The reigniting of the Backyard Brawl is approaching. Pitt against West Virginia at Acrisure Stadium. Thursday night.
That got a pair of 93.7 The Fan personalities thinking. If you were to put together All-21st Century Teams from Pitt and WVU, who wins?
So Joe Starkey (WVU) and Josh Rowntree (Pitt) dove into it. And here are the results.
We welcome fan voting to determine the outcome.
SEE JOE STARKEY’S WVU TEAM HERE.
PITT
By Josh Rowntree
MISSION STATEMENT: Let’s face it, Starkey’s WVU team doesn’t stand a chance here. Sure, WVU had some successful teams, oh, 15 years ago, but Pitt’s overall talent level is off the charts. Numerous All-Americans and NFL All-Pro’s just litter my list. This team has arguably the best defensive player and best cornerback to every walk the planet on it. And, on offense, it’s loaded with skill position legends and a preetttty good QB, too. Joe’s arrogance will get the best of him. He won’t even pick a third wide receiver because he believes his team good enough with just two. HA! Cook and Joe? With this team, it looks like I’m going to be… cooking Joe.
Here they are, your All-21st Century Pitt Panthers…
COACH - Pat Narduzzi: There are some good options here. Dave Wannstedt is an obvious one. Walt Harris another. But I’ll stick with the current coach, Narduzzi, who is coming off an ACC title, has won two Coastal Division titles in four years, and has Pitt ranked in the top 25 currently. Narduzzi has provided needed stability for Pitt’s program, and has the Panthers trending in a very promising direction for years to come.
OFFENSE
QB - Kenny Pickett: A Heisman Trophy finalist. A winner. A program changer. The ACC Player of the Year and the conference’s Male Athlete of the Year, Pickett finished with the most passing yards in Pitt history and took the Panthers to an ACC title last season. He was then selected in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Steelers. Pickett’s poise and accuracy would lead to a dismantling of WVU’s defense.
RB - LeSean McCoy: A second team All-American with the Panthers who became a Pitt legend. “Shady” and the Panthers were nearly hosed by the refs in the 13-9 game with some phantom penalty calls. Regardless, he still racked up 148 yards on 38(!) carries. He went on to be a two-time first team NFL All-Pro and is 22nd all-time in NFL rushing history.
RB - James Conner: A two-time first team All-ACC selection. A cancer survivor. Conner finished with the second-most rushing yards in Pitt history, trailing only the GOAT, Tony Dorsett. He has since gone on to become a two-time NFL Pro Bowler. Against WVU? Making the defense chase around Shady and then deal with a bruiser like Conner? Good luck.
FB - Henry Hynoski: He will just knock someone’s head off the first chance he gets. He was a Super Bowl champ with the Giants, and a definite Pitt fan favorite for his rugged play on the field.
WR - Larry Fitzgerald: A Heisman finalist. A Biletnikoff Award Winner. A Unanimous All-American. Fitz has the most receiving yards in a single season Pitt history. His 2003 season at Pitt, in which he racked up 1,672 yards and 22 touchdowns, is one of the most spectacular campaigns in NCAA history. He went on to be an 11-time Pro Bowler in the NFL and a first team All-Pro. He is also a member of NFL’s 100th anniversary All-Time Team.
WR - Tyler Boyd: The pride of Clairton became a two-time first team All-ACC selection with the Panthers. He holds the record for the most career receptions in Pitt history, and always had a knack for the dramatic catch. He’s gone on to have two 1,000-yard seasons with Bengals and reached the Super Bowl last year.
WR - Antonio Bryant: Another Biletnikoff Award Winner. Another consensus All-American. He had three different 200-yard receiving games while at Pitt and has the second-most receiving yards Pitt history. He went on to be a second-round draft pick in the NFL. He was named to the PFWA NFL All-Rookie team and was the recipient of the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award, as well. How could WVU slow this offense down?
TE - Dorin Dickerson : Dorin was an All-American in 2009. Known for his exceptional speed and versatility, he ran a 4.40 40-yard dash and played in NFL for six years. He is also a member of the Fan Morning Show, so I believe I’m contractually obligated to put him on this list. He is also capable of running a wildcat package, and will be incredibly motivated due to recent comments made by WVU super fan and Morning Show producer Adam Crowley.
OT - Brian O’Neill: A fIrst team All-ACC pick in 2017. A Piesman Trophy Winner, for crying out loud! O’Neill made 37 consecutive starts at Pitt and was a second-round draft pick in Minnesota. He was a Pro Bowler in 2021 after signing a five-year, $92.5 million deal.
OT - Jeff Otah: An absolute mammoth at 6-foot-6, 330 pounds, Otah was a first team All-Big East pick in 2007. After being taken in the first round, his NFL career fizzled out due to injuries. But, at his best, he was one of the best linemen Pitt has ever seen.
