It would be quite an understatement to say that this been an extremely emotional last few days for the Pitt Panther football program.
Things started on a high note on Thursday when Kenny Pickett was selected in the 1st Round of the NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers and made the highest drafted quarterback in the history of the Panther program.
The good news continued as Pat Narduzzi received a commitment from 2023 4-star quarterback Kenny Minchey from Hendersonville, Tennessee. Getting commitments from 4-star recruits are always important, especially when they come from the quarterback position.
That excitement was followed Friday night by the shocking report that 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison was making the decision to leave Pitt and take his talents to Southern California to play for Lincoln Riley. Controversy surrounds this news because of the widespread belief that Lincoln Riley and people associated with the Trojans football program tampered with Addison prior to him entering the NCAA Transfer Portal, which isn’t legal. Addison reportedly is set receive a sizeable amount of money to head to USC. It’s believed that the Pitt NIL team and people at Pitt reapproached Addison and greatly increased his NIL deal at Pitt, but all signs still point toward him rejecting it and leaving Pitt.
The fact that officials at Pitt were able to do this and Addison still decided to bolt can’t be going over well in the Panther locker room and no doubt some hard feelings have to exist.
Narduzzi’s “WEnotME” motto was put to the test again and a couple current players choose a different path than Addison.
Late Friday night, Pittsburgh Sports Now reported that a couple members of the current Pitt roster had opportunities to take their talents elsewhere and to receive an NIL opportunity. We believe those players were star junior defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and standout safety Brandon Hill, two important members of the Pitt defense.
Saturday night, those two players, while not giving a reason for doing so, just so happened to send out tweets that squashed any further rumors and re-affirmed their commitment to Narduzzi and their Pitt teammates.
Kancey was Pitt’s most productive and dominant defensive lineman in 2021 and will no doubt be on the radar of NFL teams for the 2023 NFL Draft. Kancey was named 1st-Team All-ACC and 3rd Team Associated Press All-American. In 14 starts, Kancey led Pitt with 13 tackles for loss and second with 7 sacks.
Hill moved into the Panthers starting defensive backfield last season and started 13 games at strong safety, making 81 tackles, six pass breakups, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. Hill was named an All-ACC 2nd Team player and a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist.
The expected departure of Addison is obviously news no one at Pitt wanted to hear, but to not have to deal with more losses and have players and team leaders the caliber Kancey and Hill pass on any temptation and stick to their original commitment is good news for the ACC Champions.
I hope this move by Addison shows NFL teams that he’s not loyal & at the end, hurts his draft status. I’m sure that he’ll be questioned about it at the combine next year. Wish I could be a fly on the wall during those conversations.
We have a solid WR room filled with loyal Panthers. We’ll be just fine without that headache! H2P!!!!
The move by Addison won’t hurt him one bit in the NFL draft. Teams don’t care about transfers. Jameson Williams, Jermaine Johnson, Justin Fields, Joe Burrow, Baker Mayfield was the top pick, etc. NFL cares about production and if Lincoln Riley showcases his skills with Caleb Williams he will still be 1st or 2nd WR off the board.
I don’t think the NFL cares, as long as he has talent!
He’s very good and will be hard to replace, but did show softness on the field. He can’t take a hit like he will need to in the NFL. I question his drive and would be very cautious of him at the next level.
It explains why we got a WR transfer.
Next one in line, step up! H2P!!!
were you saying he was soft with a lack of drive when he was on the team? You can be pissed he’s leaving but his talent shouldn’t be questioned. He will be the 1st or 2nd WR taken next year, especially with the USC offense.
Not at all. He has tons of talent, but when he gets hit hard he takes the next series off, or even game. Watch some of his hits and they are mild compared to an NFL safety hitting him. I don’t blame him at all for leaving. Collect now because who knows how long you have in the NFL.
I did’t think he was going to see a lot of action at Pitt this year. I questioned that, way before this started. Narduzzi had to get clearance from his mother even after the doctors cleared him.
You are kidding right? “Don’t think he was going to see a lot of action”? He’s the returning Biletnikoff winner and the best offensive option by far in the ACC. If Duzz told him that of course he would leave.
We are all angry but don’t say something that isn’t remotely true.
Cut the crap. You have no idea what his families’ financial situation is. He is doing this for his family and the people who offered him knew this.
Not believing, “It’s for his family”. He hasn’t cost them a cent while at Pitt and he can get them a loan easy.
Why doesn’t he do it legally and above board. He could have entered the transfer pool instead of breaking the rules and talking to USC and making deals outside the process. I think he is a cheat and should lose a year of eligibility for cheating.
H2P
I have no problem with him doing what’s best for his family. Disappointed? Of course. But leaving a situation he knows will be favorable to him for uncertainty at USC (what exactly will his roll be? How would he fit in the offense? Learning a new system?)… is that worth a little extra money now? I selfishly hope he stays, but college football has been a joke for years… and now even moreso.
Kancy and Hill are true leaders.