After fighting for the job, DiNucci settles into role as backup
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Maybe Max Browne didn’t come to Pitt in January of this year to be the backup, but neither did Ben DiNucci in February of 2015.
Sure, DiNucci knew he’d be sitting behind Chad Voytik and Nate Peterman in 2015 and probably again in 2016. But after that, the former Pine-Richland standout expected to get his shot. And he did get his shot - he just got in a competition with Browne, who joined the Panthers as a graduate transfer from USC.
On Tuesday, Pat Narduzzi formally named Browne the starter, relegating DiNucci to backup status for 2017.
“When I made my decision to come here, I knew that, after two years, I was going to have a possibility of playing and starting; all I could ask for was that opportunity and I had that opportunity this year,” DiNucci said Tuesday. “Next year is a different opportunity so I’ll approach it the same way I approached it this year. But I’m happy here. I couldn’t ask for anything else. I love it here.”
Next year will see DiNucci back in a quarterback competition again, likely facing off against Thomas MacVittie and Kenny Pickett - MacVittie as a redshirt sophomore and Pickett as a redshirt freshman, barring an unexpected development this season - but DiNucci thought that would be the battle this offseason until Narduzzi and former offensive coordinator Matt Canada told him last fall that a new face might be joining the group.
“When they first started looking, him and Coach Canada were kind of like, ‘Hey, we’re thinking about bringing a grad guy in to bring us some more depth to the room, add some age,” DiNucci said on Media Day. “I wasn’t surprised. We’re a pretty young quarterback group in general. Me being a sophomore, being the oldest guy at the time, I wasn’t surprised that they wanted somebody older. It happens.”
And so DiNucci’s competition against two younger players became a competition against one older player, a quarterback with starting experience at a high level and an impressive pedigree. DiNucci wasn’t shying away from a battle, though, and he said Tuesday he thinks the coaches gave him a fair shot to win it.
“It was a great competition. It went three weeks, all the way back to spring ball; I think Coach Narduzzi mentioned that. It was a great competition. I think we did a good job of pushing each other every day, trying to make each other better, make the team better in whatever way possible. He came out on top. He’s a good player. So, credit to him.”
To hear the coaches and players tell it, DiNucci is no slouch himself. After making his debut in the Pinstripe Bowl loss to Northwestern - a game that saw him throw for 16 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions on 3-of-9 passing - the improvement has been considerable. DiNucci says he weighs close to 220 pounds now after adding “10-to-15 pounds” since last season, and he thinks there has been quite a bit of on-field development as well.
“The biggest thing for me in the offseason was working my footwork, my reads and quicker decision-making. I feel like I’ve gotten way better in all three of those areas. The only way I can go is up from here.”
That last element - decision-making - is one that offensive coordinator Shawn Watson praised in the spring but also something DiNucci picked up on from watching Peterman work last season as he played more efficiently than any other quarterback in the ACC.
“For me, the one thing that stood out was his decision-making,” DiNucci said. “So smart, so technical, from the little things from taking notes after watching practice the night before games, looking at last-second blitz pick-ups, coverages, little things the defenders did to tip their intentions. Nate has been a huge help in my progress. I still talk to him a few times a week. He’s been a huge mentor, too.”
DiNucci will continue to develop those skills, drawing on what he can from Peterman, Watson, Browne and more. And he plans to approach his new role the same way he approached this offseason’s competition.
“I just have to know my role now and be the best frickin’ backup I can be and help the team any way possible.”