Pickett to skip Pitt's bowl game, leaving Patti or Beville to start at QB

Not that it comes as a major surprise, but Kenny Pickett will not play for Pitt in the Peach Bowl against Michigan State the quarterback announced via Twitter Thursday night.

Pickett, who finished third in last week's Heisman Trophy voting, is slated to net play in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., Feb. 5. He is currently rated by most analysts as the No. 1 quarterback prospect who will be available in the 2022 NFL Draft.

"One of the best moments of my football career was standing on stage with you, the team, and our ACC Championship trophy," Pickett wrote. "I will never forget our victory and everything it took to get us there."

Pickett was a super senior in 2021, returning to Pitt for the season after the NCAA permitted players to return for an additional year due to COVID-19 cutting the 2020 season short.

He took advantage of the extra year to set multiple career and season passing records at Pitt, leading the Panthers to an 11-2 record and the school's first ACC championship.

But Pat Narduzzi earlier in the week seemed like he was advising Pickett to forgo the bowl game, telling 93.7 The Fan, "I want to make sure we protect Kenny. He’s given us every ounce of blood, sweat and tears he could give and leadership to this program. You couldn’t ask for more out of Kenny Pickett."

Narduzzi tweeted out support for Pickett's decision.

Pitt will return to practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex Saturday to begin preparations to play Michigan State. With Pickett gone, junior Nick Patti or sophomore Davis Beville would be in line to get the start against the Spartans.