Pickett made his first start college start against UM as a true freshman in Miami’s 2017′s regular-season finale, when the then 4-7 Panthers pulled off a 24-14 win to upset the previously 9-0 No. 2 Hurricanes behind Pickett’s three-touchdown performance.
Diaz, who was in his second of three seasons as Miami’s defensive coordinator under Mark Richt, recalled the toughness Pickett showed on the first score of his college career when he jumped over Jaquan Johnson on a 6-yard touchdown run to give the Panthers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish en route to upsetting the Hurricanes.
“From that day, to me [are] the same things you see with him right now,” Diaz said of Pickett.