Pitt football notebook: Panthers continue to generate splash plays on special teams

Desmond Reid set a high bar on punt returns when, on his first opportunity of 2025, he took one back 88 yards for a touchdown in Pitt’s season-opening blowout of Duquesne.

But Reid got banged up in the third game at West Virginia, leading coach Pat Narduzzi to insert receiver Kenny Johnson, the team’s usual kick returner, in Reid’s place, while Deuce Spann was deputized to handled kickoffs.

Anyone expecting a drop-off in splash-play potential on punt returns with Johnson taking over for Reid may not have been closely watching Pitt’s nonconference schedule, when Johnson broke out for multiple long kick returns against the Dukes and Central Michigan.

If Johnson did have any doubters, he put concerns to rest at Syracuse with a 66-yard return at the end of the first half, a monumental play in the Panthers’ 30-13 win.

“It was a huge one,” Johnson said. “Even before we went out (for the punt), we knew we wanted to return it, regardless just because of the time, I saw some things that I liked on some of the previous ones. (Syracuse punter Jack) Stonehouse was kicking some bombs. They were hanging up there for a while. That’s why the iPads are so good, just going back and seeing what we see. I knew I wanted to take that one regardless and yeah, it was a big one. Props to the guys for blocking.”

Stonehouse’s punt came with 18 seconds left in the first half, with Pitt up 10-7 and set to receive to begin the third quarter.

But only 16 seconds later, after fielding the ball at his 34-yard line, Johnson was in the end zone, crossing the plane with only 2 seconds on the clock.

For Johnson, who had kick returns of 78 yards vs. Duquesne and 47 yards vs. Central Michigan but came short of the end zone, bringing one all the way back against the Orange came as a relief.

“Just being focused on the finish, seeing the whole play through from start to finish and really just making sure that I finished through my strides,” Johnson said of his approach. “And don’t let the kicker tackle me.”

Entering Saturday’s contest vs. N.C. State at Acrisure Stadium, Johnson is Pitt’s second-leading receiver, with 26 catches for 390 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

For Narduzzi, Johnson’s abilities at his primary position suit him well on special teams.

“Besides his kickoff return, he does a great job fielding a punt,” Narduzzi said. “Usually, we have Des back there, or at least had him as our starter, but Kenny, we know he’s a great returner. He’s a great kickoff returner. He’s been that way. We’ve tried to give him a break on kickoff returns, and we know he’s a superb punt returner, as well.

“He can make plays with the ball in his hands as a receiver. You guys have seen him catch and run. He’s going to be your YAC guy. He’s going to get yards after catch, and he’s dangerous with the ball in his hands as a returner as well.”

Junko’s shaky hands

Eli Holstein’s two interceptions, a controversial muffed punt ruling on Johnson and a host of other mishaps doomed Pitt on Sept. 27 against Louisville, which won 34-27, coming back from a 17-point first-quarter deficit.

One of the crippling miscues that day was a fumble by punter Caleb Junko in the second quarter, which the Cardinals recovered at Pitt’s 27-yard line and quickly turned into a touchdown.

Junko lost control of another routine snap on a punt in the first quarter at Syracuse, but he managed to recover and get off a kick that traveled 48 yards.

But another potentially game-altering mistake was only narrowly averted.

Still, Narduzzi expressed confidence in his senior punter, who’s averaging 45 yards per punt on 26 attempts this season.

“He stood about 3 yards from the Jugs machine this week so we should have no more problems with that. … he’ll be fine,” Narduzzi said. “He’s got a new snapper with him. I don’t know if it’s a different type of ball that’s coming back, but never had that problem through camp.

“I have no concern there. He’s a tough, strong kid. (Junko) is good. … He’s just taking his eyes off the ball. He’s got excellent hands, really. The guy could play receiver. But any time you start looking down the field — just catch the ball first. Eyes and hands.”

To Junko’s credit, he had a punt of 60 yards vs. the Orange, along with two others of 49.

Ice in Butkowski’s veins

Panthers freshman kicker Trey Butkowski had his name called often in Syracuse, with Pitt’s offense struggling to complete drives and score touchdowns.

Butkowski responded by drilling his three field-goal attempts from 31, 42 and 32 yards, continuing what’s been a superb debut campaign at the collegiate level.

Butkowski is now 15 of 16 on field goals this season, his only miss coming in Week 3 at West Virginia.

But since that miss, a 43-yarder in the first quarter, Butkowski is 12 of 12, with a long of 47.

“He’s been really consistent,” Narduzzi said. “Just keep giving us Trey. He’s a strong kid. For high school kids, this is a long season. You get to Week 8 — usually, they’re in the playoffs already in high school. Week by week, it’s a challenge, but we’ve just got to keep staying on him with details along the way.”