Draft Scout Warning: Undefined variable $TeamName in D:\InetPub\vhosts\scoutnation.com\draftscout.com\notesteam.php on line 20 Player News, College Football: Warning: Undefined variable $TeamName in D:\InetPub\vhosts\scoutnation.com\draftscout.com\notesteam.php on line 20

Pitt sophomore defensive tackle Calijah Kancey received more preseason recognition Tuesday when he was named to the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given to the nation's top defensive player by the Football Writers Association of America. Kancey was previously named to the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, also awarded to the defensive player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club. Former Pitt All-American defensive tackle Aaron Donald, a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, won both awards in 2013. Named Freshman All-American by the FWAA, Rivals and The Athletic, Kancey recorded 27 tackles, seven for a loss and 1 1/2 sacks last season. - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

(DS#3 DT) Jr/2023

DT *Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Share/Comment: Here

07/28/21 - Kenny Pickett, rSr/2022, Pittsburgh, 6-3, 219 (DS#1 QB) + More +

Despite the return of fifth-year senior quarterback Kenny Pickett and 14 other starters from 2020, Pitt was picked to finish fourth in the seven-team ACC Coastal, according to a preseason poll of 147 media voters. The Panthers did receive one first-place vote, however. North Carolina, the preseason choice to win the Coastal, received 109 first-place votes and 979 total points. Miami (28) was next with 881 points, followed by Virginia Tech (3/582) and Pitt (1/576). The bottom three are Virginia (2/540), Georgia Tech (4/340) and Duke (218).

Overall, the story remains unchanged for the seventh consecutive preseason. Clemson is an overwhelming choice to win its seventh consecutive ACC championship after appearing in the past six College Football Playoffs. Clemson was the pick on 125 ballots. North Carolina received 16 votes, followed by Miami (three) and Georgia Tech, N.C. State and Virginia (one each). - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

(DS#1 QB) rSr/2022

QB Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Share/Comment: Here

07/26/21 - Lucas Krull, rSr/2022, Pittsburgh, 6-6, 253 (DS#8 TE) + More +

Once an MLB draft choice, Lucas Krull continues to be recognized as a college football tight end, earning a second consecutive spot on the John Mackey Award Watch List. Krull, 6-foot-6, 260 pounds, was injured and missed most of the 2020 season, with only one catch for 6 yards against Syracuse. He did better than that in Pitt's Blue-Gold Spring Game, catching two passes for 40 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown. Krull played in 25 games in 2018 and 2019 at Florida, catching nine passes for 108 yards. He also completed two passes for 19 yards on gadget plays. - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

(DS#8 TE) rSr/2022

TE Lucas Krull, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Share/Comment: Here

07/21/21 - Kenny Pickett, rSr/2022, Pittsburgh, 6-3, 219 (DS#1 QB) + More +

Two Pitt players - one on each side of the ball - attracted national attention Monday when quarterback Kenny Pickett and sophomore defensive tackle Calijah Kancey were named to watch lists for the Maxwell Award and Chuck Bednarik Awards. The Maxwell is awarded to the college player of the year; the Bednarik goes to the defensive player of the year. Pickett, who is among 80 players on the Maxwell watch list, is approaching his fifth season at Pitt - he chose to return when he could have made himself available in the NFL Draft - and his fourth as the starting quarterback. With a successful season, Pickett could challenge the Pitt records for total yards (11,148) and passing yards (11,267) set by Alex Van Pelt from 1989-1992. Pickett stands at 8,552 in total yards (third on Pitt's all-time list) and 7,984 passing (fifth). - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

(DS#1 QB) rSr/2022

QB Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Share/Comment: Here

07/16/21 - Kenny Pickett, rSr/2022, Pittsburgh, 6-3, 219 (DS#1 QB) + More +

Two weeks after the new legislation took effect, a Pitt athlete signed the school's first known deal of the NIL era. Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett announced on Twitter on Thursday morning that he signed with the Oaklander Hotel and its restaurant Spirits & Tales for his first NIL deal. The Oaklander is a four-and-a-half-star hotel located about a block off Pitt's campus in North Oakland on Bigelow Boulevard. Its restaurant Spirits & Tales is a local brasserie with French-inspired cuisine. While the new laws were passed to help athletes benefit from their own name, image and likeness, Pickett's decision was made with more than just himself in mind. - Pittsburgh Post Gazette

(DS#1 QB) rSr/2022

QB Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Share/Comment: Here

07/01/21 - CBo Flemister, rSr/2024, Pittsburgh, 5-11, 205 (DS#66 RB) + More +

The next court date for Notre Dame senior running back C'Bo Flemister is Aug. 4 in connection with charges of leaving the scene of an accident after an April 25 wreck involving only his vehicle. The misdemeanor charge against the 21-year-old was filed in early May. According to court documents, Flemister crashed his 2014 BMW around 3 a.m., April 25 on South Bend Avenue near Corby Boulevard.

