Pickett will be under pressure.
Pitt brought in quarterback Ricky Town from Ventura Community College in California to compete with Pickett, push him for the starter’s job, and serve as a backup with at least some college experience.
But despite all of that, Pat Narduzzi and the Pitt coaching staff haven’t been shy about how the quarterback depth chart stands as of Day One of Pitt’s 2018 practices. Kenny Pickett is the guy.
“Kenny is our guy, but he’s going to get pushed,” Narduzzi said. “There’s competition. … I can’t say that those two [quarterbacks] are both ones right now; Kenny is clearly the No. 1 guy. But, I’ll tell you what, Ricky Town did some great things today. He’s got a nice arm. You guys will be impressed when you get to watch him. He can throw the ball around.”
Despite the fact that Pickett and Town have just one NCAA start between them, offensive coordinator Shawn Watson feels good about his quarterback room right now.
“I feel good about both guys because of who they are and what their football intelligence are and what type of character guys they are,” Watson said. “They want to be great players and they have been awesome in that meeting room. Kenny has been a great help to Ricky and Ricky will ask Kenny questions. That’s what I want in my room.”
For Pickett, it’s a pretty big contrast to a year ago, when he was the freshman in a room full of more experienced quarterbacks. But after Max Browne graduated and Ben DiNucci and Thomas MacVittie transferred, Pickett is now the elder statesman.