ATLANTA (AP) — Michigan State’s last-ranked pass defense can’t relax in the Peach Bowl just because Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett isn’t playing.
The No. 11 Spartans (10-2) still have to worry about Jordan Addison, the Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation’s top wide receiver, when they face No. 13 Pitt (11-2) in Thursday night’s Peach Bowl.
Addison was an AP All-America first-team selection.
“Man, the guy can do it all,” said Michigan State defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton of Addison, a sophomore who leads the nation with 17 touchdown catches.
“You don’t win the Biletnikoff without being an outstanding player. And he’s a guy, we need to know where he is and where he’s at. Because they’ll put him everywhere. They’ll put him in the back field and out wide and everything in between. So, we’re trying to have some awareness where he is.”
Pickett, who finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting, won’t play as he is protecting his NFL draft status. Veteran backup quarterback Nick Patti will make his second career start. It will be his first start since 2019.
The Spartans have allowed 337.7 passing yards per game to rank last among the nation’s 130 FBS teams.
Patti has thrown only 14 passes this season as he auditions for the starting job in 2022. Replacing Pickett, expected to be one of the first quarterbacks selected in next year’s NFL draft, is a difficult challenge.
Even Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi has had difficulty adjusting to the transition.
“We’ve got a lot of trust in Kenny — excuse me, in Nick, Freudian slip there — in Nick Patti and his ability to throw it,” Narduzzi said Wednesday.
AT A LOSS
Michigan State also will be missing its best player, running back Kenneth Walker, who chose to skip the game to focus on preparing for the NFL draft.
“It’s hard to replace a guy like Ken,” coach Mel Tucker said. “You really can’t do that, but we have other players obviously on our roster at that position that are going to be next man up. They’re going to step up and get the job done and we have a plan for that. And, I feel really good about our run game.”
Jordon Simmons, who averaged 4.3 yards on 54 carries this season, and Elijah Collins will likely get a shot to share the load from the backfield.
Walker ran for 1,636 yards, second in FBS, and ranked among the nation’s leaders with 19 touchdowns. He was named Walter Camp player of the year and won the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s best running back.
HOLDING THE LINE
Pitt’s starting offensive line have announced they will return for 2022: Carter Warren, Marcus Minor, Gabe Houy and Owen Drexel.
“Every year kind of starts fresh,” Drexel said. “We’re going to have a lot to prove. Especially with (Pickett) not being in the building. But I think we’re going to have the same mentality as this year. We’re still going to have that underdog mentality like Pittsburgh is in general.”
ON THEIR WAY OUT
Michigan State safety Michael Dowell, one of several players to enter the transfer portal, will sit out the game.
“I’m supporting them on the decisions that they do make,” Tucker said. “I just told the guys at the very beginning, at the onset, if you’re in, you’re in 100%, and if you’re not in, let’s communicate that.”
MORE EXITS
The Spartans are losing two assistants after the game. Running backs coach William Peagler is leaving to coach tight ends at Florida. Cornerbacks coach Travares Tillman has been named defensive backs coach at Georgia Tech, his alma mater.
HARDLY BARE
Addison is not the only threat on Pitt’s offense. Running backs Israel Abanikanda, Vincent Davis and Rodney Hammond have given the Panthers some needed offensive balance. The emergence of freshman tight end Gavin Bartholomew has bolstered a position that was once a weakness.
Bartholomew scored a touchdown in three of Pitt’s last five games, providing a solid complement to graduate transfer Lucas Krull.
“When we’re both out there together, you know, it’s one guy opens the next guy up,” Krull said.
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AP Sports Writers Larry Lage and Will Graves contributed to this report.
