Trending
PITTSBURGH -- The No. 25 Pitt Panthers host Bill Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Heels at noon Saturday, and they'll be breaking in a new -- but old -- quarterback.
With sophomore starter Mason Heinschel lost for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee suffered Friday night in a win over Virginia Tech, the Pitt starting quarterback job now belongs to Holden Geriner.
The 23-year-old Geriner is with his third school in the last five years after limited playing time at his previous stops. This season, he's appeared in three games -- against Miami (Ohio), Bucknell and Virginia Tech -- completing 19 of 26 passes for two touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said Monday the team is confident in Geriner.
"He's just an unbelievable kid," Narduzzi said. "I think Kade (Bell) is his fourth offensive coordinator/quarterback coach in his career, and I think Kade's done a hell of a job. We've got a ton of faith in (Geriner)."
Geriner spent three years at Auburn and one at Texas State before signing with Pitt last offseason to be Heintschel's backup.
"He throws a nice ball. He's composed," Narduzzi said. "He might not have played a whole lot of football, but he's been around a lot of football."
Behind Geriner, freshman Corey Dailey moves into the backup role. Dailey has appeared in just one game this season, against Bucknell, going 3-for-5 with a touchdown pass.
"Corey has gotten better every week, and now he's going to get those backup reps," Narduzzi said. "You're blessed to be able to have gotten those opportunities. I was impressed with those guys after the Bucknell game."
As for Heintschel, Narduzzi said the injury to him Friday still weighed on him.
"I don't think I'll ever forget just seeing his mom and dad and Mason after the game in the corner of that end zone," Narduzzi said. "That'll stand for a long time."
Narduzzi made sure to credit how the team responded despite the news, and left no doubt about Heintschel's role going forward.
"Mason will be with us, obviously, and he will be as big a coach as anybody," he said. "I know how much he means to our football team."
It was announced Monday that Pitt's game at Boston College on Oct. 17 will be a noon kickoff.