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Illinois quarterback Jeff George Jr. throws a pass as he is pressured by South Florida cornerback Mazzi Wilkins during the fourth quarter of a game last September.
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Next stop for quarterback Jeff George Jr. looks to be Pitt

Chris O'Meara/AP

Next stop for quarterback Jeff George Jr. looks to be Pitt

Jeff George Jr. vs. Vincent Testaverde next weekend at Heinz Field — what is this, 1997?

OK, so the newest quarterback at Pitt won’t be unseating Kenny Pickett as the starter against Albany’s own NFL son in the season opener. But George — son of former NFL journeyman Jeff George, No. 1 pick in the 1990 draft — apparently has enrolled at Pitt after transferring from Michigan. The Wolverine Lounge, a Michigan blog, reported Friday night George’s intention to come to Pitt. There’s also a Jeffrey George listed as a registered student on Pitt’s website.

It’s a strange situation, as George had been at his father’s alma mater, Illinois, since 2015 but announced in June he was headed for Michigan. At Pitt, classes start this week and training camp is now in the rear-view mirror for the Panthers, who already have seven quarterbacks rostered. George started five games last year for Illinois, completing 94 of 181 passes for 1,273 yards and seven touchdowns to 10 interceptions. He also started four games the year before, throwing for 470 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions on 38-of-94 passing.

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A 6-foot-3 native of Indianapolis, George was a redshirt sophomore last year and should have two more seasons to play. He would’ve been immediately eligible at Michigan after graduating from Illinois, but it’s unclear if he’ll be eligible this season at Pitt. George, who didn’t respond to a message Saturday morning, figures to be a walk-on, as Pitt is at the scholarship limit. Redshirt senior wide receiver Kellen McAlone was awarded the 85th spot Saturday after lettering the past three years on special teams.

Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi pats walk-on freshman quarterback Justin Sliwoski on the head during stretching at practice Aug. 15, 2018 on the South Side.
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“D-1 College football has 120+programs .awards a total of 10,200 full scholarships...walk-ons are measured by perseverance & performance ..less than 1% are ever awarded,” McAlone’s father, Michael, proudly posted on Twitter.

As for George, he was a two-star recruit out of high school, but was in and out of the lineup at Illinois before deciding to leave in January. Michigan, though, named Mississippi transfer Shea Patterson its starting quarterback last week, ending George’s latest competition for playing time.

That’s not to say George has much chance of supplanting Pickett, but perhaps the Pitt coaches view him as an upgrade as the backup over junior-college transfer Ricky Town and freshman Nick Patti. There are also four walk-ons currently in the quarterback room, so from the outside, a football marriage between George and Pitt would seem to be an odd one. But coach Pat Narduzzi is never shy about adding graduate transfers, especially at the most important position, where Nathan Peterman and Max Browne started 28 consecutive games for Pitt over three seasons.

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Brian Batko: bbatko@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrianBatko.

First Published: August 25, 2018, 9:39 p.m.

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Illinois quarterback Jeff George Jr. throws a pass as he is pressured by South Florida cornerback Mazzi Wilkins during the fourth quarter of a game last September.  (Chris O'Meara/AP)
Chris O'Meara/AP
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