Jordan Addison spun out of a second tackle attempt and had eyes on the end zone.
“I could see the alley from across the field,” Addison said, recalling a 47-yard touchdown against New Hampshire in which he shook free from defenders at the 25-yard line. “I used my speed, trusted my blockers on that side. ... and I just kept going.”
Addison’s second of three scores in Pitt’s 77-7 romp of the Wildcats was a doozy. Kenny Pickett described it as a “high school play.” As in, a superior athlete showcasing why he’s a class above an entire team. And with all due respect to New Hampshire, that’s what Addison did all day en route to 179 receiving yards.
New Hampshire’s secondary shouldn’t feel too bad, though. Addison has confirmed his 2020 freshman All-American campaign was no fluke, putting up stats in line with college football’s most prolific pass catchers.
No one in the country has more receiving touchdowns than Addison’s eight. LSU’s Kayshon Boutte and Fresno State’s Jalen Cropper also have eight, to their credit. But no one has nine touchdowns — and no one has six in their last two games, either.
Addison has made catching 23 balls for 407 yards — and securing eight receptions of 20-plus yards, as many as he had in 2020 — look easy through four weeks. Which makes sense given the opposition.
UMass is bad. Tennessee isn’t good. Western Michigan’s secondary is leaky (just not as leaky as Pitt’s when the two teams played). And New Hampshire was clearly overmatched, allowing Addison catches of 47, 47, 46 and 24 yards.
But that shouldn’t take away from Addison’s hot start and the wavelength him and Pickett are on. It should only increase the expectations for when Pitt enters conference play, when the talent rises and the defensive minds try to scheme him out of the game.
Fortunately for Addison, corner-safety double coverage might be tougher to pull off with Pitt’s stable of receivers from Taysir Mack to Jared Wayne to Jaylon Barden. Add in 6-foot-6 tight end Lucas Krull galloping across the middle of the field, and Addison could continue to have one-on-one coverage as the Panthers progress into October.
And if that’s the case?
“Every time I’ve got a deep ball, (Pickett) just tells me, ‘Run as fast as you can. They can’t run with you.’ And he puts it there every time. He puts it right on the money,” Addison said. “You can see the chemistry that we both have. Every time we make that eye contact, put your hands up. Touchdown.”
Freshman watch
Last season was a freebie for every college football player after the NCAA enacted an eligibility waiver due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But this year, the four-game redshirt rule once again applies — which matters for Pitt’s true freshmen.
Seven 2021 signees played Saturday. Tight end Gavin Bartholomew and safety P.J. O’Brien played in their fourth game. Running back Rodney Hammond and offensive lineman Terrence Moore made their third appearance. Defensive end Nahki Johnson and receiver Jaden Bradley saw the field a second time. And Elliot Donald debuted.
Overall, eight true freshmen have played this season for Pitt with defensive back Noah Biglow appearing against UMass.
At this point, it’s clear Bartholomew, Hammond, Moore and O’Brien will play more than four games. Pat Narduzzi said Bartholomew, the team’s second tight end who had three catches for 48 yards against New Hampshire, will be a “force in the conference.” Moore and O’Brien have carved out roles on special teams. And Hammond led the ground game statistically on Saturday with 100 yards and three touchdowns.
“Rodney’s got some juice,” Pickett said postgame. “He gets his pads low. He’s tough to bring down. He’s great after contact. I know the O-line loves him because he hits the hole hard. ... We really wanted to get him some touches today early in the season to get him some confidence, get his feet. I’m proud of him. He works hard.”
Switch up front
In the absence of an injured Owen Drexel, the Panthers’ starting line had a new look.
Jake Kradel, Pitt’s 18-game starter at right guard, took Drexel’s place at center. Right tackle Gabe Houy slid inside to right guard. And backup tackle Matt Goncalves filled in on the right with Carter Warren and Marcus Minor still manning the left side.
Narduzzi said he’s unsure if Drexel will return next week. If he doesn’t, Kradel was “unbelievable” at center, according to Pickett, and those around him did their jobs. It was against New Hampshire, of course. Georgia Tech will test whoever starts in the trenches.
Quick hits
• A total of 75 players recorded snaps on Saturday. Several walk-ons got in on the action, including former Aliquippa quarterback Eli Kosanovich.
• If there was one negative from Pitt’s 70-point win, it was the kicking game. Narduzzi said placekicker Ben Sauls surpassed Sam Scarton during practice this week ... but he went out and missed two extra-point attempts. Scarton took over after that and converted nine consecutive PATs. “It’s back to the drawing board,” Narduzzi said.
• Israel Abanikanda had his most productive game as a Panther, recording 130 total yards (75 rushing, 55 receiving) and a touchdown run on 13 carries and four catches.
• Shocky Jacques-Louis’ 12-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter was his first in his last 17 appearances. The last time Jacques-Louis found the end zone? His 74-yard score against North Carolina on Nov. 14, 2019.
• Pickett’s 1-yard QB sneak marked the 17th rushing touchdown of his career, the most by a quarterback in Pitt history. Pickett surpassed Rick Trocano, who had 16 rushing scores from 1977-80. Now, should Pickett have to burrow his head across the line on a 4th-and-goal sneak against New Hampshire? Probably not.
• If you tuned in late to the game and saw Pitt hold a 14-0 lead, you’d think it was a normal two-touchdown start for the Panthers. But the fact that the path to 14 was a safety, a QB sneak with a missed PAT, a pick-six and a missed PAT was uniquely Pitt.
Johnny McGonigal: jmcgonigal@post-gazette.com and Twitter @jmcgonigal9
First Published: September 27, 2021, 12:00 p.m.
