(Photo Credit: Justin Berl/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
QB Kenny Pickett, RB Vincent Davis, WR Jordan Addison, OT Carter Warren, DE Deslin Alexandre, DT Delvin Danielson, DT Calijah Kancey, LB Cam Bright, LB Phil Campbell, LB SirVocea Dennis, CB Marquis Williams, FS Erick Hallett, and PT Kirk Christodoulou.
Key Players Departing:
WR/RS D.J. Turner, OC Jimmy Morrissey, OG Bryce Hargrove, OT Nolan Ulizio, DE Patrick Jones, DE Rashad Weaver, CB Jason Pinnock, FS Damar Hamlin, SS Parris Ford, KR D.J. Turner, and PK Alex Kessman.
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: DT Elliot Donald (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), DE Naquan Brown (Virginia Beach, Virginia), and DE Nahki Johnson (West Mifflin, Pennsylvania).
3 Star Recruits: CB M.J. Devonshire (Kentucky transfer), DT Dorien Ford (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania),CB Khalil Anderson (Atlanta, Georgia), S Phillip O’Brien (Deerfield Beach, Florida), ATH Rodney Hammond (Norfolk, Virginia), OT Terrence Moore (Massillon, Ohio), and RB Malik Newton (Norfolk, Virginia).
2020 Results:
G01 AUSTIN PEAY W 55-0
G02 SYRACUSE W 21-10
G03 #24 LOUISVILLE W 23-20
G04 NC STATE L 29-30
G05 at Boston College L 30-31
G06 at #13 Miami (FL) L 19-31
G07 #3 NOTRE DAME L 3-45
G08 at Florida State W 41-17
G09 VIRGINIA TECH W 47-14
G10 at #4 Clemson L 17-52
G11 at Georgia Tech W 34-20
Misc. Team Information:
2020 Record: 6-5 (7th in ACC)
Home: 4-2
Away: 2-3
Neutral: 0-0
ACC: 5-5
Non-AAC: 1-0
Head Coach: Pat Narduzzi
North Carolina: 42-34
Career: 42-34
Bowls: 1-3
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Kenny Pickett (203-332, 2408 yards, 61.1%, 7.3 avg., 13 TD, 9 INT)
Rushing: Vincent Davis (143 car., 632 yards, 4.4 avg., 6 TD)
Receiving: Jordan Addison (60 rec., 666 yards, 11.1 avg., 4 TD)
TDs Scored: Kenny Pickett (8)
Sacks: Cam Bright/Phil Campbell (4.5)
Tackles: SirVocea Dennis (55)
Tackles For Loss: SirVocea Dennis (14)
Interceptions: Marquis Williams (2)
Pass Deflections: Erick Hallett/Marquis Williams (4)
Forced Fumbles: Brandon Hill (2)
Kick Returns: Jordan Addison (2 ret., 39 yards, 19.5 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Jordan Addison (2 rec., 15 yards, 7.5 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Ben Sauls (0-0 fg/fga., 0%, 1-1 xp/xpa., 1 point)
Punting: Kirk Christodoulou (53 punts, 2368 yards, 44.7 avg., 23 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters
QB: 8 Kenny Pickett (RS SR)
RB: 22 Vincent Davis (JR)
WR: 18 Shocky Jacques-Louis (SR)
WR: 11 Taysir Mack (RS SR/TR)
WR: 3 Jordan Addison (SO)
TE: 7 Lucas Krull (GR/TR)
LT: 77 Carter Warren (RS SR)
LG: 55 Marcus Minor (GR/TR)
OC: 60 Owen Drexel (RS SR)
RG: 53 Jake Kradel (RS JR)
RT: 57 Gabe Houy (RS SR)
KR: 3 Jordan Addison (SO)
PK: 90 Ben Sauls (RS FR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 5 Deslin Alexandre (RS SR)
DT: 95 Devin Danielson (RS JR)
DT: 8 Calijah Kancey (RS SO)
DE: 6 John Morgan (RS JR)
LB: 24 Phil Campbell (RS SR)
LB: 36 Chase Pine (RS SR)
LB: 38 Cam Bright (RS SR)
CB: 14 Marquis Williams (RS JR)
CB: 25 A.J. Woods (JR)
FS: 31 Erick Hallett (RS JR)
SS: 9 Brandon Hill (SO)
PR: 3 Jordan Addison (SO)
PT: 98 Kirk Christodoulou (RS SR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: A
Schedule:
09/04 UMASS MINUTEMEN | First meeting between schools.
09/11 at Tennessee Volunteers | Pittsburgh leads the series 2-0. The Panthers won (13-3) the last meeting between schools in 1983.
09/18 WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS | First meeting between schools.
09/25 NEW HAMPSHIRE WILDCATS | Pittsburgh won (38-16) the only prior meeting between schools in 2010.
10/02 at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | Pittsburgh leads the series 10-5. The Panthers are 5-3 since renewing the series in 2013, and their last series loss (17-35) was in 2017.
10/16 at Virginia Tech Hokies | Pittsburgh trails the series 9-11. The Panthers are 5-4 since renewing the series in 2012, and their last series loss (0-28) was in 2019.
10/23 CLEMSON TIGERS | The series is tied 2-2. The Tigers are 1-2 since renewing the series in 2016, and their last series win (43-42) was in 2016.
10/30 MIAMI (FL) HURRICANES | Pittsburgh trails the series 11-28-1. The Panthers are 2-6 since renewing the series in 2013, and their last series win (24-14) was in 2017.
11/06 at Duke Blue Devils | Pittsburgh leads the series 15-9. The Panthers are 6-1 since renewing the series in 2013, and they won (33-30) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
11/11 NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS | Pittsburgh trails the series 4-10. The Panthers are 1-6 since renewing the series in 2013, and they won (34-27 OT) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
11/20 VIRGINIA CAVALIERS | Pittsburgh leads the series 8-4. The Panthers are 5-2 since renewing the series in 2013, and they lost (14-30) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
11/27 at Syracuse Orange | Pittsburgh leads the series 41-32-3. The Panthers are 8-2 since 2011, and their last series loss (24-2) was in 2017.
Predictions:
Home: 6-1
Road: 4-1
Neutral: 0-0
ACC: 6-2
Non-ACC: 4-0
Overall: 10-2 (2nd in ACC Coastal)
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