Inside The Panthers

Kenny Pickett's Learned from Ben Roethlisberger While at Pitt

At the Pitt Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers' shared practice facility, Kenny Pickett learned from one of the best to do it.

Stephen Thompson

Kenny Pickett's Learned from Ben Roethlisberger While at Pitt
Kenny Pickett's Learned from Ben Roethlisberger While at Pitt /
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PITTSBURGH -- South New Jersey native Kenny Pickett didn't grow up a Steelers fan. His allegiance lied on the eastern pole of Pennsylvania with his Philadelphia Eagles and Donovan McNabb. But when he joined the Pitt Panthers to begin his college football career, Pickett took advantage of the proximity to Ben Roethlisberger and the elite Steelers offense. 

Pickett said in an appearance on former Steeler Ryan Clark's podcast The Pivot that he was able to learn how to time routes and develop chemistry with his pass-catchers by watching Roethlisberger work with Antonio Brown, Heath Miller and Le'Veon Bell. 

"Those guys were playing at a different level," Pickett said. "So when I was at Pitt and I was able to see it every day, watch them practice. You can see on the side after workouts and watch the timing, watch the guys before they come out of breaks. Way before I was doing it, I was like ’S***, I got some work to do with my guys before I get to that level.’"

Clark emphasized Pickett's point about the benefits of being a Pitt football player. There's no other college practice facility in the country where the athletes can rub elbows with professional players, observe their routines and techniques, as regularly and as closely as the Panthers can. He saw it in action when he was a Steeler. 

“I think what’s unique about playing at Pitt and being a Steeler is that there is no other place, I would think for a college student or college student-athlete, where you consistently see the pros," Clark said. "You watch them practice, you see them go into work."

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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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