Live Wire: Pitt vs. Georgia Tech moved to Dec. 10 ... Ten Pitt seniors expected to leave ... Odukale back and healthy

Here's something new for all you Pitt fans!

Inspired by Bob Maddamma's excellent Hot Button, a round-the-clock feature that summarizes the non-Pittsburgh sports world, I'd like to light the fuse today on a Pitt-based Live Wire. Similar vibe, similar speed, only it's focused squarely on the city's football team. And at the same time, it offers our readers, for the first time, a single commenting platform committed to anything you'd prefer to discuss related to the Pitt, ACC, football or basketball in general.

PITT VS. GEORGIA TECH
MOVED TO DEC. 10

Thursday, 4 p.m.: Pitt announced a new kickoff time for the Panthers' rescheduled game against Georgia Tech. After being postponed from its original date of Nov. 14 to Dec. 12 because of COVID-19 concerns, the new date for the game is Thursday, Dec. 10, with a 7 p.m. kickoff at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta. The game will be televised on AT&T Sportsnet. 

The only game without a kickoff time for Pitt's final three games is the Panthers' Nov. 28 game against Clemson, which will be announced next Monday. -- Carter

NARDUZZI NAMES SENIORS
EXPECTED TO LEAVE

Thursday, 2 p.m.: Pat Narduzzi, discussed the complexities of having a senior day during a year where the eligibility waiver could give any student-athlete the chance to return next season. He said no player's decision is final, but did give a list of ten seniors who will participate in senior day activities and have indicated to him that they are thinking about moving on from college football after this season. Those players are Damar Hamlin, Kenny Pickett, Jimmy Morrissey, Patrick Jones, D.J. Turner, Jason Pinnock, Rashad Weaver, Phil Campbell, Bryce Hargrove, and Alex Kessman. -- Carter

FRESHMAN FEMI ODUKALE 
PRACTICING

Thursday, Noon: Jeff Capel spoke during a conference call of ACC coaches Thursday, addressing the challenges the team faces with the ACC COVID-19 protocols and how Pitt expects bumps along the way. But the good news he delivered was that freshman guard Femi Odukale has been healthy and a full participant in practices for a month. Odukale broke his arm in a car accident back in August, and his status was in doubt for the start of the season.

UPDATE: PICKETT 
REFUTES DRAFT CLAIM

Wednesday, 3 p.m.: After the earlier report on Kenny Pickett that said Pitt's senior quarterback had settled on a plan to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft Wednesday afternoon, Pickett quickly refuted the claim on Twitter:

This follows the same messages we've heard from Pitt's seniors across the board in press availabilities. So far, the only players to have declared or mentioned a commitment to the 2021 NFL Draft have been Jaylen Twyman and Paris Ford, both being players who opted out on the season. -- Carter

WEAVER ON BEDNARIK 
WATCH LIST

Wednesday, 1 p.m.: Rashad Weaver has been a major asset for Pitt's defense in 2020, recording 5.5 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss and being the other book-end of a great pass rushing duo with Patrick Jones. That's now gotten him more national notice with being named to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list. The award is annually given to the player designated as the best defensive player in college football by a committee of head coaches, sportswriters and sportscasters across the country:

-- Carter

REPORT: PICKETT 
TO DECLARE FOR DRAFT

Wednesday, noon: A report from Pittsburgh Sports Now has indicated that quarterback Kenny Pickett will declare for the 2021 NFL Draft soon. Pickett has eight passing touchdowns and three interceptions to go along with his six rushing touchdowns in his senior season. His style of play has led him to be a quarterback that's put his body at risk more with scrambling to buy more time and take yards on the ground, but has also put him at more risk, like the ankle surgery he had after getting hurt against Boston College in October. While Pickett won't be a high pick in the draft, it makes sense that he's ready to at least cash in on being selected after this season to play in the NFL and not put himself at risk for more serious injuries that might jeopardize that future. -- Carter

ADDISON AMONG ALL-TIME 
PITT FRESHMAN RECEIVERS

Wednesday, 10 a.m.: I've written a lot about Jordan Addison's success at receiver this season, and Pitt recognized his success yesterday. Two weeks ago he passed Antonio Bryant to get 52 receptions as a freshman, with only Larry Fitzgerald and Tyler Boyd ahead of him. That's some pretty amazing company to keep for Addison, as both Bryant and Boyd were second round picks, and Fitzgerald was selected third overall in the 2004 NFL Draft:

-- Carter

MAJOR PITT PLAYER TESTED 
POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

