Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett won't play in the Peach Bowl

Kenny Pickett’s season is over.

Pitt’s record-setting All-American quarterback and ACC Player of the Year tweeted Thursday night that he won’t play against Michigan State in the Peach Bowl, the Panthers’ final game Dec. 30 in Atlanta.

Only hours earlier, Michigan State All-American running back Kenneth Walker III also opted out of the game.

So ends the career of Pitt’s finest quarterback since Dan Marino. Even without a bowl game, Pickett’s career leaves triumphant moments that haven’t been seen at Pitt in four decades that included the most significant prize — the ACC championship trophy. It was Pitt’s first conference title in school history.

Forever a Pitt Man #H2P pic.twitter.com/fq0Sw06dIa

— Kenny Pickett (@kennypickett10) December 17, 2021

Pickett’s 2021 season was a bonus for Pitt fans. After the final game of the 2020 season, Pickett left th field at Georgia Tech thinking that was the end of his four-year college career. Most fans and even coach Pat Narduzzi agreed.

Thank you @kennypickett10. A true PITT MAN #H2P pic.twitter.com/OaNLcmeKuh

— Pat Narduzzi (@CoachDuzzPittFB) December 17, 2021

But knowing the NCAA was granting all athletes an extra season of eligibility because of covid interruptions — and ultimately aware he might have been a fifth-round pick (or worse) in the NFL Draft — Pickett decided to return. It was a decision that followed some serious thought and consultation with his coaches, parents and even Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning.

We will miss you and we are ALL grateful for what you did for this football program and this University!! https://t.co/arWtx9LdNb

— Charlie Partridge (@CoachPartridge) December 17, 2021

Pickett made the most of his final season, breaking several Pitt records, including career passing yards (12,303) and touchdowns (81) and single-season passing yards (4,319) and touchdowns (42). His passing yards total is second all-time in the ACC to N.C. State’s Philip Rivers (13,484).

In his tweet, Pickett thanked Narduzzi “for being by my side” and former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mark Whipple. “I was proud to learn from you,” Pickett tweeted of Whipple. He also expressed gratitude to teammates and fans.

Narduzzi said Tuesday that Pickett’s decision wouldn’t be easy.

“Everybody’s got a business decision to make,” he said. “Not everybody’s going to agree with decisions I make or Kenny makes or anybody else makes.

“They’re business decisions, and we all have to respect those decisions for whatever they are. We all know what we like. We all know what we like, but not everybody in this room has to deal with the consequences of playing or not playing. Those are big-boy decisions.”

Pickett has been projected by several draft analysts to be one of the first quarterbacks taken in the draft. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay rank Pickett as the No. 1 available quarterback. If that’s so, Pickett’s rookie contract will be worth millions.

When quarterback Justin Fields was drafted last year at No. 11 — approximately where Pickett has been projected to be selected— Fields signed a fully guaranteed four-year, $18.87 million contract.

The risk of injury in the Peach Bowl — after Pickett already had reached his stated goal of winning the ACC championship — outweighed the reward of a potential school record-tying 12th victory for Pitt (11-2).

Pickett’s absence will give Narduzzi a four-quarter head start on the 2022 season. Replacing Pickett won’t be easy, and Pitt already began the quest, bringing Florida State transfer quarterback Chubba Purdy on campus for a visit last weekend. Purdy remains undecided on his transfer destination.

Pitt has four quarterbacks on scholarship at the moment – Nick Patti, Davis Beville, Joey Yellen and Nate Yarnell — and the Peach Bowl will offer on-the-job training.

Patti, a junior, has been Pickett’s top backup this season, completing 12 of 14 passes for 140 yards. He started one game in 2019 when Pickett was injured, completing 23 of 37 for 271 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a 17-14 victory against Delaware.

Patti was injured for part of the 2020 season, leaving the starting job for two games to Yellen, a sophomore transfer from Arizona State, when Pickett was out with an injured ankle.

Pitt lost both games, 31-19 against Miami and 45-3 to Notre Dame. For the season, he completed 35 of 78 passes for 402 yards and a touchdown. He threw all three of his interceptions against the Irish.

It will be intriguing to see how Pitt’s pass offense — without Pickett and Whipple — might take advantage of the Michigan State pass defense, which is 130th and last in the nation (337.7 yards per game).

The Pickett and Walker opt-outs leave the Peach Bowl without two marquee All-Americans who would have made the game one of the most interesting of the bowl season. Pickett finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting while Walker was sixth.