C - Jimmy Morrissey: A Burlsworth Trophy winner. A first, second and third team All-ACC selection. The heart of Pitt’s offensive line and a player who will have immaculate chemistry with Pickett. Became a seventh-round pick of the Raiders and is currently with the Houston Texans.
G - Dorian Johnson: Johnson, the Belle Vernon native, was a first team All-American in 2016. He went on to get drafted in fourth round, 115th overall, by Arizona. It didn’t work out for Johnson in the pros, but he was really impressive in his college days with the Panthers.
G - Mike McGlynn: McGlynn was, impressively, a four-year starter at tackle for Pitt. He moved to guard in the NFL and had an eight-year career in league, starting 61 career games.
DEFENSE
DE - Patrick Jones II: Jones was an absolute beast. A consensus first team All-American and first team All-ACC selection. Over his last two seasons at Pitt, he racked up 24 sacks. He ended up being selected in the third round by Minnesota and is entering his second season with the Vikings.
DE - Jabaal Sheard: The Big East’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2010, Sheard was a force up front for Pitt, and a trend setter for what has become a factory of defensive line talent. He was taken in the second round by Cleveland in 2011 and has had a nice NFL career, with 53 sacks and 407 tackles with six different teams.
DT - Aaron Donald: Not sure I even need to write anything here. Arguably the most dominant defensive force in NFL history, Donald is a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and a seven-time first team All-Pro. At Pitt, he was a unanimous All-American, and won the Willis, Nagursky and Outland trophies, as well as the Badnarik and Lombardi Awards. He is going to eat alive any WVU lineman Starkey selects.
DT - Jaylen Twyman: Twyman ended up sitting out his final season at Pitt (the COVID year), and it might have cost him, as he slipped from a projected first-rounder to the sixth round in 2021. But with the Panthers, he was a monster. He was selected first team All-ACC in 2019, racking up 10.5 sacks after changing his jersey number to 97, a tip of the cap to Donald.
LB - Clint Session: Session finished his Pitt career with 259 tackles, 2.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles, and three interceptions. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft and played five years in the league with the Colts and Jaguars.
LB - HB Blades: This guy was so much fun to watch. He racked up over 400 tackles while at Pitt and was a first team All-American, the Big East Defensive Player of the Year and a three-time first team All-Big East pick, as well. He was taken in the sixth round by Washington, and played four years in the NFL.
LB - Scott McKillop: One of the heroes of the 13-9 game, McKillop is the emotional leader of this defense. The 2009 Big East Defensive Player of the Year and All-American left Pitt as one of the best tacklers in school history. He was drafted in the fifth round by San Francisco, and played four years with the 49ers and Bills.
S - Jordan Whitehead: A heavy hitter and ball hawk who has gone on to become a Super Bowl champ in Tampa. The Central Valley grad was the ACC Rookie of the Year and a second-team All-ACC pick. He is now with the Jets, and has racked up 292 tackles and five interceptions in his career.
S - Damar Hamlin: He has yet to really establish himself in the NFL, but Hamlin’s leadership at Pitt was exceptional. The Central Catholic grad was second-team All-ACC as a senior. Over his final two years with the Panthers, he had 151 tackles and broke up 17 passes.
CB - Darrelle Revis: An Island. One of the greatest corners in NFL history. The Aliquippa native was a two-time first team All-Big East pick and went on to become a four-time All-Pro in the NFL. He made seven Pro Bowls. He will also be used as a punt returner, and will probably throw a spin move at some WVU special teamer, twisting him into the turf… again.
CB - Shawntae Spencer: There were a number of good options to place opposite Revis, like Torrie Cox, Hank Poteat or Avonte Maddox. But I’ll go with the Woodland Hills grad Spencer, who racked up 348 tackles and 11 interceptions over 8 years in the NFL. He was a second-round pick coming out of Pitt, where he was the Big East’s co-Defensive Player of the Year.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K - Alex Kessman: A tough call between him and Chris Blewitt. But Kessman’s leg was incredible. He made over 12 field goals from 50-plus yards and is the NCAA all-time leader in field goals over 50. I don’t expect Pitt’s offense to get stopped much — if at all — but just in case, Kessman will be ready.
P - Andy Lee: Lee ended up becoming one of the best punters in the NFL’s modern era. He was a four-time All-Pro and was an All-American for Pitt in 2003. Lee is the Pitt all-time leader in punts and yards and is the only player to ever be named the Big East Special Teams Player of the Year twice. He might not see the field, except to hold extra points for Kessman.
MORAL OF THE STORY: This team would not only pummel WVU’s, but would legitimately rival any All-21st Century team for any school in the country. If they played 100 times, this Pitt team would win 99 of them. As tempted as I am to say that Pitt would win 13-9, it would in reality be far more lopsided. I’ll be nice, and go with 31-10, which just so happens to be Kenny Pickett’s prediction for Thursday’s Backyard Brawl.