#H2P... PITT IS IT! - A Pitt Panthers Dynasty (NCAA 14)

[young22]

What a game! That dime from Kirk to Lees at the end, wow what a throw. CJ is starting to look like my guy BJ Henderson haha, what a player he looks to be. Maybe I'll create Kirk as one of the top recruits next season in my thread. To go right from Kenny to CJ is a massive stroke of luck, I didn't think he'd be this good this early.

Hopefully my guy Reese transfers out somewhere he'll play, cause this is Kirk's team now.

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[Careless Whisper]

CAPTAIN [BLEEP]ING KIRK. As young said, what a dime to Lees on the game-winning drive and just a dynamite fourth quarter overall. Game absolutely lived up to the hype, and that chase-down tackle at the eight-minute mark was the biggest play of the game in my mind. Really promising that you can take every shot that dynamic UCLA offense gives to you, and still walk away with a comeback win!

[Deuce2223]

Huge win. Could be considered one of the Top-5 wins of this dynasty so far cause it could very well be the resume builder you need to get into the playoffs with 1 loss this season.


Was good to see the other WR's step up and have big games. The talent has been there, but like you said they just have lived in Keyes shadow for so long it's like they forgot how good they could be.

[dfsJunkie]

Unbelievable game! Huge resume building win

[moose141]

Quote: Originally Posted by dfsJunkie

Unbelievable game! Huge resume building win

Definitely! Though things don't get any easier with the Virginia Tech marchup looming next week.

Quote: Originally Posted by Deuce2223

Huge win. Could be considered one of the Top-5 wins of this dynasty so far cause it could very well be the resume builder you need to get into the playoffs with 1 loss this season. Was good to see the other WR's step up and have big games. The talent has been there, but like you said they just have lived in Keyes shadow for so long it's like they forgot how good they could be.

Definitely was an instant classic! I will have to look back maybe at the end of this season and maybe put together a Top 10 of the greatest games in this dynasty so far! Maybe do a Top 10 greatest games overall and then a Top 10 wins for the Panthers. Would be a great way to bring in some people who maybe weren't here for the start of this dynasty way back when!

Like you said, it was huge that some guys other than started making big plays today. It's been very hit or miss for Kirk so far this season because I feel like no one other than Keyes had really done a good job of making themselves available, which has forced CJ into some bad throws into tight coverages that have caused some INTs. Hopefully these guys can gain some confidence and continue to provide options that will not only help CJ but free up Keyes as well.

Quote: Originally Posted by young22

What a game! That dime from Kirk to Lees at the end, wow what a throw. CJ is starting to look like my guy BJ Henderson haha, what a player he looks to be. Maybe I'll create Kirk as one of the top recruits next season in my thread. To go right from Kenny to CJ is a massive stroke of luck, I didn't think he'd be this good this early. Hopefully my guy Reese transfers out somewhere he'll play, cause this is Kirk's team now.

For sure, definitely one of the best throws he has made this season and a play that looks to be his bread and butter, quite honestly! CJ has been a monster, and so I hope that by his junior season he is cutting back on the turnovers and really playing efficiently like BJ. I don't know that I'll ever have him put up the running stats like BJ, but that really just luck due to my team currently looking so solid and having those other running options which BJ is lacking at the moment. I knew CJ had potential, but you are absolutely right that I thought this year would be Acey's time to be a solid contributor and that CJ would be more of a Wildcat package guy who would maybe try to steal the job as a sophomore. Oh, how things have changed!

As for Reese, he's been the ultimate team guy so far, sitting behind Kenny for three years and now taking a backseat to CJ as he explodes onto the scene. He's for sure going to continue to be a team player all season as that's his character, but I think it's almost a sure thing that unless something cataclysmic happens that costs CJ his job that Reese will try and raise his NFL stock as a grad transfer next season.

Quote: Originally Posted by Careless Whisper

CAPTAIN [BLEEP]ING KIRK. As young said, what a dime to Lees on the game-winning drive and just a dynamite fourth quarter overall. Game absolutely lived up to the hype, and that chase-down tackle at the eight-minute mark was the biggest play of the game in my mind. Really promising that you can take every shot that dynamic UCLA offense gives to you, and still walk away with a comeback win!

Right?! Those throws were unbelievable. He's really made a few nice sideline throws this season, I can think of a couple to the right sideline to Ogden against Temple and then another to Keyes, and then he's hit Lees at least one other time on that left side corner route. That seems to be where Kirk throws his best ball, and we need to utilize that, especially to cut down on the picks over the middle of the field!

