When it comes to quarterbacks, Tony Racioppi knows what he's talking about.
For starters, he played the position at a high level. While at Division III Rowan, Racioppi once passed for more than 4,000 yards and 47 touchdowns in a single season. He owns the NCAA all-divisions record with five TD passes in a quarter. In 2001, he was runner-up for D-III Player of the Year. He played professionally in Europe and in the National Indoor Football League. He even signed free-agent deals with the Jets and Dolphins.
His quarterbacking experience isn't limited to playing. The New Jersey native is a high school head coach. He was a graduate assistant at Temple. He's interned three times in the NFL, twice with the Jaguars and once with the Cardinals. Racioppi also is a regular at the prestigious Manning Passing Academy, and, yes, he's worked side-by-side with Peyton Manning at the event.
Call him a quarterback whisperer because his client list runs from middle-school hopefuls to Division I starters and NFL back-ups.
Pitt's Kenny Pickett is among them, and Racioppi can't stop saying positive things about him.
"There's not a throw the kid can't make," Racioppi told me. "He's tough as nails. He's a leader. His teammates all respect him. All the things you want in a quarterback, he has it. If I was starting a team, he'd be my first pick in gym class."
Happy birthday KP! No better kid in America. Pitt has been lucky to have you as their QB. Talent, leadership, toughness and ultimate competitor. Will always have your back. Love ya brother. @kennypickett10 pic.twitter.com/eS4o4CJzd5
— Tony Racioppi (@Tonyrazz03) June 6, 2020
Racioppi also works as QB coach for TEST Football Academy, which, among other things, helps college players prep for the NFL Combine. Geir Gudmundsen, TEST's director of football operations, said 397 athletes since 1999 have trained with the company for the combine or pro days and more than 250 signed professional contracts.
And speaking of the NFL, Racioppi had this to say about Pitt's senior quarterback, who passed for more than 3,000 yards last season.
"To me, he'll finish high on (Pitt's) passing records and, hopefully, will go high in the draft," Racioppi told me. "I think he's going to play in the NFL for 10 years. He has that type of arm strength. He understands plays, and he's lucky to have (offensive coordinator) Mark Whipple. It's a perfect marriage for those two."
Through TEST, Pickett and Racioppi have worked together each offseason since the Pitt quarterback's freshman year, but the relationship runs much deeper.
Racioppi grew up next door to Pickett's mom, Kasey, and has known Kenny for years.
"I started working with Kenny when he was in first or second grade with fitness stuff and personal training stuff, him and a couple of kids he was friends with," Racioppi said. "I've known him since the early, early years, but I didn't see him for a while. We reconnected his senior year. He was playing at Ocean Township High School, and our team (Franklin) went up against them. We won, but he looked awesome."
So, Racioppi admits to being "biased" when it comes to Pickett, but, according to Gudmundsen, when the quarterback coach boasts about someone, it should not be taken lightly.
"With Tony, his heart, his passion, his availability, he's all in on these kids. From the high-round draft picks to the high schooler, he treats everyone the same," Gudmundsen said. "He puts in so much time. He's basically the offensive coordinator of our facility. ... He's been in different systems. He's learned it and is able to apply it, and it gives these kids the edge."
Racioppi said physical tools give the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Pickett an edge, particularly when he stays balanced through a throw to maintain his accuracy and velocity. Sometimes, Pickett "loads up on the back leg too much," a common problem for quarterbacks.
Pickett stayed pretty accurate last season, completing 289 of 469 passes (61.6 percent) for a career-high 3,098 yards and 13 touchdowns. Pitt receivers dropped more than 40 passes last season, which obviously affected Pickett's final statistics. The Panthers also struggled finishing drives, finishing 124th nationally. Pickett threw for 543 fewer yards than North Carolina's Sam Howell, but Howell threw 25 more touchdowns.
Maybe part of the blame can go to an offense that gained zero yards or lost yardage on 38.18 percent of its first downs last season and lacked a consistent, big target in the red zone.
Year 2 under Whipple and Pickett's development could make a difference.
"If you look at a pro quarterback, Kenny fits the mold," Racioppi said. "He can make every throw with people bearing down on him. He's got the feet. His brain can process the information. He's already been through it. When I look at him from his freshman year, his footwork, his fundamentals, his knowledge have come a long way. Kids that play a lot understand things. They know who to manipulate in the defense. He's ready to take it to the next level. You know, I see what some Pitt fans have to say about him, and I'm like 'Are you watching the same guy?'"
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