The university's disciplinary arm conducts its own hearings into cases such as these, and Kelly said Flemister won't be facing any severe disciplinary action that will affect his standing with the football team. "This is one of those situations that could have been avoided," Kelly said. "He had a vehicle that was illegally parked and moved a barrier to put his car in a position so he didn't have to walk so far. "This is not being very smart. So he's going to be accountable for what that situation is." Flemister, who was not arrested, is a key reserve for the Irish. He rushed for 299 yards on 62 carries in 2020. - Indianapolis Star/News

(DS#66 RB) rSr/2024

RB CBo Flemister, Pittsburgh
News Source: Indianapolis Star/News
Share/Comment: Here

05/26/21 - Tre Tipton, rSr/2022, Pittsburgh, 6-1, 182 (DS#999 WR) + More +

Pat Narduzzi saw the precise route running, the speed and the love for the game that made Tre Tipton one of the first players he signed as Pitt's football coach. But that was only part of it. The day he welcomed Tipton to Pitt as part of his 2015 recruiting class, Narduzzi described the Apollo-Ridge graduate thusly: "A guy who just lights up every room he walks in." More than six years later, the light stays on through Tipton's determination to stare down the many levels of adversity he has encountered. And, most importantly, it keeps shining, thanks to his ability to make a difference on Pitt's campus that goes far beyond anything he might accomplish inside Heinz Field.

Tipton, a seventh-year senior wide receiver who battled back from physical and emotional injury during much of his time at Pitt, was honored Tuesday with the Wilma Rudolph Student-Athlete Achievement Award, presented annually by the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals. The award honors student-athletes who have overcome "great personal, academic and/or emotional odds to achieve academic success while participating in intercollegiate athletics," according to a Pitt news release. Tipton, who will turn 25 before the start of the season, suffered season-ending injuries during his first three years at Pitt, including an offseason bicycle accident that ended his 2017 season before it started. - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

(DS#999 WR) rSr/2022

WR Tre Tipton, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Share/Comment: Here

05/11/21 - Will Gipson, rSo/2024, Pittsburgh, 6-2, 190 (DS#999 WR) + More +

Will Gipson has entered the transfer portal, he announced on Tuesday afternoon. The former Aliquippa wide receiver will have four years of eligibility wherever he lands. Gipson was a three-star prospect when he committed to the Panthers in Nov. 2018. The big-play wideout shined as a senior, recording 62 catches for 1,657 yards and 19 touchdowns while leading Aliquippa to PIAA and WPIAL Class 3A championships. However, Gipson found it difficult to find the field with Pitt. Gipson did not play in any games during his two seasons with the Panthers. He redshirted in 2019 while injured and served on the scout team last year. Gipson's noteworthy contribution in 2020 was imitating Louisville dual-threat quarterback Malik Cunningham during practice, giving the Panthers a look ahead of their 23-20 win. - Pittsburgh Post Gazette

(DS#999 WR) rSo/2024

WR Will Gipson, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Share/Comment: Here

05/08/21 - CBo Flemister, rSr/2024, Pittsburgh, 5-11, 205 (DS#66 RB) + More +

University of Notre Dame running back C'Bo Flemister has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident after an April 25 wreck. The misdemeanor charge against the 20-year-old was filed Thursday. According to court documents, Flemister crashed his 2014 BMW around 3 a.m. April 25 on South Bend Avenue near Corby Boulevard. When police arrived to the scene they found the crashed vehicle with no one inside and the keys missing. The car was registered to Flemister and police were able to locate him at a friend's house, according to court documents. Police say Flemister first told them his car was taken from Eddy Street Commons, but in a later interview admitted to crashing that night and leaving before police arrived. Flemister, from Williamson, Ga., played in nine games last season as a junior and rushed for 299 yards and five touchdowns on 58 carries. - South Bend Tribune

(DS#66 RB) rSr/2024

RB CBo Flemister, Pittsburgh
News Source: South Bend Tribune
Share/Comment: Here

05/05/21 - Malcolm Epps, rSr/2024, Pittsburgh, 6-6, 257 (DS#42 TE) + More +

A week after entering the NCAA transfer portal, former Texas Longhorns tight end Malcolm Epps committed to the USC Trojans on Monday. Epps is now the third former Longhorns player to land with the Trojans, joining running back Keaontay Ingram and safety Xavion Alford. Former Texas assistants Todd Orlando and Craig Naivar are both at USC, along with former Director of Recruiting Bryan Carrington. The 6'6, 253-pound Epps arrived at Texas out of Spring Dekaney in the heralded 2018 recruiting class as a consensus four-star prospect ranked No. 227 nationally and as the No. 10 tight end, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. Despite the classification as a tight end out of high school, Epps arrived as a bit of a tweener and began his career at wide receiver, playing in two games during the 2018 season when starting wide receiver Collin Johnson suffered a knee injury, catching one pass for 18 yards. - Burnt Orange Nation

