On the heels of breaking into the AP Top 25 at #24, Pitt players and a coach picked up some nice accolades.
In something that has become a regular occurrence, Quadree Henderson picked up his 5th ACC Specialist of the Week honor (yes, it is really called “specialist”).
He earned his latest award by compiling a career-high 257 all-purpose yards against the Orange, averaging an incredible 21.4 yards per touch.
Henderson averaged 18.7 yards on three punt returns (56 yards), 24.5 on four kickoffs (98 yards) and an incredible 20.6 on five rushes (103 yards). He had a 66-yard touchdown burst off a jet sweep to give Pitt a 49-21 lead in the third quarter.
Henderson’s (Wilmington, Del./Alexis I. du Pont) performance helped the Panthers achieve their highest single-game point total since 1977. His five Specialist of the Week awards are the most by an ACC player this season. He was previously honored for his performances in the Penn State, Virginia, Miami and Duke contests.
A highly viable All-America candidate, Henderson has four returns for touchdowns this season, including a nation-leading three on kickoffs. He ranks second in the country in combined kick return yards (1,121), fifth in kickoff return average (31.1) and 11th in all-purpose yards per game (159.75).
I’m assuming the ACC has a Specialist of the Year honor, which Henderson is a shoe-in to get. Along with 1st Team All-ACC recognition.
Nine Pitt players were honored on the 2016 All-ACC Football Team announced today by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association (ACSMA).
The Panthers had four players earn first-team All-ACC honors: junior running back James Conner, sophomore return specialist Quadree Henderson, senior offensive guard Dorian Johnson and senior defensive end Ejuan Price.
Pitt had three players earn second- or third-team recognition: senior offensive tackle Adam Bisnowaty (second team), sophomore safety Jordan Whitehead (second team) and sophomore offensive tackle Brian O’Neill (third team).
Henderson also received Honorable Mention as a wide receiver. Pitt’s additional Honorable Mention selections included senior placekicker Chris Blewitt and senior nose tackle Tyrique Jarrett.
As far as the 1st team All-ACC teams, Clemson led all with 9 players placed in the top group and had 15 total in the voting. Florida State had the second most number of players voted onto the various levels of All-ACC with 12. Pitt was tied with Virginia Tech and Louisville with 9 players.
The four players chosen for 1st Team Honors is tied with FSU for second most among the ACC.
A year after being scapegoated by NC State’s head coach Dave Doeren for the struggles of 2015, Pitt offensive coordinator Matt Canada is a finalist for the Broyles Award.
Pitt offensive coordinator Matt Canada has been named a finalist for the prestigious Broyles Award, annually presented to college football’s top assistant coach, it was announced today.
Canada is one of five finalists for this year’s honor named after Frank Broyles, the legendary former Arkansas head coach and athletic director.
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Canada is the only offensive coordinator among this year’s Broyles finalists. The others — Alabama’s Jeremy Pruitt, Clemson’s Brent Venables, Colorado’s Jim Leavitt and Michigan’s Don Brown — are all defensive coordinators.
The winner will be announced next Thursday.
Doeren may or may not have been on the hot seat at the end of this season, but likely saved any agonizing by NC State officials by closing out the season with a win over North Carolina.
If there is a hallmark of Dave Doeren at NCSt, it is taking action just a bit too soon. And it benefiting Pitt.
He was hired by the Wolfpack after leading Northern Illinois to a BCS Bowl game in 2012 in just his second season there. One of the hotter coaches available at that time.
He took the offer from NCSt, and very likely had buyer’s remorse when Brett Bielema abruptly jumped from Wisconsin to Arkansas. Doeren would have been the natural choice, as he had been the DC at Wisconsin from 2006-2010 and was well regarded there. He would not have been going into a rebuilding job.
Very likely he would still be the Wisconsin head coach, and Paul Chryst would still be Pitt’s head coach. Not to mention, Steve Pederson as the AD. Instead, Wisconsin hired Dave Anderson who left after a couple years for Oregon State. Leading to Chryst going back to Wisky. Pederson being fired mid-coaching search, and Pat Narduzzi becoming Pitt’s head coach.
All because Dave Doeren lept at the first Power 5 conference job that came his way.