Ranking the ACC: Top 10 wide receivers taken on the North Shore (Pitt)

Pitt's Taysir Mack had 736 receiving yards last season. - Pitt Athletics

Pitt

Ranking the ACC: Top 10 wide receivers

By Mike Kovak

Nov 14, 2026 •

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This is the third in a weekly series ranking the top starters or position groups in the ACC.

Pitt's passing game was stagnant -- some might describe it as non-existent -- during the final season of Shawn Watson's stay as offensive coordinator.

To invigorate things in 2019, head coach Pat Narduzzi brought in former Steelers quarterbacks coach and UMass head coach Mark Whipple. The offense took on an entirely different personality.

Pitt attempted 39.7 passes per game, which ranked seventh in the nation and was up 17.2 attempts from 2018. Quarterback Kenny Pickett's 24.1 completions per game led the ACC.

That's the good news.

The bad news? Well, Pitt scored 275 points last season, down significantly from 359 in 2018. So while Pitt threw more often, it failed to take pressure off the defense.

The Panthers' pass catchers were a big reason why.

Pitt attempted 513 passes last season, and, according to Pro Football Focus, its receivers had more than 40 drops. Repeat: More than 40 drops.


Maurice Ffrench and Taysir Mack were Pitt's primary wide receivers in 2019, and they put up solid numbers, which should be expected given the amount of targets. Ffrench, currently on the Chiefs roster heading into training camp, caught a single-season school record 96 passes for 850 yards and four touchdowns. His 96-yard catch-and-run against Eastern Michigan in the Quick Lane Bowl is the longest passing touchdown in Pitt history. Mack, who transferred from Indiana before the 2018 season, had 63 receptions for 736 yards and three touchdowns, including the winner against Eastern Michigan.


Mack might drop catchable passes, but when it comes to making contested catches, few are better. Through nine games last season, he made 16 contested catches, which ranked tops in the nation according to Pro Football Focus. He can make the difficult play look routine.


But is it enough to land him a spot among the ACC's top 10 receivers? Given the conference's top returning receiver -- Clemson's Justyn Ross -- is out for the season and his career in jeopardy because of a congenital fusion in his spine, Mack's chances are good.


1. TAMORRION TERRY, FLORIDA STATE


With Ross out for the season, Terry becomes the conference's most dangerous playmaker at the position. At 6-foot-4, Terry has the size NFL teams covet. He has the speed, too. The junior regularly makes big plays -- he's scored 17 touchdowns in two seasons despite the Seminoles' struggles -- and finished last year with 1,188 yards and a 19.8 yards per reception average.


2. SAGE SURRATT, WAKE FOREST


In terms of production, no receiver in the ACC tops Surratt. He finished last season with 66 receptions, 1,001 yards and 11 touchdowns. Solid numbers for a season, but considering Surratt played just nine games, it shows what the 6-3 junior is capable of doing.


3. TUTU ATWELL, LOUISVILLE


Louisville looks loaded on offense. The Cardinals have a top QB (Micale Cunningham), a top running back (Javian Hawkins) and one of the conference's most dynamic receivers in the 5-9, 153-pound Atwell. One of the ACC's fastest players, Atwell finished last season with 1,276 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. He averaged 18.2 yards per catch.


4. DAZZ NEWSOME, NORTH CAROLINA


At 5-11, 190, Newsome isn't a big target, but his production has increased every season. One of quarterback Sam Howell's go-to guys, Newsome had 72 catches for 1,018 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2019, helping the Tar Heels take a step toward the top of the Coastal Division.


5. JOE NGATA, CLEMSON


As a freshman, Ngata finished with 17 catches for 240 yards. Modest numbers for certain, but the guess here is the 6-3 target is poised for a breakout season in 2020. With Ross out, Ngata and Frank Ladson will become much bigger parts of the Tigers offense.


6. DYAMI BROWN, NORTH CAROLINA


The 6-1 Brown provided a perfect complement last season to Newsome in the Tar Heels' explosive passing game. Brown averaged an ACC-best 20.3 yards per catch, finishing with 1,034 yards and 12 touchdowns on only 51 receptions. His touchdowns tied a UNC single-season record.


7. TERRELL JANA, VIRGINIA


How reliable was Jana in 2019? Pro Football Focus said he dropped just one of 75 catchable targets. His impressive pass-catching ability led to a solid junior season as Jana finished with 886 yards on 74 receptions. Virginia's quarterback situation isn't solidified going into this season, so his numbers could dip.


8. TAYSIR MACK, PITT


Blessed with athleticism and a solid route-runner, Mack also is one of the conference's better blocking receivers. He could climb this list if he does a more consistent pass catcher.


9. AMARI RODGERS, CLEMSON


Not certain Rodgers has the upside of Ngata, but the powerful receiver could be in for a big senior season. The Tigers can line Rodgers up at multiple positions, and he'll produce. Last season, he finished with 30 catches for 426 yards, which was down from 55 catches for 575 yards as a sophomore.


10. DEZ FITZPATRICK, LOUISVILLE


A fifth-year senior who flirted with declaring for the 2020 NFL Draft, the 6-2 Fitzpatrick is a steady producer. He finished last season with 35 catches for 635 yards, an impressive 18.1 average. His 18 career touchdown receptions are tied with Deion Branch for sixth-most in program history.


Last week:


Previously: Quarterbacks

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