PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – To be clear, it's not that Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said 'Phil Jurkovec is our starting quarterback'. The veteran coach put it this way.
"Phil has been outstanding, like we thought" Narduzzi said Tuesday. "We've seen a lot of good things in practice. I think right now Christian (Veilleux) and Nate (Yarnell) and Ty (Dieffenbach) has done some really nice things. They are in a battle for the number two spot. We will just keep evaluating. That is something that will go into the summer."
It not overly surprising, when a five-star recruit returns home after showing, when healthy, he can play in the ACC. Most expected Jurkovec to start, this is just the first time Narduzzi has put it this way as Jurkovec separating himself from the others.
The former Pine-Richland, record-setter would only say about the situation that he is out there competing every day.
While is head coach praised him, there are areas Jurkovec is still figuring out. He's played now in a pair of scrimmages and the defense has won both of them.
"The defense is throwing a lot at us at times," Jurkovec said. "It can be frustrating. It's Spring ball. We know it's practice and we have to work the techniques and get better."
There is a lot of fundamental work right now-footwork for he and the receivers and detailing the routes for the players he will throw the ball to this year. He said freshman Isaiah Polk has stood out in drills, same with another early enrollee, tailback TJ Harvison.
Even though he was coached by Pitt offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti when he held the same job at Boston College, Jurkovec is leaning on the players who were in the system last year for a good refresher. They've also been able to show him what they like in the offense and it's helped their relationship grow.
"I think we've connected on a lot of plays in the Spring," Jurkovec said. "Our defense is going to take away certain plays, so we try to get that (work) in individual periods. Every time we are out there in team, the receivers are making plays."
Three of the four quarterbacks are trying to learn their way through a new offense and new teammates. Jurkovec knows QBs assume a leadership role and he picks his spots when to assert himself verbally.
"I think pretty good," Jurkovec said of learning his teammates. "I'm still getting to know everybody. Being out on the field is a little different, that way is better. Being able to lead the offense and lead the huddle, that's been fun."
Jurkovec hasn't really been able to show a part of his game. It's an advantage for quarterbacks to wear non-contact jerseys and coaches telling the defense all the time to not touch them. The downside is when Jurkovec, who has 568 career yards rushing (remember sacks count against a QBs rush stats) and nine touchdowns, scrambles, he doesn't get far before the play is blown dead.
April 15 he will get to show the fans what he can do as a Pitt quarterback in his only ever Blue-Gold Game. It's been a long wait since Jurkovec committed to Notre Dame in high school to now.
"It's going to be exciting," Jurkovec said. "I just want to run the offense. I know we are going to keep it basic. Score touchdowns and complete the ball."
