University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Kenny Pickett Named Finalist for Walter Camp Player of the Year
12/2/2021 2:45:00 PM | Football
PITTSBURGH—Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett has been named one of five finalists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, it was announced today by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Voted on by the 130 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, the 2021 Walter Camp Award recipient will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 9, during ESPN's telecast of The Home Depot College Football Awards.
Pitt has a rich history with the Walter Camp Award, claiming three prior winners: running back Tony Dorsett (1976), defensive end Hugh Green (1980) and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (2003).
Like those three legendary figures during their Pitt careers, Pickett has produced at an elite level all season long. 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.
Honored as the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year earlier this week, 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's Deshaun Watson (2016). Pickett is the first ACC passer to post those numbers during the regular season.
Pickett owns lofty national rankings in no fewer than nine NCAA statistical categories: passing touchdowns (second, 40), total points responsible for (third, 264), points responsible for per game (fourth, 22.0 avg.), total offense (fourth, 357.2 yards/game), total passing yards (fifth, 4,066), passing yards per game (sixth, 338.8 avg.), completions per game (sixth, 26.17 avg.), passing efficiency (eighth, 166.7 rating) and completion percentage (19th, 67.7%).
Pickett enters the postseason already standing alone as Pitt's all-time career leader in passing yards, pass completions, total offense and touchdown responsibility. He shares the school record for career touchdown passes with Dan Marino, who threw 79 during his iconic Pitt career from 1979-82.
Pickett is now a finalist for five national awards. In addition to Walter Camp, he is a finalist for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Maxwell Award and Senior CLASS Award. He additionally has received nationwide Heisman Trophy buzz. (See PittsburghPanthers.com/Heisman2Pickett).
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.
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Voted on by the 130 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors, the 2021 Walter Camp Award recipient will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 9, during ESPN's telecast of The Home Depot College Football Awards.
Pitt has a rich history with the Walter Camp Award, claiming three prior winners: running back Tony Dorsett (1976), defensive end Hugh Green (1980) and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (2003).
Like those three legendary figures during their Pitt careers, Pickett has produced at an elite level all season long. 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.
Honored as the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year earlier this week, 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's Deshaun Watson (2016). Pickett is the first ACC passer to post those numbers during the regular season.
Pickett owns lofty national rankings in no fewer than nine NCAA statistical categories: passing touchdowns (second, 40), total points responsible for (third, 264), points responsible for per game (fourth, 22.0 avg.), total offense (fourth, 357.2 yards/game), total passing yards (fifth, 4,066), passing yards per game (sixth, 338.8 avg.), completions per game (sixth, 26.17 avg.), passing efficiency (eighth, 166.7 rating) and completion percentage (19th, 67.7%).
Pickett enters the postseason already standing alone as Pitt's all-time career leader in passing yards, pass completions, total offense and touchdown responsibility. He shares the school record for career touchdown passes with Dan Marino, who threw 79 during his iconic Pitt career from 1979-82.
Pickett is now a finalist for five national awards. In addition to Walter Camp, he is a finalist for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Maxwell Award and Senior CLASS Award. He additionally has received nationwide Heisman Trophy buzz. (See PittsburghPanthers.com/Heisman2Pickett).
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.
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