Pat Narduzzi Announces 2020 Pitt Football Captains
PITTSBURGH—Pitt head football coach Pat Narduzzi has announced four senior team captains for the 2020 season: safety Damar Hamlin, defensive end Patrick Jones II, center Jimmy Morrissey and quarterback Kenny Pickett. The four players were selected by a vote of their teammates.
“Our team made outstanding selections in voting these four players captains for the 2020 season,” Narduzzi said. “Damar, Patrick, Jimmy and Kenny have really shown themselves to be outstanding leaders, especially during a challenging offseason and unconventional training camp. They are highly deserving of the honor of wearing that ‘C’ on their uniforms.”
It is the second consecutive season Morrissey (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./La Salle College H.S.) was voted a captain. The premier center in the ACC, he has been a vital figure in the Panthers’ transition to a heavier pass offense. Morrissey did not surrender a sack last season and also rated as the Panthers’ top run blocker. He boasts 36 career starts since the 2017 campaign.
Hamlin (McKees Rocks, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic) ranks as one of Pitt’s most productive and experienced defenders. He has played in 38 games (starting 30) and is the Panthers’ active leader with 223 career tackles. In 2019 Hamlin was second on the team with 84 stops and had a crucial interception in Pitt’s Quick Lane Bowl victory over Eastern Michigan.
Jones (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield) has earned status as one of the top defensive ends in the ACC and nationally. Equally tenacious against the run or pass, he compiled 43 tackles, 12 TFLs, 8.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and 18 QB hurries last year. Jones paced the ACC and ranked sixth in the nation with an average of 0.31 forced fumbles per contest.
Pickett (Oakhurst, N.J./Ocean Township) enters his third year as Pitt’s starting quarterback. In 2019, he posted the highest production of his career, completing 62% of his passes (289 of 469) for 3,098 yards with 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Pickett capped his junior season with an MVP performance in the Quick Lane Bowl, when he threw for 361 yards and three touchdowns against EMU.
Pitt will open the 2020 season on Sept. 12 when it hosts Austin Peay at Heinz Field. The game will be a 4 p.m. ACC Network telecast. Radio coverage will be provided by the Pitt Panthers Radio Network led by flagship station 93.7 The Fan.
(This story and information courtesy of the university of Pittsburgh Athletics)