Pitt lands Dartmouth transfer Derek Kyler to improve depth at quarterback
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Three quarterbacks weren’t enough for Pat Narduzzi, who continues to add supplements to Pitt’s 2022 roster.
Faced with a thin depth chart at quarterback, Narduzzi landed a verbal commitment Wednesday from former Dartmouth star Derek Kyler.
I'd like to thank @CoachDuzzPittFB for this incredible opportunity I have been granted. With that being said, I will be committing to the University of Pittsburgh as a graduate transfer! #HailToPitt pic.twitter.com/RnEWmRwBhk
— Derek Kyler (@derek_kyler) June 8, 2022
Kyler, 23, joins USC transfer Kedon Slovis and senior Nick Patti, who are competing for the starting job at quarterback. Aside from those two, Pitt had only redshirt freshman Nate Yarnell on its depth chart after Davis Beville and Joey Yellen transferred.
Kyler is the ninth transfer added to Pitt’s roster since the end of the 2021 season.
Kyler finished his career with a stellar 2021 season where he ranked 2nd in the nation in completion percentage (.707, a Dartmouth record), 4th in passing efficiency (162.66), and 1st in TD-INT ratio (17-1), all while leading the Big Green to the Ivy League Championship! pic.twitter.com/YgQr1oUgn1
— Dartmouth Football (@DartFootball) May 18, 2022
A native of DeKalb, Ill., Kyler spent the past five years at Dartmouth — from 2017 when he was the junior varsity quarterback to 2021 when he completed 169 of 239 passes (70.7%, a school record and second in the FCS) for 1,972 yards and 17 touchdowns. His passing efficiency of 162.66 was fourth in the FCS while his 17/1 touchdown-to-interception ratio was first.
He also helped Dartmouth to a share of its second Ivy League championship with Princeton.
In 2019, Kyler recorded a passing efficiency rating of 183.87 while helping the Big Green to a share of first place with Yale. The 2020 Ivy League season was canceled by the covid-19 pandemic.
Kyler also set Dartmouth and Ivy League career records for career completion percentage (69.3%) and passing efficiency (164.55).
After the ‘21 school year, he was presented with Kenneth Archibald Prize, given annually to a member of Dartmouth’s graduating class who is considered its best all-around athlete while also achieving high marks for moral character and academics.