Three Pitt Panthers We're Excited to Watch!

The Pittsburgh Panthers football team went 9-4 overall last season and 5-3 in the ACC. Pitt ended their season with five straight wins, including a 37-35 win in the Sun Bowl against UCLA. The Panthers will look to keep that momentum rolling into this upcoming season, where they'll have a familiar face at QB. 

Quarterback Phil Jurkovec 

The Panthers will have a new quarterback this year, Phil Jurkovec, a transfer from Boston College. He played his high school football at nearby Richland High School. 

Jurkovec is a talented passer and athletic; he must prove he can stay healthy. Jurkovec passed for 5,406 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions in his time at Notre Dame and Boston College. He will definitely have a chip on his shoulder, returning home after two stops that didn't necessary yield the results he was looking for.

Running Back Rodney Hammond 

Junior Rodney Hammond will take over the running back duties this year. Hammond is a power runner; he rushed for 460 yards and six touchdowns on 109 carries last season as a backup to Izzy Abinikanda. 

Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi loves to run the football, and the Panthers have a physical offensive line, so Hammond should see a lot of touches and be successful. He was instrumental last year before getting dinged up, which allowed Izzy Abanikanda to thrive. I could see Hammond having a similar season - which is high praise.

Receiver Konata Mumpfield 

Konata Mumpfield led the Panthers in receiving last season with 58 catches and 551 yards. Mumpfield capped his 2022 season with seven catches for 78 yards and a two-point conversion in the Sun Bowl victory over UCLA last December, can sense the difference too. 

Mumpfield is good on intermediate routes and should have many opportunities this season, with teams keying on stopping the run. Is Jurkovec to Mumpfield the next Pickett to Addison?

We can't wait to find out!!