LATROBE, Pa. -- How does a program with 20 wins over the last two seasons continue momentum with a new quarterback, its ACC rushing king gone, and its unanimous All-American moved up to the next level?
Pat Narduzzi will begin to find those answers this week, as Pitt opens its football camp at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side.
The Panthers report to campus and begin their official first practice of the fall Wednesday, which is when Narduzzi will address local media for the first time in this unofficially official start to the season. A portion of practice will be open to the media Wednesday and Friday this week, followed by four times in each of the two weeks to follow, with three partially open windows in the final week of August leading into the Panthers' kickoff luncheon at The Westin Pittsburgh on August 25.
The season opener kicks off at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 2 against Wofford at Acrisure Stadium.
There is a lot to sort out between now and then. So, for now, here are three storylines to monitor in camp:
1. Jurkovec's development with his receivers
Narduzzi is operating with his third quarterback in three seasons, with Kenny Pickett moving next door to the Steelers after a Heisman Trophy-caliber 2021 and Kedon Slovis transferring to BYU after proving to be a flop of a get by Narduzzi from the transfer portal. For as much as one might want to see Christian Veilleux or Nate Yarnell earn the starting nod, this team will belong to Phil Jurkovec, the Pine-Richland product who has journeyed to Notre Dame and Boston College before returning home for his final season of college ball.
Jurkovec has been banged up in parts of his career, but he already has a rapport built with coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. through their time together at Boston College. His transition from a flow standpoint is sure to be smoother than Slovis' was, after the latter came to Pitt from Southern California and a completely different look to an offense.
However, Jurkovec's wide receivers room is lacking in depth and immediate reliability, and especially with 1,000-yard producer Jared Wayne moved on to the NFL. Jurkovec's current top target, former three-star recruit Daejon Reynolds, redshirted his freshman year in 2021 and caught just 11 passes in eight games for Florida last season. Behind Reynolds are Konata Mumpfield and Bub Means, and both flashed towards the end of last season but were inconsistent over the course of 13 games for the Panthers.
Behind those three is ... not much else, as of now ... unless Zion Fowler proves to be an immediate impact piece as a true freshman. Otherwise, Jake McConnachie returns as the elder statesman of the room, and Jahvante Royal is making the conversion from defensive back to receiver.
With Rodney Hammond taking over as the starting running back for ACC rushing title winner Israel Abanikanda this season, this offense should have some more balance to it, but only if these receivers can rapidly develop the necessary rapport with Jurkovec.
2. A post-Kancey defensive line
Calijah Kancey was an end-all, be-all force for the Panthers' defense last season and was rewarded with ACC Defensive Player of the Year and Unanimous All-American accolades because of it.
It's not like Charlie Partridge and coordinator Randy Bates have never done this before, though, as a handful of defensive linemen have gone to the NFL and have been replaced by younger talent to come before them since Partridge arrived to Pitt in 2017. Four defensive linemen have been drafted to the NFL over the last three years, but the Panthers' 199.0 sacks since 2019 are still far and away the most in Football Bowl Subdivision. The next-closest team to that is Clemson's 178.0 sacks.
Dayon Hayes has some All-ACC potential, and redshirt seniors David Green and Devin Danielson will be in charge of the middle in Bates' base 4-3 scheme. There are many up-and-coming options to monitor along the other end from Hayes, as Nahki Johnson, Nate Temple, Jimmy Scott and Bam Brima all have potential to seize the other staring spot. There is also a lot to like about the depth within the middle of that line, with Sean FitzSimmons and Elliot Donald expected to see expanded roles.
3. How good are Pitt's cornerbacks, actually?
M.J. Devonshire and Marquis Williams have the potential to be excellent within the ACC. Devonshire is also earning preseason accolades for his services as a punt returner, and rightfully so.
But, how good can they truly be as a tandem? And especially with safeties Brandon Hill and Erick Hallett moving on to the NFL?
The Panthers will oppose the three best quarterbacks within the conference this season. The Panthers' first game of ACC play Sept. 23 is against Heisman hopeful Drake Maye and North Carolina, they will host Jordan Travis and Florida State Nov. 4, and the season concludes with Riley Leonard and a rising Duke team in Durham, N.C. on Nov. 25. Not to mention, Pitt will oppose Emory Jones, an Arizona State transfer, when they play Cincinnati early in the year, and they will see former Wake Forest standout Sam Hartman when they travel to South Bend, Ind., Oct. 28 to face Notre Dame.
The competition will be tough, but Devonshire, Williams, and veteran A.J. Woods are as good of a trio as you can find throughout the ACC, and Rashad Battle and Ryland Gandy are up-and-comers who could earn some moments this season.
