PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett said it was a win-win for him to either come back or enter the NFL Draft. He said it was a really close decision, but he's excited to be back with his team for what he called a 'final-final season' as the Panthers start spring workouts Sunday.
"I feel like a lot of people rushed the decision," Pickett said of whether or not to use the free season granted by the NCAA due to coronavirus. "I just fielded information from a lot of people around the NFL and college. Took it all in."
"At then end of the day it was just a broad spectrum of where I could potentially be drafted. I think more highly of myself than where I was projected. As a competitor it's just fuels the fire for this season. I've been working really hard with these guys. Everyone has been putting a lot of work in."
Like Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger losing center Maurkice Pouncey to retirement, Pickett did lose his long-time center Jimmy Morrissey who entered the draft. Pickett said Morrissey is one of his closest friends and he attempted to get him to stay.
"Owen Drexel stepped up big this winter," Pickett said of his new center. "I've played with this offensive line for a couple of years (minus Morrissey and Bryce Hargrove). We have two big holes to fill, but I think Marcus (Maryland guard transfer Marcus Minor) coming in was huge. Carter (Warren) and Gabe (Houy) having a lot of experience and Matt Goncalves and Jake Kradel."
"We have a lot of pieces now. I'm anxious to see these guys compete."
Pickett said most of his teammates thought he was going to leave. There was one must-have though for the New Jersey native.
"Coach Whipple is like family to me," Pickett said. "He was a huge influence as to why I came back. If he wasn't coming back here, I wouldn't have come back."
"There is a lot of unfinished business. We are really excited to work together for one final year and go out with a bang that we think we can."
The next step in the process begins on Sunday with spring practice and the plan to have three closed scrimmages at Heinz Field and a Spring Game at Heinz in April. The initial talk is to include fans.
"We got a lot of weapons," Pickett said. "I'm excited to go out there the first day and let it fly and see what we have."
