Report: Pitt Will Start Nate Yarnell Against Boston College
PITTSBURGH -- In their second to last game of the regular season, the Pitt Panthers will introduce a third new starting quarterback.
According to a report from Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, the Panthers will start redshirt sophomore Nate Yarnell over Christian Veilleux, who had started the previous five games, against Boston College.
Hiles claims in his report that the decision to change quarterbacks came from the very top, not from quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti, who head coach Pat Narduzzi said makes final decisions on quarterback personnel.
"Although Narduzzi has said numerous times this season that offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. is responsible for deciding who starts under center, one source told the Post-Gazette that it was Narduzzi, not Cignetti, who chose to bench Veilleux for Yarnell," Hiles wrote.
This will mark just the second start of Yarnell's career. His first starting job came in Week 3 last season, when he and the Panthers beat Western Michigan, 34-13. Yarnell completed nine of 12 passes for 179 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions against the Broncos.
Veilleux has started five games for the Panthers this season after unseating Phil Jurkovec, who opened the year atop the depth chart. Veilleux has completed 94 of 184 passes (51.1%) for 1,179 yards, seven touchdowns and eight interceptions, plus three fumbles lost. Yarnell has only played sparingly this season but has completed five of eight attempts (62.5%) for 123 yards and one touchdown without turning the ball over at all.
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