PITTSBURGH—After achieving the most prolific regular season ever by an Atlantic Coast Conference quarterback, Pitt’s Kenny Pickett today was unveiled as the ACC’s overall Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year.
The Panthers’ senior signal-caller was the overwhelming choice for both honors. Pickett garnered 52 of a possible 64 votes for Player of the Year. He received 54 votes for the offensive award.
The voting margin reflected Pickett’s dominant season. Through 12 games, he has completed 67.7% of his passes (314 of 464) for 4,066 yards with 40 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. Including his four rushing scores, he has totaled 44 TDs.
Pickett is just the third ACC quarterback—and the first at Pitt—to throw for 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns, joining Florida State’s Jameis Winston(who did it during his 2013 Heisman Trophy season) and Clemson’sDeshaun Watson (2016).
Pickett’s 40 TD passes are an ACC regular-season record. He is one shy of Watson’s ACC overall season record of 41 set over 15 games in 2016.
Pickett becomes the second Pitt player to be the recipient of both awards. Running back James Conner was also honored as the overall and Offensive Player of the Year in 2014.
The ACC honors could be the first of many postseason accolades for Pickett, who is a finalist for four national awards: the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Maxwell Award and Senior CLASS Award. He additionally has received considerableHeisman Trophy buzz. (See PittsburghPanthers.com/Heisman
Pickett’s play has fueled Pitt to its first 10-win regular season since 1981. When the College Football Playoff rankings were updated last night, the Panthers rose to No. 15, their highest CFP rating ever.
As winners of the ACC’s Coastal Division, the Panthers (10-2, 7-1 ACC) will face Atlantic Division champ Wake Forest (10-2, 7-1) in the Subway ACC Football Championship Game this Saturday at 8 p.m. The game, played in Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium, will be a national ABC telecast.
(Story Courtesy of Pitt Athletics)