Phil Jurkovec is now able to follow in Kenny Pickett‘s footsteps at Pitt in more ways than one.
Jurkovec was named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award preseason watchlist, which is an honor bestowed upon the top senior or upperclassman quarterback in college football.
Pickett, of course, won the award following his record-setting 2021 campaign.
Jurkovec left Boston College via the transfer portal and returned home to Pittsburgh to finish his college career in December. Following two seasons at Notre Dame and three at Boston College, Jurkovec is ready to make his mark at Pitt.
“I’ve been thinking about — the last few days — starting this up now, the journey we’re about to go on,” Jurkovec said at Pitt’s media day earlier this month. “It’s really cool. I think it’s just — there’s a ton of opportunities for this next stretch, so I just want to take it one day at a time and just really enjoy it, making the most of it and appreciating every day because I know this is coming to an end and I only have a limited time here at Pitt.”
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.
In 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. But it was only down from there as injuries and poor team play impacted his performance.
But in that 2020 season, Jurkovec put together his finest performance as an Eagle in a win over Pitt, completing 19-of-35 pass attempts for 358 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-30 victory.
With just one season of college eligibility and the best offensive line in front of him since that 2020 season at Boston College, Jurkovec has one last chance to showcase the ability that made him an NFL Draft prospect — and lead Pitt to an ACC title.
Jurkovec is now a preseason watchlist candidate for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm and Maxwell Awards this offseason.