You're absolutely right about that chase down tackle being gigantic. If Whaley doesn't burn down the field to bring the man down and they score, we're back down by 3 scores and probably demoralized and out of that game. Instead, we hold them to a field goal and the comeback was on!

Definitely a game that we were expecting to be in, but after the way it started I was just going to be happy with us giving them a contest. With that crazy win, who knows how the stage is set for the rest of the season.

[moose141]

Around the NCAA: Week 7
Report by Matt Schmidlin | October 11, 2021



Top Storylines

Not in the Cards -- Despite playing against a Louisville squad that was fielding their backup QB, Clemson nearly suffered a scare as the Cardinals forced them into overtime. However, the Tigers were able to prevail, 37-34, in double OT thanks to an Anthony Riggs touchdown scamper.

Fly Like an Eagle -- One of the early surprises of the 2021 season has been the play of Boston College, and the Eagles escaped against a struggling Virginia team with a fourth quarter field goal that pushed the unbeaten Eagles to a 26-24 win and a 5-0 start.

Huskies Make a Statement -- Washington QB Casey Pearson had his best game as a Husky and put all QB controversy to bed, as the senior threw for 390 yards and 3 totals TDs in a 48-12 rout of the Cardinal in Seattle.

Finally Michigan Men Shining -- Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is a former Wolverine star QB who hasn't had one in his tenure as head coach. He's certainly found one in Steve Tate, and the Wolverines have rolled to a 5-0 start because of it. Tate threw for 483 yards and 7 scores in a dominating 56-37 win over Maryland to thrust his name firmly in the Heisman conversation.

Crisis Averted in Oxford -- #1 Ole Miss found themselves on the brink of disaster, taken to double overtime against a winless Auburn squad. However, the Rebels found that winning gear yet again, capping off a dramatic 55-52 victory that saw them tie the contest to force overtime with a scoring run as just 2 seconds remained on the game clock in regulation.

Williams Doing Wonders for Georgia -- In maybe the craziest story of the weekend, Georgia turned to a junior tight end to lead them at QB as they knocked off Mizzou, 45-24. With both starter Karter Ford and backup Mark Busch injured, Keith Williams, who hasn't played QB since high school, took the helm for the Bulldogs and put up 327 totals yards of offense and 4 TDs in victory. What to hear something ever wilder? The opposing quarterback that the Dawgs beat: former Georgia QB and grad transfer Jack Nicholson.

Week Eight -- Marquee Matchups

#6 Pitt (5-1) @ #8 Virginia Tech (5-0) -- College Gameday Game of the Week
#13 UCLA (4-2) @ #20 Oregon State (4-1)
#12 Cincinnati (4-0) @ Navy (3-1)
Arkansas (5-2) @ #14 Alabama (4-2)
#24 Iowa State (5-0) @ #3 Houston (5-0)
#15 Stanford (5-1) @ #22 Notre Dame (4-2)

[moose141]

Panther Paws: Panthers Double Class After UCLA Win
Report by Matt Schmidlin | October 13, 2021



Following a jaw-dropping come from behind victory over UCLA, Pat Narduzzi and the Pitt Panthers continue to ride high after a whopping SIX players committed to Pitt over the course of the past week. The new additions double the size of Pitt's current class of 2022 from 6 recruits to 12.

Let's take a look at all six new additions to Pitt's current crop of recruits.



With both Calvin Carlson and Phil Moore set to graduate, Pitt will need to add depth at the middle linebacker position. After securing JuCo backer Eddie Jones, the Panthers nabbed another MLB in Reading, OH-native David Davis. Davis (6'2", 237 lbs, 3*) is the nation's #29 MLB prospect and should compete with Jones for playing time right from the get-go. Davis is a player who does everything right, but doesn't have any trait that significantly stands out above the rest. He's a sure tackler who can make plays both in run support and in coverage, but he won't blow you out of the water with his physical tools by any means.



Possibly the most exciting player in this group of commits is Langley Park, MD-native Roger Mobley. Mobley (6'0", 172, 4*) is the nation's #23 ATH prospect and could fit into any number of slots on the Panthers' roster. Mobley has featured on both sides of the ball at St. John's HS, looking equally competent in both the defensive secondary as well as at the wide receiver position. This guy just loves to be around the football, so he could be a player that is too dynamic for the Panthers to keep off of the field right off the bat, meaning Narduzzi could use him as a slash player at WR/DB. Interestingly, the main school the Panthers beat out to sign Mobley was UCLA, meaning that stunning victory may have been a significant factor in his commitment.



