INDIANAPOLIS — Mario Goodrich flashed a smile, thinking back to the performance that helped propel his collegiate career. Clemson’s cornerback was asked about Pitt’s trip to Memorial Stadium in Nov. 2020. A game remembered by Tiger fans as Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne’s senior day was a pivotal one for Goodrich. It was the day he got one over on Kenny Pickett.
“I probably picked him off two times,” Goodrich said at the NFL combine, knowing full well he did secure two interceptions. Pickett had a forgettable performance at Clemson, tossing four picks — three of which came on his first nine throws.
When Pickett was deciding whether or not to leave for the NFL after the 2020 season, he consulted frequently with then-offensive coordinator Mark Whipple. The former NFL assistant provided Pickett with plenty of perspective throughout the process. One point he made was that when scouts sat down to evaluate his 2020 tape, the Clemson debacle would be the first one they’d watch.
Pickett was a different quarterback when Clemson visited Heinz Field last October. The projected first-round pick was clinical. He threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns. He scrambled for fourth-quarter first downs. He launched himself into the Heisman Trophy conversation and bolstered Pitt’s push to win the ACC with a 27-17 win.
“He’s super talented,” Clemson linebacker Baylon Specter said at the Indiana Convention Center. “I mean, with that arm he can throw it all over the field. He can make all the throws. He can make all the plays. Very poised, too, I’ll say that. He was poised, relaxed and calm. He wasn’t surprised and the moment wasn’t too big for him.”
Goodrich also offered Pickett props, saying you could tell his understanding of the offense had grown in his third and final year in Whipple’s system.
“When you look at Kenny this year, he made all the right decisions when it came to getting the ball out on time, hitting his checkdowns and using his feet to get yards when he needed to,” the first-team All-ACC cornerback said. “I feel like that was the biggest part of it. He was using his feet, scrambling, getting those extra yards. That hurt us.”
Tennessee safety Alontae Taylor knows how Goodrich feels.
Coincidentally, Taylor spent the pre-draft process training in Arizona with Pitt cornerback Damarri Mathis. Taylor also met Pickett at the Senior Bowl in February and came away impressed with him on and off the field. But last September, Taylor had different feelings when the Panthers stormed back to beat Tennessee.
The atmosphere was raucous at Neyland Stadium. There was a lot of trash talk between the two teams. And Pickett came out on top after tallying three total touchdowns and extending plays with his feet.
“It was an experience,” Taylor said. “Facing a quarterback who can run the ball and move and doesn’t stand in place, as a defensive back that’s probably the hardest thing to do is cover for so long. It was difficult. At times, I feel like we handled him pretty well. And at times, he got us here and there.”
That performance at Tennessee was a kickstarter for the Panthers. Pitt lost the following week after allowing 44 points to Western Michigan. But it was clear that Pickett had improved, and he carried that confidence into ACC play. Virginia Tech’s Jermaine Waller saw that first-hand.
Waller has had mixed success against Pickett. Pitt has had Virginia Tech’s number recently, beating the Hokies in three of Waller’s four seasons. But individually, Waller forced a fumble on Pickett in 2018 and logged three pass breakups in 2019.
This past season? Pickett threw for two touchdowns and added another on the ground. It could have been uglier as Virginia Tech’s offense struggled and Pitt sat on the ball for most of the fourth quarter. But Pickett was in control that day — just as he was for most of his record-setting season.
“It was definitely a challenge,” Waller said. “He knew their scheme very well. He fit their scheme really well. ... He knew their playbook and knew where he wanted to go with the ball more often than in the past. That was probably the biggest thing.”
“We prepared as well as we could for him that week,” Taylor added. “But he’s a great quarterback. Great person at the end of the day, too.”
