University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Photo by: Pete Madia/Pitt Athletics
Pitt’s Kenny Pickett Wins Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
12/7/2021 9:00:00 AM | Football
PITTSBURGH—Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett, whose prolific passing helped lead the Panthers to the first ACC Championship in program history, has been named the winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, it was announced today by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation and presenting partner A.O. Smith.
Pickett is the first Pitt player to win the prestigious award, which has been annually presented to the top upperclassman quarterback set to graduate with his class since 1987.
As the 2021 recipient, Pickett will be honored by the president of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation—John Unitas Jr.—at the Golden Arm Award banquet and celebration in Baltimore on Friday, Dec. 10.
"There were many who were worthy of this consideration, but there was only one who stood above the rest," Unitas Jr. said in a video announcing Pickett as the winner. "Throughout this year, you have demonstrated the values for which this award stands both on and off the field, attributes that my dad, Johnny Unitas, would have admired greatly."
"To receive an award named after the legendary Johnny Unitas is just an incredible honor," Pickett said. "I know the high standards he set, both as a quarterback and as a leader. Certainly I'll always strive to uphold those standards and represent this award the best I can. I want to thank Mr. Unitas Jr., the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation and A.O. Smith. As always, I accept this award on behalf of my teammates and coaches who made this all possible."
Pickett has enjoyed a highly decorated month of December. Last week, he was named the ACC Player of the Year. On Monday, he was announced as one of four finalists for the Heisman Trophy.
The accolades have been well earned after he led the Panthers to an 11-2 record, their first ACC title and a berth in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Dec. 30.
No. 12 Pitt will face No. 10 Michigan State (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) at 7 p.m. that night on ESPN as the Panthers play in the New Year's Six for the first time during the College Football Playoff era.
Pickett has achieved the most prolific season ever by a Pitt quarterback. Through 13 games, he 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's passing yardage, passing touchdowns, total TDs and completions are all Pitt season records. He also set an ACC season record for touchdown passes (eclipsing the prior mark of 41 set by Clemson's Deshaun Watson in 2016).
Pickett has even eclipsed the legendary Dan Marino in each of the Panthers' major career categories. Entering the postseason, Pickett stands as Pitt's all-time leader in passing yards (12,303), pass completions (1,045), total offense (13,112), touchdown responsibility (102) and passing touchdowns (81). His 20 career rushing touchdowns are also a new standard for a Pitt quarterback.
In addition to his athletic excellence, Pickett is accomplished academically and from a community and leadership standpoint. Pitt's two-time team captain earned his bachelor's degree in marketing and is presently enrolled in the Katz Graduate School of Business. He has been nationally lauded for his NIL initiatives, which have emphasized philanthropy as well as his teammates.
Kenny Pickett 2021 Honors
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Winner (nation's top upperclassman junior quarterback)
ACC Overall and Offensive Player of the Year
Heisman Memorial Trophy Finalist (nation's outstanding player)
Maxwell Award Finalist (nation's outstanding player)
Walter Camp Award Finalist (nation's outstanding player)
Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Finalist (nation's best college quarterback)
Manning Award Finalist (college football's outstanding quarterback)
Senior CLASS Award Finalist (community, classroom, character and competition)
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Pickett is the first Pitt player to win the prestigious award, which has been annually presented to the top upperclassman quarterback set to graduate with his class since 1987.
As the 2021 recipient, Pickett will be honored by the president of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation—John Unitas Jr.—at the Golden Arm Award banquet and celebration in Baltimore on Friday, Dec. 10.
"There were many who were worthy of this consideration, but there was only one who stood above the rest," Unitas Jr. said in a video announcing Pickett as the winner. "Throughout this year, you have demonstrated the values for which this award stands both on and off the field, attributes that my dad, Johnny Unitas, would have admired greatly."
"To receive an award named after the legendary Johnny Unitas is just an incredible honor," Pickett said. "I know the high standards he set, both as a quarterback and as a leader. Certainly I'll always strive to uphold those standards and represent this award the best I can. I want to thank Mr. Unitas Jr., the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation and A.O. Smith. As always, I accept this award on behalf of my teammates and coaches who made this all possible."
Pickett has enjoyed a highly decorated month of December. Last week, he was named the ACC Player of the Year. On Monday, he was announced as one of four finalists for the Heisman Trophy.
The accolades have been well earned after he led the Panthers to an 11-2 record, their first ACC title and a berth in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Dec. 30.
No. 12 Pitt will face No. 10 Michigan State (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) at 7 p.m. that night on ESPN as the Panthers play in the New Year's Six for the first time during the College Football Playoff era.
Pickett has achieved the most prolific season ever by a Pitt quarterback. Through 13 games, he 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's passing yardage, passing touchdowns, total TDs and completions are all Pitt season records. He also set an ACC season record for touchdown passes (eclipsing the prior mark of 41 set by Clemson's Deshaun Watson in 2016).
Pickett has even eclipsed the legendary Dan Marino in each of the Panthers' major career categories. Entering the postseason, Pickett stands as Pitt's all-time leader in passing yards (12,303), pass completions (1,045), total offense (13,112), touchdown responsibility (102) and passing touchdowns (81). His 20 career rushing touchdowns are also a new standard for a Pitt quarterback.
In addition to his athletic excellence, Pickett is accomplished academically and from a community and leadership standpoint. Pitt's two-time team captain earned his bachelor's degree in marketing and is presently enrolled in the Katz Graduate School of Business. He has been nationally lauded for his NIL initiatives, which have emphasized philanthropy as well as his teammates.
Kenny Pickett 2021 Honors
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Winner (nation's top upperclassman junior quarterback)
ACC Overall and Offensive Player of the Year
Heisman Memorial Trophy Finalist (nation's outstanding player)
Maxwell Award Finalist (nation's outstanding player)
Walter Camp Award Finalist (nation's outstanding player)
Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Finalist (nation's best college quarterback)
Manning Award Finalist (college football's outstanding quarterback)
Senior CLASS Award Finalist (community, classroom, character and competition)
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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