Pitt Lands Three Players on AFCA All-America Football Team
12/15/2021 11:00:00 AM | Football
PITTSBURGH—Three Pitt standouts—quarterback Kenny Pickett, long snapper Cal Adomitis and wide receiver Jordan Addison—have been named to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America Team announced today.
Pickett and Adomitis were first-team selections at their respective positions. Addison was a second-team honoree.
The AFCA All-America squad is one of five used in the NCAA's selection of an annual college football consensus All-America team. The others, previously announced, are Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Sporting News and Walter Camp Football Foundation.
The AFCA is the second selector to honor Pickett with a first-team nod. He also was named a first team All-American by Walter Camp. The winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and a Heisman Trophy finalist, Pickett has completed 67% of his passes (334 of 497) for 4,319 yards with 42 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. Including his five rushing scores, he has totaled 47 touchdowns this season.
Pickett is the first Pitt quarterback since the legendary Dan Marino in 1981 to be named a first team All-American.
The AFCA added the long snapping position to its annual All-America squad for the first time this year and Adomitis made history by earning the inaugural honor. He has handled both long and short snapping for the Panthers in every game since the start of the 2017 season—a streak of 63 consecutive contests.
Adomitis was named the 2021 recipient of the Patrick Mannelly Award as college football's top long snapper.
Addison, winner of this year's Biletnikoff Award as college football's outstanding receiver, has unofficially clinched consensus All-America status. He has four first-team honors in addition to his second-team AFCA nod.
Addison has compiled 93 receptions for 1,479 yards (15.9 avg.) and a national-best 17 touchdowns. His yardage ranks third in the country and first among Power 5 receivers.
With these three honorees, Pitt now has 97 all-time first team All-America citations. Pitt has three first team All-Americans in a season for the first time since 1982.
Addison, Adomitis and Pickett helped lead the Panthers to an 11-2 record, their first ACC championship and a berth in the Dec. 30 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where they will face Michigan State (10-2).
The game, which will be nationally televised by ESPN and kick off at 7 p.m., marks Pitt's first New Year's Six bowl in the College Football Playoff era.
PITT NATIONAL POSTSEASON HONORS
Jordan Addison—Wide Receiver
Biletnikoff Award
Associated Press All-American (first team)
FWAA All-American (first team)
Sporting News All-American (first team)
Walter Camp All-American (first team)
AFCA All-American (second team)
Cal Adomitis—Long Snapper
Patrick Mannelly Award
AFCA All-American (first team)
Kenny Pickett—Quarterback
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
AFCA All-American (first team)
Walter Camp All-American (first team)
Associated Press All-American (second team)
FWAA All-American (second team)
Sporting News All-American (second team)
Calijah Kancey—Defensive Tackle
Associated Press All-American (third team)
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Pickett and Adomitis were first-team selections at their respective positions. Addison was a second-team honoree.
The AFCA All-America squad is one of five used in the NCAA's selection of an annual college football consensus All-America team. The others, previously announced, are Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Sporting News and Walter Camp Football Foundation.
The AFCA is the second selector to honor Pickett with a first-team nod. He also was named a first team All-American by Walter Camp. The winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and a Heisman Trophy finalist, Pickett has completed 67% of his passes (334 of 497) for 4,319 yards with 42 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. Including his five rushing scores, he has totaled 47 touchdowns this season.
Pickett is the first Pitt quarterback since the legendary Dan Marino in 1981 to be named a first team All-American.
The AFCA added the long snapping position to its annual All-America squad for the first time this year and Adomitis made history by earning the inaugural honor. He has handled both long and short snapping for the Panthers in every game since the start of the 2017 season—a streak of 63 consecutive contests.
Adomitis was named the 2021 recipient of the Patrick Mannelly Award as college football's top long snapper.
Addison, winner of this year's Biletnikoff Award as college football's outstanding receiver, has unofficially clinched consensus All-America status. He has four first-team honors in addition to his second-team AFCA nod.
Addison has compiled 93 receptions for 1,479 yards (15.9 avg.) and a national-best 17 touchdowns. His yardage ranks third in the country and first among Power 5 receivers.
With these three honorees, Pitt now has 97 all-time first team All-America citations. Pitt has three first team All-Americans in a season for the first time since 1982.
Addison, Adomitis and Pickett helped lead the Panthers to an 11-2 record, their first ACC championship and a berth in the Dec. 30 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where they will face Michigan State (10-2).
The game, which will be nationally televised by ESPN and kick off at 7 p.m., marks Pitt's first New Year's Six bowl in the College Football Playoff era.
PITT NATIONAL POSTSEASON HONORS
Jordan Addison—Wide Receiver
Biletnikoff Award
Associated Press All-American (first team)
FWAA All-American (first team)
Sporting News All-American (first team)
Walter Camp All-American (first team)
AFCA All-American (second team)
Cal Adomitis—Long Snapper
Patrick Mannelly Award
AFCA All-American (first team)
Kenny Pickett—Quarterback
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
AFCA All-American (first team)
Walter Camp All-American (first team)
Associated Press All-American (second team)
FWAA All-American (second team)
Sporting News All-American (second team)
Calijah Kancey—Defensive Tackle
Associated Press All-American (third team)
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