Jordan Addison, rightfully, will get all the talk when people start to look at Pitt's offense in 2022. His 17 touchdown receptions led the country and helped earn him the 2021 Biletnikoff Award for the nation's most outstanding receiver. But it's the depth behind Addison in the Panthers' receiver room that could make the group one of the most special in the country.
Jared Wayne was the team's second-leading receiver in yards and touchdowns behind Addison with 658 receiving yards and six touchdowns. But he's now joined by the new transfer upstart sophomore from Akron, Konata Mumpfield, along with returning speedster Jaylon Barden and returning sophomore Jaden Bradley.
There's no doubt that Addison is the leader of the group. But how he leads is something that first year Pitt receivers coach Tiquan Underwood adjusting to and learning how to oversee.
"Jordan's more of a leader by example," Underwood said of Addison. "He's starting to get more vocal, but I'm still learning these guys and they're learning who I am. You never want to push somebody to do something. I tell our guys to be who they are. If they're a vocal guy: be vocal. If you lead by example, be the example. I have to lead the group while we all figure that out, but at the end of it all, they'll be the ones leading."
Underwood's approach allows for Pitt's receivers to be themselves, but also pushes them to improve key traits and help each other identify what they need to work on as a group.
"He brings a lot of good energy," Barden said of Underwood. "But the difference is between (former receivers coach Brennan) Marion and (Underwood) is that we're catching we're catching the ball more. We're working on more catching drills."
The positive culture of Pitt's receiver room stemmed from last season when Addison and Wayne were major factors in Kenny Pickett throwing 42 touchdowns, the most by an ACC quarterback in conference history. Last year the Panthers went from having consistent drop issues in 2020 to a sure-handed group. Underwood's joined by Mumpfield in that they're both learning the dynamics of the group, and impressed by the players in it.
"It's a blessing," Mumpfield said of the receiver room. "You can see the growth in the room and the brotherhood. We go to watch film and we all help each other with what we need to fix. The goal is to be the best core in the nation."
Starting cornerback A.J. Woods complimented the receiver room earlier this week as being much more than just Addison, noting how each of them provide serious challenges for Pitt's cornerbacks and safeties during their spring practices. Mumpfield returned the favor, but also noted how they've quickly shown him the difference in facing ACC cornerbacks instead of the MAC cornerbacks he's been used to facing.
"It's a lot of them" Mumpfield said of Pitt corners who challenge him. "Coming from the MAC, each team might have one or two good corners, but I like A.J. Woods, Marquise Williams, Rashad Battle, M.J. Devonshire, I can really just list a lot of them."
What seems to be the universal feeling about Pitt's receivers is that each of them will describe the unit as being about lifting each other up, while pushing themselves to get better. It's what has Wayne, who say's he's faster this season having dropped to 207 lbs. from 210 lbs. last year, excited about what the group can accomplish.
"It's great, we're loaded," Wayne said of Pitt's receivers. "Everyone's pushing each other and running our own race. We all have individual goals and aspirations, but we also have group goals and aspirations. We're all very close and we're pushing each other each day."
Even Bradley, whose nine catches for 129 yards was the fewest among Pitt's receivers last year, is excited about where he is as a player and where the team can grow moving forward.
"Being honest, I'm focusing on everything," Bradley said. "I have to improve on everything so I can help us as a team be better. We want more than just an ACC Championship and a bowl game, we want to win it all."
Having a full group of receivers would be a big factor in making life easier for whomever will replace Pickett at quarterback this season. Between returning backup Nick Patti who started in the Peach Bowl in place of Pickett, and the highly-touted USC transfer Kedon Slovis, the receivers seem excited to catch passes from either player.
"They look great," Mumpfield said of Slovis and Patti. "It's a great battle. They're both throwing the ball well, leading us well, they're calling the plays well, we're in for a surprise."
Watching Pitt's spring practices gives you the feel that Slovis is proving what was presumed when he was acquired in the Transfer Portal; that he would earn the starting spot. His arm strength allows him to fit the ball into passing windows further down the field than Patti and his accuracy is allowing Pitt's receivers to make better catches against Pitt's defense in scrimmages.
But Patti isn't backing down, as his command of the offense and competitive spirit earned him the respect of the team long before this quarterback battle, and continues to impress coaches and players.
Whoever wins the quarterback job will be working with a receiver room that's eager to prove they're more than just their best player. And that may be a key for new offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. to unlock the potential of this offense to be an explosive unit and rank among the nation's highest scoring for a second year in a row.
