When Pittsburgh kicks off its 2015 season on Sept. 5, the Panthers will have a different coaching staff on the sideline than last year. But that doesn’t mean they’ll be playing a different quarterback.
After starting all 13 games in 2014, Chad Voytik is back for his junior year, but he’s had some new competition in practice this month. Former Tennessee quarterback Nathan Peterman joined the program this offseason and, as a graduate transfer, will be eligible to play immediately.
On Wednesday, Pitt offensive coordinator Jim Chaney provided an update to the situation under center.
“Here is the deal: Chad is the incumbent starting quarterback and remains the starting quarterback at Pitt,” Chaney told reporters. “Right now there’s three other people in my room that are fighting their butts off to take his job. Next year there will be an incumbent starting quarterback back, and everybody will be trying to take his job.
“Nothing’s going to change. There’s competition in that room, and it’ll continue on. As we stand here today, Chad is still the starting quarterback at Pitt.”
Head coach Pat Narduzzi has liked what he’s seen so far out of both signal-callers.
“There’s a competition going on,” Narduzzi stated. “Chad is a leader, and you know he’s done it in a game, so you feel good there. Nate is pressing him. One thing I know right now is we have two quarterbacks we feel can go in and manage a game right now. I think we feel better right now than what we did in the spring.”
As a sophomore last season, Voytik completed 61.3 percent of his passes for 2,233 yards and 16 touchdowns while tossing seven interceptions. After redshirting as a freshman at Tennessee, Peterman completed 20 of 43 passes over two years for 94 yards with two picks.