This college football offseason, we saw a flurry of quarterbacks transfer from one major program to another. Now we’re starting to see those moves pay off as many of them are earning the starting job at their new schools, which is exactly what happened for Kedon Slovis at Pitt.
Slovis, who threw for 7,576 yards, 58 TDs, and 24 interceptions while with the USC Trojans, transferred to Pittsburgh in December in an attempt to replace Kenny Pickett and build his NFL Draft profile back up.
“USC will always be a special place to me,” Slovis wrote in an announcement post in December. “But now it’s time for me to start a new chapter. For my next two years of eligibility, I’ll be playing quarterback at the University of Pittsburgh.”
Wednesday, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi officially announced that Slovis will be the Panthers’ starting quarterback this season.
Pat Narduzzi names Kedon Slovis as Pitt's starting QB for the Backyard Brawl.#H2P » #BeatWVU pic.twitter.com/i1bqSqorcY
— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) August 24, 2022
Slovis will get quite the debut as Pitt’s quarterback. The Panthers will host rival West Virginia for the Backyard Brawl with ESPN’s College GameDay crew on hand to hype it up.
OFFICIAL: @CollegeGameDay is coming to the Backyard Brawl.
See you on Sept. 1 in Pittsburgh!#H2P » #BeatWVU pic.twitter.com/gfwXhMnret
— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) July 21, 2022
Slovis has also been named to the preseason watch list for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which goes to the nation’s top senior/upperclassman quarterback.
Pitt has a lot to live up to this season as they’re coming off an ACC title and a Peach Bowl berth. But if Slovis can live up to the hype, then his transfer decision will pay off. In the meantime, the college football world had some strong reactions to the news.
We now know who QB1 will be for #Pitt when they take the field next week for the return of the #BackyardBrawl. https://t.co/rSjunuYxrP
— Jim Madalinsky (@JMadPGH) August 24, 2022
A Graham Harrell disciple gets the nod for the #BackyardBrawl https://t.co/Msh4plXxhu
— Anjelica Trinone (@AnjelicaTrinone) August 24, 2022
Not shocking.
I have a hunch the WVU announcement won't be shocking, either. https://t.co/Ywp86kN7A0
— Nick Farrell (@ByNickFarrell) August 24, 2022
As expected, former USC quarterback Kedon Slovis has won Pitt's QB job. He will face his former OC (Graham Harrell) and teammate JT Daniels in the opener in what should be a very entertaining Backyard Brawl.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) August 24, 2022
Slovis has better odds to win the Heisman than Cam Rising which is wild to me https://t.co/XwsyLKNqRp
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) August 24, 2022
At least three former USC QBs will be starting. https://t.co/Lq1UIjbAZY
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) August 24, 2022
[Pitt]