(DS#42 TE) rSr/2024

TE Malcolm Epps, Pittsburgh
News Source: Burnt Orange Nation
Share/Comment: Here

05/04/21 - Jimmy Morrissey, rSr/2021, Pittsburgh, 6-3, 303 (DS#6 C) + More +

Only five years ago, Jimmy Morrissey was a walk-on at Pitt, hoping to earn a scholarship. Now, he's in the NFL. After starting as Pitt's center for four seasons, serving as co-captain for the last two and earning All-ACC honors the last three, Morrissey (6-foot-3, 303 pounds) received the call Saturday - he was chosen in the seventh round (No. 230 overall) by the Las Vegas Raiders. Morrissey was the sixth Pitt player drafted over two days, the most for the Panthers since the 2004 six-man group was led by Larry Fitzgerald. Several months ago, Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi was speaking about Morrissey in general terms, but it's a message Raiders coach Jon Gruden, a former Pitt assistant, might appreciate hearing today. "What makes Jimmy such a great football player and a leader is his ability to gather people together and everyone will want to play for him," Narduzzi said. "He's tough, athletic, smart." Aside from the Burlsworth Trophy awarded to him as the nation's top player who began as a walk-on, Morrissey carried a 3.46 grade-point average when he left Pitt. - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

(DS#6 C) rSr/2021

C Jimmy Morrissey, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Share/Comment: Here

04/27/21 - Phil Jurkovec, rSr/2024, Pittsburgh, 6-5, 243 (DS#31 QB) + More +

Boston College coach Jeff Hafley presided over a house divided during Saturday's annual Jay McGillis Memorial spring football game at Alumni Stadium. The roster was equitably split into Team Boston, led by quarterback Phil Jurkovec, and Team Eagles under the command of Dennis Grosel. Both quarterbacks were also listed as the team's respective head coaches on roster handouts. Jurkovec and Grosel effectively executed nondescript game plans in the first half. The contest went to running time with situational football in the second half. Graduate student safety Deon Jones was the recipient of the Jay McGillis Memorial Scholarship during a halftime ceremony. "I wanted the kids to get out in the stadium and have it go back and forth a bit and play hard and have some fun," said Hafley. "Everybody got in which was cool to see and that was my objective and I'm happy everybody stayed healthy." Jurkovec completed 14-of-20 passes for 196 yards that included a pair of touchdown strikes to wide receiver Zay Flowers in the final minute of the second quarter. Grosel connected on 12-of-26 for 128 yards with two interceptions. - Boston Herald

(DS#31 QB) rSr/2024

QB Phil Jurkovec, Pittsburgh
News Source: Boston Herald
Share/Comment: Here

04/26/21 - *Israel Abanikanda, Jr/2023, Pittsburgh, 5-10, 216 (DS#7 RB) + More +

Two players pushing starters for playing time were named the most improved players during Pitt's spring drills. Running back Izzy Abanikanda and senior outside linebacker John Petrishen (Lower Burrell/Central Catholic) were chosen on both sides of the ball by coach Pat Narduzzi and his staff. The announcement was made Saturday prior to the Blue Gold game at Heinz Field. Abanikanda (5-foot-11, 210 pounds) flashed his speed in the truncated spring drills of 2020, but played sparingly as a freshman, carrying 28 times for 95 yards and a touchdown. He also caught a touchdown pass in the Boston College game. His playing time was limited as he learned the demands and nuances of playing running back at the collegiate level.

After Narduzzi all but named Vincent Davis his starting running back at the start of spring drills this year, Abanikanda started catching the coach's eyes with improved pass blocking and ball-carrying abilities. Now, there will be intense summer camp competition for Pitt's starting running back job. "Izzy has taken major strides in becoming a complete back," Narduzzi said in a statement. "His ability to run was always apparent. This spring he made excellent progress in his protections and overall assignments. Izzy is really putting it all together and it is exciting to see." - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

(DS#7 RB) Jr/2023

RB *Israel Abanikanda, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Share/Comment: Here

