Charles LeClaire- USA TODAY Sports
As big of a blow as the recent transfer of starting RB Rushel Shell was to the Pittsburgh Panthers, they could at least sit back and say that they’re confident in their 2013 starting quarterback, Tom Savage. It’s been expected that the former Rutgers and Arizona transfer will be the man to lead the Panthers on the field when September 2nd rolls around.
While that may still wind up being the case, he had a little competition thrown his way Friday night–literally.
In what was described as something done by design by head coach Paul Chryst, Savage saw very little time in Pittsburgh’s spring game Friday night. In that limited play, Savage was 6-for-11 passing for 80 yards while failing to lead a TD drive.
The stats put up by Savage aren’t a red flag or anything by any means as, again, Chryst was adamant that the limited playing time was his intention.
What Chryst, nor a lot of people for that matter, may have not seen coming was what happened when redshirt freshman Chad Voytik took the field.
One of the top recruits held over from former head coach–as well as the most hated man in the state of Pennsylvania–Todd Graham, Voytik had eyebrows raising and jaws dropping all over Bethel Park, Pa. Friday night.
Completing 27-of-33 passes for 358 yards and three scores, Voytik may have put some doubt into the heads of the Panthers’ coaching staff as to whether or not Savage really is their best option. The freshman looked poised in the pocket and obviously didn’t seem to lack much confidence in his ability to run the offense.
Voytik’s longest strike was a 66-yard touchdown to junior WR Kevin Weatherspoon.
While Voytik’s name has been brought up to Chryst over the course of spring practices, indirect signs still pointed to Savage being the front-runner for the job.
Whatever the size of the gap between the two quarterbacks was, it may have closed a bit on Friday night.
It’s nice to have a GOOD issue on your hands for once isn’t it, Pitt fans?
Jack is a College Football Contributor for Rant Sports. Follow Jack on Twitter @FSUYankee14
