Cowboys draft former Pine-Richland, Pitt quarterback Ben DiNucci

Quarterback Ben DiNucci’s football journey from Pine-Richland to Pitt to James Madison ended up in Dallas on Saturday when he was drafted by the Cowboys in the seventh round (No. 231 overall).

After transferring from Pitt when Kenny Pickett seized the starting job in 2017, DiNucci, who originally committed to Penn, played the past two seasons at James Madison, leading the Dukes to the FCS championship game last season.

He led the nation with a 70.9 completion percentage, throwing for 3,441 yards and 29 touchdowns.

At Pine-Richland, he became the first player in Pennsylvania history to throw for 4,000 yards in a season (4,269 yards and 46 touchdowns) while leading the Rams to the 2014 PIAA championship game.

“I owe JMU everything,” DiNucci told NBC29.com before the draft. “If I would have stayed at Pitt, I don’t think these possibilities would have presented themselves.

“I think making the switch after my redshirt sophomore year to go to JMU was the best choice that I made. If I had to do it over again, I would do it the exact same way.”

At Pitt, DiNucci was recruited by one offensive coordinator, Jim Chaney, and played for two more, Matt Canada and Shawn Watson.

“There was so much invaluable experience and lessons that I learned from those three years at Pitt,” he said. “I got to play in five different offenses, have five different coaches coach me. (I’ve) been around a lot of ball, seen a lot of defenses.”

After the Cowboys drafted DiNucci, ESPN analyst Mel Kiper called him “one of those overachieving quarterbacks you wouldn’t bet against.”

“Talk about a guy who won a lot of football games. He’s a gutty kid who hangs in the pocket and has real good vision.”

DiNucci said Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy’s brother was his eighth-grade basketball coach. He introduced himself to the man who ended up being his new coach in January when they were in an elevator together at the hotel that’s part of Cowboys headquarters.

James Madison lost to North Dakota State in the FCS championship game in Frisco, Texas.

“He was very familiar with our team,” DiNucci said. “I was kind of surprised that he knew who I was. Now I’m going to be able to play under him, and it’s just crazy.”