Kenny Pickett placed his name alongside the greatest players in Pitt football history this season, but he brought his legend onto another plateau Saturday night among the bright lights of Lincoln Center in New York City.

Pickett, who led the Panthers to heights not realized or envisioned in 40 years, was among four finalists invited to attend the nationally televised Heisman Trophy ceremony. Even though Alabama quarterback Bryce Young was the winner in balloting from nearly 900 voters, Pickett still found time — and every good reason — to celebrate a historically successful season at Pitt.

Pickett finished third in the voting, with 28 first-place votes and 631 total points. Young garnered 684 first-place votes and 2,311 points, 83% of the total. Michigan edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson was second (78, 954), and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud fourth (12, 399).

A look back at his historic season ahead of tonight’s Heisman ceremony. #KennyHeisman @kennypickett10 pic.twitter.com/IfzIGHuC6N

— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) December 11, 2021

Pickett’s legend will be as enduring as anyone’s in Pitt history, including 1976 Heisman winner Tony Dorsett, Marshall Goldberg, Mike Ditka, Dan Marino, Larry Fitzgerald and Aaron Donald.

“Pretty surreal having your name beside Dan Marino,” Pickett said Saturday in a news conference before the ceremony.

Just being in New York City was a reward for a job well done, said Pickett, who is Pitt’s first Heisman finalist since Fitzgerald in 2003.

“I’m from 45 minutes south of here (Oakhurst, N.J.),” he said. “A lot of family, friends and coaches are all watching at a watch party. I’ll be able to go see them and celebrate the season in general.

“It’s a special night, for sure. Win or lose, it’s a very special weekend.”

The entire weekend — he was honored Friday night in Baltimore as the winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award — had Pickett reminiscing about where he was a year ago: one foot in college, the other in the NFL.

“Looking back to where I was a year ago to where I’m sitting now, this time last year was a lot different for me,” he said. “I was debating about going to the NFL. Probably around a fifth- or sixth-round (draft) pick.

“A lot of thanks to the people who helped me get here, my teammates, my coaches. Collectively as a unit we did this together. Dedicating ourselves to our craft, watching a lot of film, making sure we’re on the same page.”

Pickett has not indicated whether he’ll play in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Dec. 30. During the ESPN telecast Saturday, former Heisman winner Robert Griffin III asked Pickett if he planned to play in the bowl game. Pickett said, “We’ll find out this week.”

But he will begin preparing for the NFL Combine and other pre-draft workouts almost as soon as the calendar turns to 2022.

He is a projected first-round draft choice — some analysts believe he will be the first quarterback selected — and he’s eager to begin that journey.

“I don’t have a preference to where I go,” he said. “I’m just grateful to be in the discussion of where I am. I’ll be as prepared as I possibly can be. Whatever team takes me, they’re definitely going to get my all.”

He said he plans to begin workouts with his quarterback coach, Tony Racioppi, in New Jersey, not far from his home.

“Get my body back to where it needs to be,” he said. “It’s been a long season, battling through some injuries here and there, really trying to get as healthy as I can be, building everything, from fundamentals, strength, speed.”

Young finished ahead of Pickett but threw for only 3 more yards (4,322 to Pickett’s 4,319).

Young’s victory was at least the second time he defeated Stroud. The two quarterbacks grew up in southern California and competed as 13-year-olds in the Youth Snoop Football League. One day, Young’s Inland Empire Ducks defeated Stroud’s Pomona Steelers, 22-0.

“It’s a blessing, two guys growing up in this football world together, playing against each other, playing with each other,” Stroud said. “It’s cool to have a brother doing the same thing I’m doing.”

Young is the first Alabama quarterback to win the Heisman, an impressive achievement at a school that sent Joe Namath, Kenny Stabler and Mac Jones onto the NFL. He is the fourth Heisman winner from the Crimson Tide at the third different position.

“It’s something I don’t take lightly at all,” Young said. “I take a lot of pride in doing what I can to make those guys proud and continue that legacy. For me, (I’m) trying to live off that standard and build off of it.”

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