Heintschel Named Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Week
10/7/2025 10:00:00 AM | Football
QB threw for 323 yards and four touchdowns in debut win over Boston College
PITTSBURGH— Following a stellar starting debut in Pitt's 48-7 victory over Boston College, quarterback Mason Heintschel has been named the Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Week, the Maxwell Football Club announced today.
Heintschel became the first true freshman quarterback at Pitt to win his first career start since Kenny Pickettin 2017, when the Panthers defeated No. 2 Miami. The Oregon, Ohio native completed 30-of-41 passes for 323 yards and four touchdowns, helping the Panthers earn their second-largest margin of victory ever in an ACC game.
Heintschel is the first ACC true freshman with 300 passing yards and four touchdowns in his first career start since Deshaun Watson in 2014. He's also the first Pitt freshman to reach those numbers without an interception since at least 1995, and the first Pitt quarterback overall to do so since Pickett against Georgia Tech in 2021. Among ACC freshmen, the last to accomplish that feat was Drake Maye, who did it three times in 2022.
Heintschel's performance helped fuel a complete team effort for the Panthers. Wide receiver Kenny Johnsonposted career highs with nine receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown, while five other Panthers reached the end zone on the day.
Pitt (3-2, 1-1 ACC) travels to Tallahassee this Saturday to face Florida State (3-2, 0-2) at noon on ESPN.
