University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt’s Kenny Pickett Placed on Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List
8/12/2020 12:00:00 PM | Football
PITTSBURGH—Pitt senior quarterback Kenny Pickett was named to the 2020 preseason watch list for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award annually presented to college football's top senior or upperclassman quarterback who is set to graduate, it was announced this week.
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 late game-winning drives in four 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, rushing for the decisive score in the back-and-forth overtime win over North Carolina at Heinz Field and tossing the winning TD in the Quick Lane Bowl.
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.
Here is a running list of Pitt football players who have been named to national preseason watch lists:
Cal Adomitis • LS • SR • #94
Mannelly Award (Best Senior Long Snapper)
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)
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (Best Upperclassman Quarterback)
Jaylen Twyman • DL • JR* • #97
Bednarik Award (Best Defensive Player)
Nagurski Trophy (Best Defensive Player)
Outland Trophy (Best Interior Lineman)
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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 late game-winning drives in four 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, rushing for the decisive score in the back-and-forth overtime win over North Carolina at Heinz Field and tossing the winning TD in the Quick Lane Bowl.
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.
Here is a running list of Pitt football players who have been named to national preseason watch lists:
Cal Adomitis • LS • SR • #94
Mannelly Award (Best Senior Long Snapper)
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)
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (Best Upperclassman Quarterback)
Jaylen Twyman • DL • JR* • #97
Bednarik Award (Best Defensive Player)
Nagurski Trophy (Best Defensive Player)
Outland Trophy (Best Interior Lineman)
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Players Mentioned
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