Pitt’s special teams were a problem just a few weeks ago when the Panthers faced Penn State at Heinz Field, as botched holds led to missed kicks and an unwillingness of the coaching staff to settle for three in situations where that seemed like the only reasonable plan of action.
However, matters have improved since that fateful evening, and kicker Alex Kessman has become a reliable option for Pitt. That much was made evident on Saturday, when Kessman came up with three vital kicks to keep the Panthers alive against the Syracuse Orange, allowing the team to ultimately hold on for a 44-37 win in a pivotal conference matchup.