Former WR Larry Fitzgerald Talks Kenny Pickett, State of Pitt Football

The best pass-catcher in the history of the Pitt Panthers is optimistic about the state of the program.

PITTSBURGH -- Larry Fitzgerald, formerly a star wide receiver for the Pitt Panthers and Arizona Cardinals, was thousands of miles from where he played his college ball this weekend, golfing at the star-studded American Century Championship on the shores of Lake Tahoe. But the man widely regarded as the best pass-catcher in Pitt history still hasn't lost a connection with the Panthers.

Speaking at the event, Fitzgerald was complimentary of the job head coach Pat Narduzzi has done navigating the Pitt program through a tumultuous time in college athletics. 

'The Pitt tradition and the university are in a position to be successful for a very long time because of guys like Coach Narduzzi doing it the right way,' Fitzgerald said. 

Fitzgerald spoke further about how confident he is about the expanding reach of the Pitt program into professional football. 2021 first-round pick Kenny Pickett was, to him, just the latest in a long line of former Panthers to represent the school well in the NFL.

'We’re gonna continue to produce the Aaron Donalds and the Darrelle Revis and the Kenny Picketts of the world who will uphold the legacies and traditions of the great University of Pittsburgh,' said Fitzgerald. 

Fitzgerald added that he will be watching Pickett's journey closely and hopes that he leapfrogs veterans Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph to earn the starting quarterback job. 

'I’m real excited for Kenny and what he’s gonna be able to do with the Pittsburgh Steelers. I hope he’s gonna win that job and go out there and perform the way he’s been performing,' Fitzgerald said. 'He’s familiar with the practice facilities, has produced in a large way at Heinz Field, so there’s a lot of familiarity with him and I know the city’s gonna get behind him.'

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