PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said Thursday he has a good idea who is starting quarterback will be Saturday night at Virginia Tech, but he isn’t going to disclose it.
Narduzzi said Virginia Tech hasn’t said whether it will be Kyron Drones or Grant Wells starting for them, so he won’t say whether or not Phil Jurkovec is healthy enough after suffering an upper-body injury following a targeting by North Carolina just before halftime last Saturday. If not Jurkovec, it will be Christian Veilleux, although Narduzzi made it a point to say he likes third-stringer Nate Yarnell as well.
‘Really solid’ is how Narduzzi described Jurkovec in the first half against the Tar Heels before he left with that injury. The sixth-year senior was 11-15 for 109 yards, 29 yards gained rushing (before sacks reduced it to five yards total). Also, no turnovers and 17 first-half points.
“He made good decisions with the football, that’s the first thing,” Narduzzi said of Jurkovec. “It’s about decision-making. He was on target more. I think he was a little more comfortable, for whatever reason. He was more comfortable.”
Veilleux played the entire second half against UNC, his first snaps as a Pitt Panther. The Penn State transfer was 7 of 18 for 85 yards and a pair of interceptions (although Narduzzi said Monday one of them was the receiver’s fault).
“I think there is a lot,” Narduzzi said of what Veilleux can learn. “I think when you get your first action of ’23, you learn a lot. He’s got to get in the right checks, which he didn’t all the time. There are some different alerts he needs to be aware of, that he needs to do what we want him to do, not do his own thing back there.”
The Hokies have started Baylor transfer Kyron Drones the last couple of games. The 6’2”, 234-pounder has completed 54% of his passes for 390 yards with a touchdown and a pick. He’s been more effective as a runner, 41 carries for 164 yards and a pair of scores. Fifth-year senior Grant Wells is a Marshall transfer and played against Pitt last year going 25-47 for 277 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Narduzzi said both will run, although Drones is much more physical.
White effect
Virginia Tech is holding a ‘White Effect’ night, where fans are encouraged to wear white Saturday night.
“Bring all of that stuff on, our kids will be excited to play in that atmosphere,” Narduzzi said.
Kickoff is at 8p with Panthers pregame starting at 5p on 93.7 The Fan with Bob Pompeani, Dorin Dickerson and Paul Zeise. Larry Richert hosts network pregame starting at 6p.