5 Things to know about Steelers' highly-rated QB Kenny Pickett
Kenny Pickett was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers and was the first quarterback off the board in this year's NFL draft. Much is expected of him as the Steelers begin life without Ben Roethlisberger. Pickett is expected to challenge Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph for the starting job.
While what comes up in the future will play out right before our eyes, there are plenty of interesting factoids from his past. Here are some interesting tidbits that may pique one's interest.
#1 - Athleticism is in his genes
Kenny Pickett played three sports in high school before focussing on football. He used to play basketball and baseball in addition to football. He dropped baseball in junior high. It is not a surprise since he comes from an athletic family.
The Pickett Family is in Baltimore for tonight’s Unitas Golden Arm Award ceremony for Pitt’s Kenny Pickett 🏆
Great 📸 by Johnny Unitas’ statue
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His father, Ken Pikett, was an all-American linebacker at Shippenburg University in Pennsylvania. Both his mother and sister played soccer and the latter is currently a soccer coach not far from the Steelers' training ground.
His mother, Kasey Pickett, played for Division II Kutztown University. His sister, Alex Pickett, played with East Stroudsburg University and now coaches at Seton Hill.
That might be one of the other reasons why he was chosen higher up than any other quarterback, because he already knows the sacrifices that an athlete must make.
#2 - Inspired an NCAA Rule change
Kenny Pickett gave a lot of joy to Pitt's fans and we will have a look at his records later. But if asked to pick a moment that remains etched in the memory of onlookers, most would probably pick his 'fake slide'.
The setting was the ACC Championship and Pittsburgh were looking for their first title against Wake Forest. The teams were still scoreless in the first quarter when Kenny Pickett received the ball in a 3rd-and-5 situation. He took off on a run and got the first down.
Thereafter, he pretended to slide, which made the defenders back off. But before his knee could touch the ground to rule the play dead, he straightened up and continued his run all the way to the endzone to open the scoring in the game.
His cheekiness in that game inspired the NCAA to ban fake slides in college football. There are not many players who can say that a rule has been changed because of them.