Inside The Panthers

Pitt HC Pat Narduzzi Names Starting QB For Backyard Brawl

Kedon Slovis will be under center for the Pitt Panthers when they kick off their season opener.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt HC Pat Narduzzi Names Starting QB For Backyard Brawl
Pitt HC Pat Narduzzi Names Starting QB For Backyard Brawl /
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers finally have a starting quarterback. After a lengthy competition that spanned spring ball and the vast majority of training camp, head coach Pat Narduzzi announced that Kedon Slovis will start for Pitt when they take on the West Virginia Mountaineers next week in their season opener at Acrisure Stadium. 

Slovis beat out veteran Panther Nick Patti with primarily his consistency and accuracy, in addition to better care of the football, according to Narduzzi. He and offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti made the decision following this past weekend's scrimmage. 

"I've got a lot of confidence in what he's done," Narduzzi said. "I guess it comes down to maybe a little bit more consistency. He was very accurate with the football. He's a really, really good passer and we think he can lead us."

Narduzzi called it a difficult decision and said that he had confidence in both Patti and Slovis' abilities. But Narduzzi also said that he could sense that Slovis was putting a tighter grip on the job as camp wore on and he thinks the rest of the team could sense that too. 

"I haven't gone around and asked a bunch of guys during camp," Narduzzi said. "I think it just became evident as time went on that it was what we had to do."

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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