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Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi announced the football team’s captains for the 2019 season on Friday. The trio includes senior return specialist and wide receiver Maurice Ffrench, senior cornerback Dane Jackson, and junior center Jimmy Morrissey. The three were selected based on the results of a team vote.
”Maurice, Dane and Jimmy are highly deserving of this honor,” Narduzzi said in a statement. “Being a captain is even more meaningful when it’s your teammates who select you for that responsibility. I know they will be outstanding leaders for us, on and off the field, this year.”
”I really believe we have a team full of leaders this year,” Narduzzi continued. “A wide range of players received captain votes and that is a great reflection of the type of young men we have in our program.”
Ffrench was the recipient of numerous accolades in the 2019 offseason, as he was named a preseason All-American by CBS Sports, a preseason All-ACC honoree by the conference and a member of the Maxwell Award watch list. Last season, Ffrench accumulated 1,224 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns, including 547 on kick returns.
Morrissey also received recognition this offseason in the form of Rimingtom Award and Outland Trophy watch list nods, and he was essential to the Panthers’ success in 2018. In Pitt’s final three games of the regular season, all of which were played without Morrissey, the Panthers averaged 8.7 points and 247.7 yards per game. In the four games prior, all of which Morrissey took part in, the Panthers offense averaged 40.8 points and 518.3 yards.
Jackson was the team’s leader in pass breakups and forced fumbles in 2018, with four and 14, respectively. He was also a clutch contributor on third downs and fourth downs last season, as Pro Football Focus gave him a coverage grade of 82.6 in those instances, which led all ACC cornerbacks.
Ffrench, Jackson and Morrissey will lead Pitt into battle against Virginia in the team's season opener at Heinz Field on Aug. 31. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.