Inside The Panthers

Wednesday Pitt Football QB Notebook: Slovis Showcasing Live Arm vs. Air

Speaking purely of arm talent, Kedon Slovis has the upper hand among Pitt Panthers quarterbacks.

Stephen Thompson

Wednesday Pitt Football QB Notebook: Slovis Showcasing Live Arm vs. Air
Wednesday Pitt Football QB Notebook: Slovis Showcasing Live Arm vs. Air /
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PITTSBURGH -- A midweek off-day came at an opportune time for the Pitt Panthers. Kedon Slovis, who's competing with Nick Patti for the starting quarterback job, suffered muscle spasms during practice over the weekend and was sidelined as Pitt returned to work on Monday. 

The extra day of rest proved useful for Slovis, who appeared to feel no lingering effects. His timing was seamless and his throws came with some zip. He looked like a player with a complete understanding of the route tree and natural instincts for when to release. By comparison, Patti experienced more hitches. He wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination, but it was the relatively better quality of Slovis' throws that stood out. 

The passes Patti and Slovis showcased came on air and without a pass rush in their faces - they weren't even impeded by wind or rain. It's a perfect time for Slovis to show off the live arm that has been a part of his game ever since high school. Patti, on the other hand, is burdened with smaller windows during scrimmages and live, 11-on-11 periods to showcase his mobility, creativity and experience. 

Further down the depth chart, redshirt freshmen Nate Yarnell continues to struggle with his accuracy and timing. Narduzzi said earlier in camp that Yarnell did not participate in spring practices and that much is evident - he's not throwing with the same force or confidence that he was at this time last season. 

It is not the most pressing competition of training camp, but the Panthers are one stroke of bad luck away from having to elevate either Yarnell or Dartmouth graduate transfer Derek Kyler to second-string, making their competition an important contingency plan. 

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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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