Analysis: Pitt's Pat Narduzzi might need to reach back into transfer portal for QB help

The list of transfer quarterbacks Pitt has lured on campus is a long one, just as long as Pat Narduzzi’s nine-year tenure as head coach.

Yet only two of the nine — Nathan Peterman and Kedon Slovis — made significant, positive contributions as starters. And Slovis quickly transferred out last year when it was clear that Phil Jurkovec, a transfer from Boston College, would be the starter.

But Jurkovec has been replaced by Christian Veilleux, formerly of Penn State, and the search for Kenny Pickett’s successor continues. The initial enthusiasm over Slovis and Jurkovec joining the team didn’t last even one season.

Max Browne had his moments as a starter and had the requisite talent and mental makeup to succeed, but he was held back by injuries. The other four are Joey Yellen (three interceptions and a 20.3 quarterback rating in the 2020 Notre Dame game), Ricky Town, Jeff George Jr. and Derek Kyler.

To be fair and accurate, Town, George Jr. and Kyler were not brought in to necessarily compete for the starting job. Yellen played only because Pickett was injured.

Nonetheless, it was appropriate to ask Narduzzi this week if it’s time to reevaluate Pitt’s approach toward quarterbacks in the portal.

Before the reporter at the Monday news conference could finish his question, his reference to Slovis was interrupted by this quick remark from the head coach: “I liked Kedon a lot. He was a good football player.”

At the end of last season, Pitt’s coaches wanted Slovis to compete with Jurkovec in 2023, but he found a better opportunity at BYU, where he has led his new team to a 4-1 record and Power 5 victories against Arkansas and Cincinnati. He’s fifth in the Big 12 in passing yards per game (248) and has thrown for 10 touchdowns. Jurkovec and Veilleux have combined for seven (six and one).

“You do (reevaluate),” Narduzzi said, “but, again, as soon as you do that, you handicap yourself in a different situation. Who knows? Again, it’s everybody around him as well. You look at some of these teams out here — even Louisville — how they have taken a ton of transfer guys. You look at Colorado, taking a ton.”

Pitt will meet its third transfer quarterback among its first five Power 5 opponents Saturday when Jack Plummer, who transferred from California and Purdue, lines up for Louisville.

Maybe it’s just the way the college football world is evolving, but it’s vital for coaches to learn to play the transfer game.

“What’s right? What’s wrong?” Narduzzi said. “Maybe we should have taken — forget the quarterback — maybe we should have taken more offensive linemen. You can look at the whole thing.

“Maybe we play with too many young high school guys, and we’ve got to take older guys. Maybe we need juniors and seniors and keep going to the portal and not recruit high school guys.”

Narduzzi was clearly being facetious at that point, but he added, “I’m not sure what’s wrong and what’s right, but I really like developing guys. At the quarterback spot, when you have a guy leave, you’ve got to get another guy. You don’t want to have three freshman quarterbacks. You’re kind of stuck doing that sometimes.”

Pitt’s approach to the 2024 transfer portal (actually, players will start moving around in December) will be determined by how Veilleux and/or Nate Yarnell perform over the final seven games.

If one or both play well, perhaps Narduzzi only will need to seek a depth quarterback. But if Pitt needs a starter, the merry-go-round will start up again, and the head coach will be the one who’s evaluated.