Inside The Panthers

Pitt Could Rotate Nick Patti, Nate Yarnell in Sun Bowl

Pitt Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi left the door open for Nate Yarnell to see action in the Sun Bowl.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt Could Rotate Nick Patti, Nate Yarnell in Sun Bowl
Pitt Could Rotate Nick Patti, Nate Yarnell in Sun Bowl /
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PITTSBURGH -- Ever since the Pitt Panthers' starting quarterback, Kedon Slovis announced his decision to enter the transfer portal and leave the program, head coach Pat Narduzzi ushered in another position battle. 

Slovis' backup, redshirt senior Nick Patti and third-string redshirt freshman Nate Yarnell battled for reps during initial bowl practices. Patti won the edge by virtue of both his play and the fact that Yarnell was sidelined by an illness for a few of Pitt's practices in Pittsburgh. Narduzzi said following the first practice in El Paso, Texas that Patti is likely to start but Yarnell could get some snaps as well. 

Yarnell made one start this season - at Western Michigan while Slovis and Patti were injured. Yarnell completed nine of 12 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown in his only appearance this season. Narduzzi praised his toughness and decision-making in the aftermath of that win.

Patti's lone action this season came in the Tennessee game. He entered at halftime for the concussed Slovis and completed nine of 20 passes for 75 yards and a touchdown while playing on an injured ankle that kept him out for several weeks after. Patti had made one start in his career before that - a win over Delaware in 2019 in which he threw for 271 yards, two touchdowns and one interception - and was used in the run game at various points throughout his four-year tenure at Pitt. 

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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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