2021 ACC champion John Petrishen returned for his 2nd Pitt Pro Day, chasing a dream

At first, Pat Narduzzi wasn’t sure about allowing John Petrishen to work out on Pitt’s Pro Day.

That day usually is intended for draft-eligible players from the previous season. Petrishen played outside linebacker to considerable acclaim while helping Pitt win an ACC championship two years ago.

But it’s hard to say no to someone doggedly chasing his dream.

Narduzzi said he would allow it if an NFL team wanted Petrishen to participate.

“If you can find an NFL team that wants to see you run, we’re going to listen to the NFL,” Narduzzi said.

The New York Giants were curious, and Petrishen was one of 14 former Pitt players working out Wednesday for all 32 NFL teams and four from the CFL.

“I wasn’t planning on coming here,” said Petrishen, a Central Catholic graduate and Lower Burrell resident. “I actually had an agent switch in the past few weeks. He suggested it. I never even thought of it. I never thought I’d need to get in a 40 stance again.”

Petrishen has spent the past year looking for an NFL opportunity. When he wasn’t drafted in 2022, he went to tryout camps in Buffalo, Washington and other places without success.

“I feel like I’ve been everywhere and back,” he said.

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• 2021 ACC champion John Petrishen returned for his 2nd Pro Day, chasing a dream

Leading up to Wednesday’s workouts, Petrishen worked out with a personal trainer in Florida, sleeping on the man’s couch at night, running, jumping and sweating during the day.

“I’m ready. I’ve been running fast, jumping high every day,” said Petrishen, who showed up at 6-foot, ¾ inch and 231 pounds.

“The goal was to show up 5 pounds heavier and put up the same or better numbers at a bigger size. I feel like I did that.”

One NFL stopwatch clocked him at 4.59 in the 40-yard dash.

He said there was no stress in this year’s workouts, a contrast to the 2021 Pro Day.

“Last year, a lot of people were saying I would get drafted in the later rounds,” he said. “I had a lot to lose last year. I felt like I was a little nervous.

“This year, I came in and I (said), ‘Let it rip. I’ve got nothing to lose. Let’s have fun. I already know how this day is going to go. I know everybody here. This is my home. This is my comfort zone. Let’s just go out and do what I do.’

“A lot less nerves.”

He said the most difficult days of his collegiate career were 2016 and 2017, when he was at Penn State, fighting injuries.

“With the adversity I went through at Penn State, going through injury after season-ending injury, I think it really prepared me for this process and time of my life,” he said. “Because, if I didn’t go through that, this would be really hard emotionally and mentally for me.

“Now, this is a breeze. I just stay ready, stay in shape, do what I love. I’m chasing my dream. The journey is the fun part. I love a challenge. For me, it’s not a pipe dream. I’m at the 1-yard line of this thing.

“People say it gets really hard right before you get to that new level. I’m so close, and I’m not going to give up until I make it and stay there for a little bit.”

Narduzzi respects his former player’s determination.

“I don’t know if he’s ever going to give up. He might be coming back in three years,” the coach said.

Maybe, Petrishen suggested, mostly in jest.

“Hopefully, I won’t need this opportunity again next year,” he said. “But, if not, same time next year.”

Passion, not pride

Pitt has populated the NFL Draft with eight players over the past two years, led by quarterback Kenny Pickett, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first-round choice last year.

Defensive tackle Calijah Kancey might make it two in a row in Round 1 this year, and safeties Erick Hallett and Brandon Hill could be the seventh and eighth Pitt defensive backs chosen in the past six drafts.

Narduzzi said sending so many to the NFL has nothing to do with pride for his program.

“Pride is an ugly word. It’s what we do. It’s our job. Something you love to do,” he said. “It’s a passion more than it’s a pride thing. Those are our kids out there.

“It’s our job as coaches that when they talk to a coach, they can speak the language. They can talk football.”

Among other highlights from Pro Day:

Somewhere in this chaos Deslin Alexandre is doing 23 reps of 225 pounds. pic.twitter.com/hiSBuxQGsE

— Jerry DiPaola (@JDiPaola_Trib) March 29, 2023

• Offensive lineman Marcus Minor did a team-best 31 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press.

• Wide receiver Jared Wayne and linebacker SirVocea Dennis recorded 41½-inch vertical jumps.

• Wayne, Dennis and running back Izzy Abanikanda would have had the best vertical jumps at their positions if they performed them at the NFL Combine. Abanikanda checked in at 41.

• Wayne’s jump was a half-inch better than West Virginia’s Bryce Ford-Wheaton, who was No. 1 among wide receivers at the Combine.