PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – ‘Third time is the charm’. It’s what Pat Narduzzi said to quarterback Phil Jurkovec as the Panthers Head Coach went after him a third time and this time got him in blue and gold.
“I will give my all to the City of Pittsburgh,” Jurkovec told the Fan Morning Show on Thursday. “The City has given so much to me. This is my opportunity to be able to give back.”
Jurkovec told Colin Dunlap, Chris Mack, Dorin Dickerson and Adam Crowley his relationship with Narduzzi has been great. He noted due to ego some coaches would not have given him three opportunities. He said the first (coming out of high school) was a choice, the second-time (when leaving Notre Dame) was because he didn’t want to sit behind Kenny Pickett. It was the right time now for the Pine-Richland HS star.
“I think it was a pretty clear choice, pretty easy,” Jurkovec told 93.7 The Fan. “My relationship with Coach Cignetti having played in his offense and then to have the opportunity to play in that again. It’s a no-brainer being able to go back to Pittsburgh where I grew up. Got all my family back there, it was an easy choice.”
“Coach Narduzzi, so thankful to him for giving me an opportunity again after I did turn Pitt down.”
Narduzzi obviously has the big vote, but what really excited Jurkovec about finally accepting an offer at Pitt was to work with his old offensive coordinator again. The 6’5” QB had a solid first year with the Eagles and Cignetti before injuries limited his last two seasons.
In 2020, Jurovic threw for 2,558 yards with 17 touchdowns to five interceptions and rushed for 150 more yards and three more scores.
He said Cignetti took him from a bad place and really helped him out. Jurkovec believes the Pitt offensive coordinator knows about quarterback play because of his time in the NFL and cares about his players more than just on the football field.
“It’s NFL training,” Jurkovec told the Fan Morning Show. “It’s what the best do. The best quarterbacks in the world, it’s how they train. He’s been around it, to be able to bring that to college is very cool. I think it gives you a leg up on other guys.”
It’s assumed Jurkovec will be the starter next year. Nick Patti and Kedon Slovis are gone with only Nate Yarnell remaining who has experience. Yarnell did win his only start at Western Michigan and Pitt is adding Penn State transfer QB Christian Villeaux-who out of high school had offers from Clemson, Tennessee, UCLA and others. Jurkovec told the Fan he’s not going to assume anything and was only told he would have the chance to win the job.
“I have to go earn the spot,” Jurkovec told 93.7 The Fan. “I will have to compete. There are a lot of other good quarterbacks on the Pitt team. I’m thankful for the opportunity to go compete.”
What sets him apart from others is a trait Narduzzi alluded wanted to add to the quarterback room-leadership and fire.
“My competitiveness,” Jurkovec told The Fan Morning Show. “I want to win every time I’m out there. I think that’s the strongest trait I have and that’s what you need from a quarterback.”
He’s warned his family and friends he’s not back to party. His focus is to give his all to Pitt and work to make his dream of playing in the NFL come true. It starts with winning during his final season of college next year with the Panthers. And if he wants to lead, he knows he must earn that too.
“Pitt has some tough guys and they’re hard workers,” Jurkovec told 93.7 The Fan. “What I can do is starting right away in the morning, getting there early. Showing these guys I care, being on top of the little things and working hard.”
He set records his final year of high school. Now his career rests on his final year in college and he’s counting on being back home as the right decision.