'It's been amazing': Eli Kosanovich cherishing time at Pitt

Eli Kosanovich knew when he arrived at Pitt four years ago that his chances of playing football for the Panthers were slim at best. Such is life as a walk-on.

Kosanovich, who shattered several passing records as an Aliquippa High School senior in 2018, did take part in three snaps in a game last year. But he may never see the field again.

That’s OK.

His competitive spirit will never go away.

He hopes and wants to play again.

But as he’s said, “I knew what I was getting into when I came here.”

This year for the 7-4 Panthers, who conclude regular-season play Saturday night at Miami (Fl.) (5-6), their roster includes six quarterbacks. Of those six, two are non-scholarship walk-ons: Kosanovich, a senior, and redshirt freshman Jake Frantl. Neither has gotten the chance to play in a game yet this season.

As in past seasons at Pitt, Kosanovich’s main role is helping teammates get ready for games. His daily practice routine includes throwing passes to wide receivers during individual periods and running the scout team against the Panthers’ defense in team periods.

On game days, he’s served as a “signaler” who helps signal in plays from the sideline to the QB on the field, which this season has mostly been Kedon Slovis.

That routine never grows old for Kosanovich, who threw for 3,189 yards, 39 touchdowns and only six interceptions while helping the Quips win WPIAL and state 3A titles in 2018.

While working on his degree in Finance and his Sports Management certificate, he’s still involved in a sport he loves. His work ethic remains strong. He continues to learn the nuances of arguably the most important position in the game of football.

He’s a Panther who enjoys life as a student/athlete with the rest of his teammates.

That’s especially true when it comes to one of his three roommates. That would be Pitt cornerback M.J. Devonshire, who shares an apartment with Kosanovich and tight end Kyi Wright, a Farrell graduate.

“It’s been amazing,” Kosanovich said of his time at Pitt.

“I got to work with (former offensive coordinator) Mark Whipple for three years. He taught me football like I’ve never been taught before. I’ve learned so much from our offensive coordinator this year, Coach (Frank) Cignetti.”

When Kosanovich was a senior at Aliquippa and earning all-state recognition, he received recruiting interest from a few Ivy League and Patriot League schools, most notably Columbia and Holy Cross. He also received recruiting overtures from NCAA Division II and III programs.

But since his father earned his degree at Pitt, Kosanovich figured he’d be a legacy one way or another.

“I was probably going to Pitt regardless,” he said. “I was already accepted before I even started talking with the coaches about walking on. But when Coach (Pat) Narduzzi and Coach Whipple gave me an opportunity to walk-on, it was a no-brainer. I was just waiting for them to give me the ‘we have a spot for you’ line. Once they did, it was over. I was coming to Pitt as a walk-on.”

Among Kosanovich’s highlights so far during his time at Pitt has been the chance to be Kenny Pickett’s teammate for three years.

In 2019 while Kosanovich was redshirting, Pickett became Pitt’s starting quarterback as a sophomore. Two years later, Pickett turned in one of the greatest seasons ever by a Pitt QB by throwing for 4,319 yards and 42 TDs while leading Pitt (11-3) to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship and a berth in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

“It was cool becoming Kenny’s teammate,” Kosanovich said.

“When I first got there in 2019, I was just a young walk-on, but Kenny gravitated toward me and helped me out anyway he could, in the weight room, in meetings, at practice. That was before we even got close. Then the past two years, as he grew more and more as a player, I got to know him even better.

“It was just great being able to be here with him those three years and see how he developed into the player he is today.

“We knew there was a possibility the Steelers would draft him,” Kosanovich added. “We were sure he was going to be one of the first quarterbacks to go. There were a few teams we thought might take him. As we watched the draft, every time one of those teams was on the clock, we were on the edge of our seats. As a Steelers fan, I was hoping when it was the Steelers’ turn to pick, he’d still be there. And he was. He was falling right into the Steelers’ hands.”

Kosanovich still sees Pickett on occasion. After all, the Steelers and Pitt share the same practice facility on the South Side of Pittsburgh even though they never practice at the same time.

“Kenny’s doing a good job,” Kosanovich said. “He’s adjusting to the NFL. He’s adjusting to a different style of offense than he had in college. He’s trying to develop chemistry with his teammates. He’s improving every week. The sky’s the limit for him.”

Meanwhile, Kosanovich will keep working as hard as he can in hopes that he may one day get to play again for the Panthers. The only time he’s played was last year in a 77-7 romp over New Hampshire. Kosanovich took three snaps and handed the ball off to a running back each time.

“If the opportunity presents itself again, I’ll be ready,” he said.

Kosanovich will graduate in April. But he still has at least one more year of eligibility – that’s his redshirt year-- and possibly two. That’s because the NCAA granted athletes an extra year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I will be back,” Kosanovich said of the 2023 season when he’ll be taking graduate school classes.

As far as that extra COVID year, he has plenty of time to decide if he wants it.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: 'It's been amazing': Eli Kosanovich cherishing time at Pitt