Pitt’s Pickett Selected to Award Watch List

                 Pitt’s Kenny Pickett Selected to Maxwell Award Watch List

                  Panthers’ QB Named a Contender for Player of the Year

PITTSBURGH—Pitt senior quarterback Kenny Pickett was named to the 2020 preseason watch list for the prestigious Maxwell Award, which is annually presented to college football’s best all-around player by the Maxwell Football Club.

Pickett enters his senior year following a junior season that saw him set Pitt records in attempts (469) and completions (289) while leading the Panthers to an eight-win season in 2019.

A native of Oakhurst, N.J., Pickett passed for 3,098 yards and 13 touchdowns in his second full season as the starting quarterback for the Panthers, becoming just the fifth Pitt signal caller to surpass 3,000 yards passing in a single season.

In his first season working with offensive coordinator Mark Whipple, Pickett popped off in several games in 2019. He became the first Pitt quarterback since Tyler Palko in 2004 to surpass 300 yards through the air in five contests in the same season.

Among his stand-out performances, Pickett threw for a career-high 372 yards against Penn State’s vaunted defense and earned Quick Lane Bowl Most Valuable Player after posting 361 yards passing and three touchdowns through the air against Eastern Michigan at Ford Field. He topped 300 yards passing versus Ohio, North Carolina and Boston College as well.

Now set to benefit from a second season under Whipple’s tutelage, 2020 could see Pickett build on the momentum of finishing last year with 300-yard passing performances in three of his final four games.

Pickett also showcased a flair for the dramatic in 2019, leading game-winning drives in three different games. He memorably caught the game-winning TD on the “Pitt Special” to upset No. 15 UCF before throwing a late touchdown in a Pitt victory at Duke and rushing for the decisive score in the overtime win over North Carolina at Heinz Field.

Already one of the most productive quarterbacks in Pitt history, Pickett enters the 2020 season among the program’s all-time career leaders in two major categories. He ranks seventh in passing yards (5,576) and eighth in total offense (5,999 yards) with one year of eligibility remaining.

Pitt has a proud history with the Maxwell Award, with two Panthers having previously won the award. Tony Dorsett (1976) and Hugh Green (1980) both brought the award back to Pittsburgh after being named college football’s best player by the Maxwell Football Club.

Here is a running list of Pitt football players who have been named to national preseason watch lists:

Paris Ford • DB • JR* • #12
Bednarik Award (Best Defensive Player)
Nagurski Trophy (Best Defensive Player)
Thorpe Award (Best Defensive Back)

Patrick Jones II • DE • SR* • #91
Bednarik Award (Best Defensive Player)
Nagurski Trophy (Best Defensive Player)

Wuerffel Trophy (Community Service)
Lott IMPACT Trophy (Character + Defensive Performance)

Lucas Krull • TE • SR* • #7
Mackey Award (Best Tight End)

Jimmy Morrissey • OL • SR* • #67
Outland Trophy (Best Interior Lineman)
Campbell Trophy (Academics + Performance)

Kenny Pickett • QB • SR • #8
Maxwell Award (Best Player)

Jaylen Twyman • DL • JR* • #97
Bednarik Award (Best Defensive Player)
Nagurski Trophy (Best Defensive Player)
Outland Trophy (Best Interior Lineman)

Link: Kenny Pickett Honored by Maxwell Award

(This Story and Information Courtesy of University of Pittsburgh Athletics)