On to NYC: Kenny Pickett named 1 of 4 finalists for Heisman Trophy

There are only 54 miles and a 70-minute car ride between Kenny Pickett’s home in Oakhurst, N.J., and New York City.

Which makes it convenient for Pitt’s record-breaking quarterback and his family to attend the 2021 Heisman Trophy ceremony Saturday night. Pickett was invited, along with defensive end Aidan Hutchinson of Michigan and quarterbacks Bryce Young of Alabama and C.J. Stroud of Ohio State. The announcement was made Monday night on ESPN.

The very moment he found out at Brushes and Beans in Murrysville. pic.twitter.com/3DZc24BTsb

— BucsRaiseIt (@bucsraiseit) December 6, 2021

The winner will be revealed at this year’s event at Lincoln Center in New York City. It will be followed Sunday by the 87th annual Heisman Memorial Trophy Dinner at the Marriott Marquis.

Thank you!! #H2P https://t.co/kw7m0KYFvQ

— Kenny Pickett (@kennypickett10) December 7, 2021

“It’s special thing. It hasn’t been done here in a long time,” Pickett said Saturday night after the ACC championship game victory against Wake Forest. “To have your name being next to that award and talk of you going to New York City and that being close to home, it’s special.

“It’s a team award, I think. I’ve improved, yes, but you look at this team, we’ve improved so much. I’m so grateful for every single guy in that (locker) room and the hard work we all put in together. I think it speaks for everybody.”

Pickett, the ACC Player of the Year, is the first Pitt player invited to the Heisman ceremony since wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald finished second in the balloting to Oklahoma quarterback Jason White in 2003. Future NFL star quarterbacks Eli Manning, Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger finished third, seventh and ninth that year.

Running back Craig “Ironhead” Heyward also was invited in 1987 when he finished fifth.

Pickett’s journey toward Saturday’s ceremonies started years ago as a child when he tried soccer, basketball and baseball, settling on football — his ultimate love.

“I love the sport I play,” he said. “I love the position. I’m obsessed with it, dedicated to it.”

After he led Pitt to an ACC championship and an 11-2 record — the Panthers’ best in 40 years — this season, he has one more game left in his college career. No. 12 Pitt will play No. 10 Michigan State on Dec. 30 in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.

Running back Tony Dorsett is the only Pitt player to win the Heisman, taking home the trophy in the Panthers’ national championship season of 1976.

Pitt has had several other players over the years finish between second and ninth in the voting.

Aside from Fitzgerald, Pitt has had two other runner-ups: defensive end Hugh Green (1980) and running back Marshall Goldberg (1938).

Other top finishers included Dan Marino (fourth, 1981, and ninth, 1982), Dorsett (fourth, 1975), Goldberg (third, 1937), Matt Cavanaugh (seventh, 1977), Mike Ditka (sixth, 1960), Bill Fralic (eighth, 1983, and sixth, 1984) and Edgar “Special Delivery” Jones (seventh, 1941).

The Heisman Trophy dates to 1935, when University of Chicago running back Jay Berwanger was awarded the inaugural trophy. The cast bronze trophy stands 13.5 inches and weighs 25 pounds. It is named in honor of John W. Heisman, who grew up among the oil fields of northwest Pennsylvania in Titusville and coached football at several colleges, including Washington & Jefferson.

A total of 928 ballots from journalists and former winners are cast for the Heisman.