ACC Football: Each team’s top Heisman Trophy candidate for 2019
Pittsburgh: Kenny Pickett, QB
After starting four games as a true freshman in 2017, and playing well, Kenny Pickett got to go through his first full campaign as the Panthers’ quarterback. He was solid, throwing for 1,969 yards and twelve touchdowns. Those numbers don’t leap off the page, but Pickett was very smart with the football. He threw only six picks, and finished with a QBR of 120.3.
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It was the Wake Forest game in week 11 that showed his high-end potential. In that game he completed 76.7 percent of his attempts, and finished with 316 yards and three touchdowns.
The influence of new offensive coordinator Mark Whipple should be a big asset for Pickett. Whipple spent time in the NFL, with the Eagles, Steelers, and Browns. In his last two seasons at UMass, Whipple’s offenses averaged 30-plus points per game.
In 2019, the evolution of Pickett will be pivotal to the Panthers. If he has grown into a passer that is still smart, but more willing to take chances downfield, he could have a big year. If he remains as conservative as he was in 2018, the ceiling is limited.