Pitt FB Recruiting
Left-Handed QB Julian Dugger Fits With Kade Bell and New Pitt Offense
When Pat Narduzzi was working at his second full-time job, there was just one rule when it came to recruiting high school quarterbacks. No left-handers.
If Narduzzi walked into a school and a prospective quarterback was left-handed, he would’ve just walked out.
“A lot of great (left-handed quarterbacks) throughout the country right now, but I think that was maybe 30 years ago, 25 years ago,” Narduzzi said last week on the South Side. “But it was like no left-handed quarterback? Wow.”
Narduzzi talked to that coach (no names in this case) a couple of weeks ago about recruiting. He didn’t want a left-handed quarterback. Narduzzi is more than okay with a left-handed quarterback.
It just so happens that new offensive coordinator Kade Bell runs an offense that is better suited for a quarterback like Julian Dugger. And Bell, like Dugger, is left-handed himself.
“I do think it’ll be better (for Dugger to play in),” Narduzzi said. “Coach Bell is left-handed. When he jumped up on the board, I’m like, ‘Hey, Julian’s left-handed, too.’ You know, a lot of people don’t like left-handed quarterbacks. I think that’s maybe one of the reasons he was still waiting for us in the summer.”
Dugger — a 6-foot-4, 205-pound quarterback from Penn Hills — committed to Pitt over the summer, choosing the Panthers over a couple of MAC programs, and it came after he reignited the coaching staff’s interest after a standout showing during a camp appearance.
Official visit 2 making it official. #H2P #4everGLO pic.twitter.com/68zEosav6T
— Julian Dugger (@JulesDugger02) December 21, 2023
“I think I impressed people with my footwork and the fact that we were winning and didn’t get stopped the entire camp,” Dugger told PSN in June. “During the camp, I had a very high completion percentage. I was doing a good job of throwing the ball on time and throwing to where my receivers were supposed to be and not waiting for them to get to a spot. I was throwing with anticipation.
“I went to this camp with the goal of showcasing to all the coaches there my talent and showing everyone how I really can throw the ball. I also went there with the goal of winning, which I knew would bring me attention.”
Dugger put together a strong senior season at Penn Hills, completing 101-of-192 pass attempts (53%) for 1,646 yards and 20 touchdowns — adding 126 carries for 776 yards (6.2 yards per carry) and 11 touchdowns. He’s a left-handed quarterback, standing at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, and he’s regarded as an excellent athlete.
But Narduzzi doesn’t view Dugger as a dual threat. He views him as a quarterback.
“I don’t think it matters which way that ball comes out,” Narduzzi said. “He’s talented. He’s athletic. And he fit our offense. You know, you talk about dual threat and drop back. … He’s got capabilities of doing both. It’s not like this athletic quarterback that we’re just gonna make all these quarterback runs up now because he’s got a great arm.
“And I don’t want to put in that box of a dual threat. I think he’s a drop-back quarterback that’s athletic enough to get out of trouble — use his feet, make plays with his feet. He can throw the ball. He’s got great touch and he’s really, really intelligent.”
When Dugger made his official visit to Pittsburgh the weekend before National Signing Day, he spent time with Narduzzi and Bell and the offensive coaches. Narduzzi told him to draw up his favorite play.
“The way he drew up, I’ve seen a lot of coaches around the country that can’t draw it as detailed and as well as what he did,” Narduzzi said. “I’m like, whoa. And then I said tell me what you’re reading here, and he went through the progression, whoa. It was different. So, we’re excited to have him.”
Dugger will have the opportunity to grow within the Pitt system, a system under Bell that fits his skill set better than the previous, and he has the type of ceiling that makes his arrival a very worthwhile investment.
Definitely looking forward to actually coaching a recruited quarterback instead of fishing in the transfer portal for one. Unfortunately, he’ll probably have some growing pains as a Freshman but you never know! For some reason, I thought Marino was a south paw but he was actually right. Mandela effect right there! H2P!
The potential/ ceiling is there, we will see if Cade Bell can develop him. I love this commit.
Yarnell is the guy for the next two years. Very underrated and now has a real coach to fully maximize his QB talent.
Didn’t Pitt have a left-handed QB a few years ago?
The only ones (starters) that stick out to me as of late were Tyler Palko and Rod Rutherford, anyone think of someone else?
Feels like it