04/24/21 - Owen Drexel, rSr/2023, Pittsburgh, 6-2, 291 (DS#999 C) + More +

Among the program's 2021 NFL draft hopefuls, no one left Pitt with more career starts than center Jimmy Morrissey. No one was a two-year captain. No one was a back-to-back first-team All-ACC honoree. And no one, some would argue, embodied Pitt's program better, working his way up from walk-on status to a part of the Panthers' fabric. It's been a little weird for the players not having Morrissey around this spring. He's been in town training for the draft with Aaron Donald, Paris Ford and Dane Jackson. But he's not barking out calls, snapping to Kenny Pickett or leading the offensive line room. That responsibility is now on the shoulders of Owen Drexel. Drexel waited a while for this. For as long as Morrissey has been Pitt's first-team center - from the 2017 training camp announcement to his final game at Georgia Tech last December - Drexel has bided his time. The fifth-year senior took notes on his "older brother" Morrissey, and this camp, he's shown what he's learned.

"For me, it's the leadership vacancy...It's come really natural to me this spring, but it's been built over a long time, especially learning from a guy like Jimmy," Drexel said Thursday over Zoom. "I was watching him every day. The biggest thing from Jimmy was leading by example. It's watching the film, coming in after. When I was younger, I wouldn't spend the time I needed to here that I do now. I'm here all day, year round." His teammates have taken notice, too. Pickett half-joked at the start of spring camp that while he tried to convince Morrissey to come back for another year, Drexel "stepped up big" during winter workouts. Right guard Jake Kradel called him "a heck of a center." Offensive tackle Carter Warren said he's provided "great communication." Morrissey himself offered praise, claiming back in December that Drexel is a "top five center in the ACC." "He realizes that's his job now, and he wants to fill those shoes," head coach Pat Narduzzi added earlier this spring. "He's taken that over." - Pittsburgh Post Gazette

(DS#999 C) rSr/2023

C Owen Drexel, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Share/Comment: Here

04/19/21 - Melquise Stovall, rSr/2022, Pittsburgh, 5-08, 186 (DS#182 WR) + More +

Pitt added another wide receiver to a position already stocked with experienced players when coach Pat Narduzzi announced Friday that Melquise Stovall will enroll this year. Stovall, who verbally committed to Narduzzi last month, played the past two seasons at Hawaii, recording 49 receptions for 480 yards and four touchdowns over two seasons (14 games, five starts). He also averaged 24.6 yards on 22 kickoff returns. Stovall (5-foot-9, 190 pounds) has one season of immediate eligibility remaining. He played last season under Pitt wide receivers coach Brennan Marion, who joined Narduzzi's staff from Hawaii in February. Stovall will enroll in time for pre-camp workouts this summer.

During his career at Paraclete (Calif.) High School, Stovall recorded 7,650 all-purpose yards and 88 touchdowns. He was rated the nation's No. 3 all-purpose back in the class of 2016 by 247Sports and played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. "Melquise is an explosive guy with the ball in his hands. He adds another playmaker to our wide receivers group," Narduzzi said in a statement. "When we watched Hawaii game tape with coach Marion during his interview process, Melquise stood out on video to us even then. "When he later entered the (NCAA) transfer portal, we didn't even need to watch his tape. We already knew he was a really good football player. Having coach Marion on staff and knowing the character of Melquise made this a slam-dunk addition." - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

(DS#182 WR) rSr/2022

WR Melquise Stovall, Pittsburgh
News Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Share/Comment: Here

Previous 15 Notes

|Back to Page One|

Next 15 Notes

Warning: Undefined array key "TeamID" in D:\InetPub\vhosts\scoutnation.com\draftscout.com\2020rightcolteam.php on line 56

Warning: Undefined array key "DSTeamID" in D:\InetPub\vhosts\scoutnation.com\draftscout.com\2020rightcolteam.php on line 57

Pittsburgh Football Videos

Buy Draft Scout Weekly

** Draft Scout Data **
(Everything Online PLUS)

Support Draft Scout

The Database Engine for NFLDraftScout.com, Draft Scout is being repurposed...Support the Future Development of ScoutNation.com...

Draft Scout Archives

** 2010-2022 Draft Scout Archives **
(Yearly Player Data Exports, Prospect Lists & More)

Draft Scout Future

100% Dedicated and Never Done

80% Innovated

45% Hidden

35% Built

2025 CFB/2025-2029 NFL Draft Scout

2024 CFB/2024-2028 NFL Draft Scout

2023 CFB/2024-2027 NFL Draft Scout

NFL Draft Scout History

2022 Draft Scout

Draft Scout by Conference

2023 Draft Scout Offense

2023 Draft Scout Defense

2022 Draft Scout Offense

2022 Draft Scout Defense

Pittsburgh Football Videos

Buy Draft Scout Weekly

Support Draft Scout

Draft Scout Archives

Draft Scout Future

Synergization

Did You Know?

Hidden Designs

Future Development