction was going to happen, it didn’t take us long because he was in the portal, and we could pull the trigger on Phil.”
It took all of three hours for Jurkovec to return home to Pittsburgh, reunite with one-time offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr, once Pitt had a need.
“So, yeah, we had a plan, and you never know,” Narduzzi said. “A lot of things happen. Kedon’s a great kid, I love him, and he had to make a decision for himself, we had to make a decision for us, and we made our decision. We were prepared if something happened, and we pulled the trigger.”
Pitt officially signed Jurkovec, along with Christian Veilleux and Ty Dieffenbach, Wednesday. Slovis hasn’t decided upon a new destination yet. Jurkovec hasn’t been named the starter for the 2023 season, but it will be his job to lose. Veilleux, a high-potential transfer from Penn State, will challenge him.
In three seasons at Boston College, Jurkovec completed 404-of-679 passing attempts (59.5%) for 5,183 yards with 35 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. And he added 429 yards and nine touchdowns on 195 attempts.
His debut season at Boston College, with Frank Cignetti Jr. as his offensive coordinator, Jurkovec completed 61% of his pass attempts for 2,558 yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions — adding 150 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
“So, we’re excited with what all three of those quarterbacks are gonna do in that quarterback room this year,” Narduzzi said.
A great leader who left players and coaches at two other programs already.
You’re one to talk, nitter! The lack of leadership in Happy Valley caused a lot of people to suffer for years. Troll somewhere else, Jerry….
wow, who would have guessed you go to the Sandusky low hanging fruit comment. Nice attempt to deflect but it still doesn’t explain why he’s such a good leader after ditching two coaches and teams.
Also I appreciate the suggestion but won’t go anywhere else. I’ve trolled many schools, but pitt fans are by far the most sensitive (especially for a jv program that plays in front of 20k fans (unless PSU or WVU are in town)
The Pitt obsession continues!!!
#joeknew #sodidSpainer
Neutral Fans from coast to coast will be cheering for Utah in The Rose Bowl.
Never!
so easy, rent free
#duzzknewatmsu
#womanbeaters
#justdoanextraworkoutwithstrengthcoach
Pitt fans are the most self deprecating fans I know. If you were actually, you know, a Pitt fan, you would know. PSU can’t smell their own arrogance over the breeze of shit that infiltrates their glorious tailgates. All of Centre county revolves around the success of Penn State football, they’ve proven that over and over. Go call up another fascist to come talk to your students and disregard your own student’s concerns for safety.
They are glorious, 107k people having a great time watching a real football program. Centre County does revolve around PSU, whereas nobody in that filthy city cares about pitt football.
Do you know what fascism is? I’m sure you voted for Fetterman.
Hello and goodnight!!
Fascism looks something like allowing a head football coach to rule a county with an iron fist ignoring women getting assaulted for years and then ignoring children being sexually abused using your facilities as a a place to groom them. Then, even after the fact, you continue to support such a figure, continue to say he could do no wrong, and then not really change your ways at all. Keep inviting the likes of the Proud Boys and Milo “I love Kanye” Yiannopoulos to speak at your school. Real upstanding citizens. Whether you’re D or R, I would hope you… Read more »
“I’ve trolled many schools…”. What an accomplished human.
Get a life. Geeze.
yet you replied, perhaps you are in need of the life?
Ave is 45000 yearly. Must have majored in the obvious at happy valley
Just like the thousand other players that have announced their entrance into the portal so far this year. Transfer portal is a part of college football now.
Actually, I would say that his loyalty lies with his old OC, since he will be reunited with Coach Cignetti.
I agree, not exactly surprising. Also, he may not have had the choice. BC may have decided to go in another direction or weren’t guaranteeing his spot, so he moved on. That’s fine, there’s no ill will there I’m sure. He wants to play, same w. Slovis. They’re doing what they think is right for their careers. Sure, some guys leave a stench when leaving (Addison), others you just wish them luck. I was happy to see Shocky do well.
you think a program as bad as BC told him we don’t want you back? OK
It seems he’s loyal to an old coach and not the two others previous or the players he left.
Ok fine, you’re right. He lacks leadership. Can you move on to another site now?
No, he can’t.
Correct Dixon, I can’t….everyone here engages me so much, why would I leave?
No
Similar to QBs Caleb Williams, Bo Nix, Quinn Ewers, Spencer Rattler to name just a few. Amazingly, transferring to another school did not seem to reflect on their leadership qualities.
duzz and cig were the one’s who didn’t provide leadership but nice swipe at Slovis after he’s gone.