Tuesday, 5 p.m.: As I wrote on Tuesday, running backs coach Andre Powell indicated in his press availability Tuesday that a 'main-line' Pitt player had tested positive, causing the team to re-evaluate how its been handling COVID-19 away from the team facilities. Seniors D.J. Turner and Chase Pine offered differing opinions on whether the team gained a false sense of security after two months without any player testing positive, but you can read my full story about where Pitt stands here. -- Carter

ANNIVERSARY OF REVIS 
RETURN TOUCHDOWN

Monday, 7 p.m.: Here's something fun, since Pitt wasn't able to play over the weekend. Today marks the anniversary of a spectacular and memorable 75-yard punt return for a touchdown by Darrelle Revis for Pitt against West Virginia on Nov. 16, 2006. Although Pitt would lose the game, the play was named as Sportscenter's No. 1 play of the weekend, highlighted with a huge double-pancake block from Derek Kinder:

-- Carter

PITT, NARDUZZI UNSURE 
OF GEORGIA TECH FALLOUT

6 p.m., Monday: In my Monday story, I go over the information revealed in Pat Narduzzi's press availability. There's still questions as to whether Pitt had players test positive for COVID-19, and if so, how many. Those questions haven't been answered yet and as the team prepares for senior day on the Panthers' final home game of 2020, much of those questions remain unanswered. You can read my story on all that here. -- Carter

NCAA ANNOUNCES BUBBLE 
FOR MARCH MADNESS

Noon, Monday: The NCAA announced Monday that the entire 2021 March Madness basketball tournament will be played at one geographical location, with Indianapolis looking like the hosting city. 

The Final Four was already set to be hosted in Indianapolis for 2021, but placing all tournament games there removes 13 other locations from hosting games for this season's tournament. -- Carter

MORRISSEY, PICKETT
NOMINATED FOR AWARDS

2:30 p.m. Friday: Team captain and starting center Jimmy Morrissey was announced as a candidate for the 2020 Senior CLASS (Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School) Award on Friday. The award is for NCAA Division I seniors playing FBS football who have excelled in the classroom, in competition, in their community and shown high character. Also, fellow captain and quarterback Kenny Pickett was announced as a Top 15 candidate for the Unitas Golden Arm Award Friday. The award is presented to the top upperclassman quarterback set to graduate each year.  -- Carter

PITT BASKETBALL
OPENER NOV. 25

2:00 p.m., Friday: Pitt announced Friday three more scheduled non-conference games for its basketball season, including its opener against St. Francis on Nov. 25, at 7 p.m. at the Peterson Events Center. That leaves only one non-conference game left to be scheduled before the full season's schedule is set. You can read my story on the details here. -- Carter

GEORGIA TECH REPORTS
POSITIVE COVID-19 TESTS

7 p.m., Thursday: Now we have our first indication as to why Pitt vs. Georgia Tech was postponed, as Georgia Tech's Director of Athletics, Todd Stansbury, released a statement staying that the Yellow Jackets couldn't have fielded a team Saturday with the rush of new players testing positive for COVID-19 contact tracing, and lingering injuries from past weeks:

pic.twitter.com/9TblkER0sr

— Todd Stansbury (@GTToddStansbury) November 12, 2020

No such statement has been delivered by Pitt, which might be a good sign that no positive tests exist for the Panthers. -- Carter

PITT VS. GEORGIA TECH
POSTPONED TO DEC. 12

5 p.m., Thursday: Pitt has officially announced the postponement of its game against Georgia Tech due to COVID-19. The Panthers were originally scheduled to play the Yellow Jackets this Saturday at 7 p.m. But now the postponement pushes the game back a month to Dec. 12. There has been no indication whether Pitt or Georgia Tech has had players test positive for COVID-19 at this time, but we will keep you updated. You can read my full story on the situation here.

PARIS FORD OFFICIALLY
DECLARES FOR 2021 NFL DRAFT

3 p.m., Thursday: Paris Ford opted-out of the rest of Pitt's 2020 season last week, and Thursday afternoon he officially declared for the 2021 NFL Draft via Twitter:

 -- Carter

PICKETT FULL-STRENGTH,
CAMP TO RETURN

1:30 p.m., Thursday: Pat Narduzzi indicates in his weekly Thursday press availability that Kenny Pickett has looked 'outstanding' at practice all week and that he will be good to play moving forward. He also indicated that senior defensive tackle Keyshon Camp should be healthy to play in Pitt's next game. Camp hasn't played since Pitt's September win over Louisville, as Narduzzi noted that Camp had made progress in recent weeks but setbacks in practice kept him from being 100 percent healthy. -- Carter