Inside The Panthers

Pat Narduzzi Addresses QB Situation for Virginia Tech Game

The Pitt Panthers' quarterback depth chart is up in the air as they open practices this week.

Stephen Thompson

Pat Narduzzi Addresses QB Situation for Virginia Tech Game
Pat Narduzzi Addresses QB Situation for Virginia Tech Game /
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PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers were locked in a competitive game with No. 17 North Carolina as the first half clock wound down, but a targeting hit that knocked starting quarterback Phil Jurkovec out of the game proved to be a major turning point in the eventual 41-24 loss at Acrisure Stadium. 

Narduzzi said during his first press conference the following week that he "has no idea" if Jurkovec will be able to play for the Panthers when they visit Virginia Tech this weekend. He also did not know if Jurkovec would be able to practice this week, or if Christian Veilleux will also take first-team reps during practice.

Jurkovec will start if he is healthy, Narduzzi said and Veilleux will remain his backup, with redshirt freshman Nate Yarnell remaining in his current role as third-stringer. Veilleux will be the next man up if Jurkovec is unable to go. 

"I would say right now Christian would be the guy if [Jurkovec can't play] and Nate will be ready to roll," Narduzzi said. "There's a lot of faith in Nate Yarnell, I can tell you that. I love Nate Yarnell. He's a competitor. He's a leader. But you kind of - you've got to give Christian his chance to go get it done, period."  

Veilleux played two plays in the first half and all of the second half, completing eight of 19 passes for 88 yards and two interceptions, plus a fumbled handoff. Jurkovec's final line was 11 of 15 passes completed for 109 yards. 

Yarnell has starting experience - he completed nine of 12 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown in his lone start, a win on the road at Western Michigan last season, when he filled in for the injured Kedon Slovis and Nick Patti.  

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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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