Pickett will return for Pitt in 2021

Kenny Pickett surprised plenty with an announcement Tuesday night that he plans to return and play for Pitt next season:

That means Pat Narduzzi gets his quarterback and captain back for a fifth season, and that the team can wait on finding his successor. Although Pickett participated in Senior Day festivities in the team's last home game against Virginia Tech, his announcement indicates he plans to use the NCAA waiver to gain an extra year of eligibility.

The move surprised many, including Dorin Dickerson, former All-American Pitt and NFL tight end who was caught so off-guard that he told me he texted Pickett to make sure the tweet was real.

Pickett had his best season in 2020, throwing for 2408 yards, 13 touchdowns and just interceptions in nine games. Although those are the exact same touchdown and interception numbers from 2019, remember that he played three less games and had ankle surgery in the middle of a season that involved the pandemic. He averaged 267.5 passing yards per game, the best of his career.

He also proved himself as a better running quarterback, scoring eight touchdowns on the ground, more than the seven combined over his first three seasons.

The move means that Pitt's offense doesn't have to reinvent the wheel with a new quarterback and might look very similar in its personnel. That could be great for young players like Vincent Davis and Jordan Addison to know they have a captain to keep the offense balanced as they continue to grow in their abilities.

The move also surprised Rashad Weaver, fellow senior who opted out of Pitt's final game to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft:

Pickett's return also draws into question whether Jimmy Morrissey, who's been very close to Pickett during their careers at Pitt, would consider returning. Morrissey's return would mean Pitt could get both its offensive captains back and also help with the development of an offensive line that struggled in run blocking until Davis ran for 247 yards and a touchdown in the finale against Georgia Tech.

What this means for Mark Whipple's future is uncertain, as Pitt's offense still ranked 10th in scoring in the ACC with 29 points per game and eighth in passing yards per game (259.7). One would think Narduzzi would want Whipple around for a final season with Pickett instead of the quarterback having to learn a whole new playbook.

But that's a question for another day.

Pickett's return is a big win for a program that saw very little in Joey Yellen and Davis Beville as the team's backup quarterbacks when called upon.

It also gives Pickett a chance to set the all-time Pitt passing record. He currently ranks fifth in the program's history with 7,984 passing yards. All he needs is 2,930 yards to pass the all-time leader in Alex Van Pelt. If Pickett played a full 12 games at the 267.5 passing yards per game average he threw in 2020, he would certainly set the record.

Whether he does or not, the news of Pickett's return was certainly good news for Narduzzi, the Panthers, and Pitt fans.