There's no magical reason why Kenny Pickett has become one of college football's top quarterbacks. It may appear that way from a bird's-eye view for analysts like Mel Kiper Jr., who now has Pickett ranked as his top quarterback for the 2022 NFL Draft, but not to those who've been around Pickett throughout his career.
Pickett's often been described as a warrior for how hard he fought through Pitt games over his five seasons with the Panthers, but this year his numbers exploded. He went from averaging 12.6 passing touchdowns per season over the last three years to throwing 23 touchdowns in his first seven games in 2021.