Another secondary signing is Tommy Howard, currently the #26-ranked FS prospect out of Girard, OH. Howard (6'0", 211 lbs, 3*) will add depth to a secondary that will be losing starting FS Jakob Lochlan to graduation this offseason. With a few talented players waiting in the wings like TC Colvin (signed last season), Howard will likely have time to develop before seeing significant playtime.



Isaac Carter (6'6", 310 lbs, 4*) carries a big pedigree as the nation's #15 OT prospect, but the Oakwood, OH-native will have plenty of time to refine his talents as Pitt should boast a veteran offensive line against next season. Carter does have the size to be an impact tackle, but his run blocking has been exposed against stronger competition in his senior season.



Pitt seems to be reinforcing their Maryland pipeline this offseason, securing their third signing from the Old Line State in DT Randy Miller (6'1", 278 lbs, 4*). The Perry Hall, MD-native is the country's #15 DT prospect and chose Pitt over offers from Penn State and Oregon. With Pitt fairly thin at DT besides Malachi Bordeaux and Ryan Jacobs, Miller could be an immediate contributor, especially on early downs as he and Jacobs would form a formidable run stopping tandem in the trenches.



With long snapper Bandino Mo finally set to graduate this offseason, Pitt targeted Joe Weber, a teammate of David Davis for Reading HS in Ohio. Is he any good? Who knows, but Pitt has done well with long snappers in the past so expect the same from Weber.

Narduzzi hasn't gotten every commit on his wishlist, as OLB Matt Petty chose to stay in Maryland and commit to the US Naval Academy, and Florida speedster Aaron Jean will add to the incredible receiver pipeline at SMU, though his hands are a bit of a project.

[moose141]

Kirk Boldly Going Where No Pitt Freshman QB Has Gone
Report by Matt Schmidlin | October 14, 2021



Following his impressive start to his collegiate career, Pitt freshman QB CJ Kirk has affectionately received the nickname "Captain Kirk" from hordes of fans on Twitter. After leading the Panthers to a come from behind victory over UCLA this past weekend, the Tyler, TX-native continues to "boldly go" where very few Panther freshmen have gone before.

In leading the Panthers to a 5-1 start and #6 national ranking, Kirk has provided excitement from a freshman quarterback that Panther fans have not seen since the legendary Dan Marino in 1979. Kenny Pickett's freshman debut could get an honorable mention, but the Panther legend only appeared for a single half in Pitt's bowl loss to Texas A&M in 2017, though he did electrify the crowd in Pitt's narrow loss.

Kirk's performance has been much more impressive, notably because of his ability to wrestle away the starting job from junior Acey Reese, who was expected to be next in line following Pickett's graduation. However, Reese's struggles against Tennessee and Temple opened the door, and Kirk blasted it wide open.

While the Panthers have kept winning, Kirk's performance against UCLA was a microcosm of his season so far. The freshman thrilled the home crowd with sensational running ability and some remarkable throws, most notably a sideline dime to Paul Lees on the game-winning drive. However, Kirk was plagued by turnovers, with a pair of interceptions and a fumble that helped UCLA put points on the board. However, Kirk and the Panthers emerged victorious thanks to a dramatic last minute touchdown drive, and the freshman was rewarded with ACC Player of the Week honors after racking up 367 air yards and a trio of TDs while also racking up 67 yards on the ground and another score.

The 367 air yards were a record for a Pitt freshman QB, narrowly besting the 366 put up in 1989 by Alex Van Pelt, Pitt's all-time leader in passing yards.

"CJ's been incredibly impressive for such a young player," Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said. "We knew how talented he was when he joined the program, and so it's really come as no surprise to us. He's had some mistakes that we want to clean up as he gets more experience, but the kid is so fearless out there that he doesn't let it bother him. He just comes right back and makes big plays for our football team."

The one question raised by Kirk's success is what's next for Reese, who waited patiently behind Pickett for three years before losing the starting job just two weeks into the 2021 season. He did feature briefly against UCLA when Kirk was being checked for an injury, and continues to remain supportive to the rest of his teammates by all accounts. However, in the age of the graduate transfer QB, it would seem likely that Reese would try his luck elsewhere for his senior season, barring any unforeseen circumstances at Pitt. The former four-star recruit would likely have his pick of potential landing spots in 2022.

Regardless, CJ Kirk continues to make his mark on the Pitt program just six games into his young career in the Steel City.