Narduzzi names Peterman Pitt’s starting QB

Nate Peterman will be the University of Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback moving forward, football coach Pat Narduzzi said on the ACC coaches teleconference Wednesday.

The competition between Peterman and former starter Chad Voytik, though, may not be quite over.

Peterman started for the Panthers Saturday night at Iowa, unseating Voytik, who had started 15 consecutive games under center for the Panthers.

Despite throwing two interceptions in the first half against the Hawkeyes, Narduzzi said he liked the way Peterman guided the offense.

“With our run game not going like we needed it to go, we were forced into throwing it,” Narduzzi said in a separate call with local reporters. “I think we threw it pretty good and Nathan spearheaded that.”

Moving forward, Narduzzi said, Pitt will likely have a specialized package for Voytik, who is slightly more mobile than Peterman. The coach said he also expects Voytik to “battle back” and challenge Peterman for playing time.

“I’m telling you, he’s the best competitor we have on this football team,” Narduzzi said. “He’s going to make Nathan better, I think Nathan’s made him better.”

Narduzzi said he’s also confident Voytik won’t let himself get too down about this decision.

“I know it’s a high-profile position, but football’s football and competition is competition,” Narduzzi said. “Chad understands that.

“If we don’t make the plays, something needs to be done. We let the competition go for a while, and there was a true competition going on there. Like I said, we can name Nathan the starter, but that competition’s not going to end.”

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