Even without Addison, Panthers' receivers could soar in 2022

Leading up to the start of Pitt's football training camp Aug. 1, DK Pittsburgh Sports will provide a weekly positional analysis of the 2022 roster. This week, it's the position that must help break in a new starting quarterback and overcome the loss of Biletnikoff Award winner, Jordan Addison. 

Speaking of which, the Panthers are tied with Alabama and Oklahoma State for most Biletnikoff Award winners. Do they have someone on the roster who could be next? This group has certainly impressed new wide receivers coach, Tiquan Underwood.

"i just want to give a shout out to the receiver coaches before me because they've done a great job recruiting," Underwood said to reporters in March. "This room is special man they're very, very talented."

Key Additions: Konata Mumpfield, Akron transfer and Bub Means, Louisiana Tech transfer

Key Losses: Jordan Addison, transferred to USC, Shocky Jacques-Louis, transferred to Akron, Tre Tipton, graduated, Taysir Mack, graduated, Melquise Stovall, graduated

ROSTER ANALYSIS

Jared Wayne: One of the team leaders, Wayne is coming off a breakout year in which he was able to stay healthy for the first time in his Pitt career. The 6-3, 210-pound senior from Peterborough, Ontario, finished last season with 46 receptions for 654 yards and five touchdowns. He was also used in several gadget plays and finished 2-of-3 passing for 36 yards and a touchdown. That touchdown helped Pitt upset Tennessee on the road. Expect him to be the team's number one receiver and the leader of the group. 

"Everyone's pushing each other," Wayne said to reporters after spring practice in March. "Everyone's running their own race. We all have our own goals and aspirations and as a group we have our goals and aspirations as well, so we're all very close and we're just all pushing each other to be great"

The offense will be looking for Wayne to produce like the he did last year against Miami and Duke. He finished with six receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown against the Hurricanes and five receptions for 81 yards and touchdown against the Blue Devils. To attain this level of consistency, Wayne has been focusing on one specific area of his game. 

"I'm trying to play more physical this year, so that's what I've been working on in my game," Wayne said. "I'm just looking to continue that. I would say my first two years here I couldn't really stay healthy. I just couldn't really get in rhythm and last year i stayed healthy and kind of got a little rhythm." 

His new position coach lauded Wayne's approach and the intangibles he brings to the wide receiver room.

I look at him as Mr. Consistent," said Underwood. "He's gonna do his job each and every play, each and every day. He has strong hands and a big body. He's not going to make a lot of mistakes on the field because he puts in the time. He's very professional." 

Over his career, Wayne has started 11 games and has increased his number of receptions each season from 18 to 21 to 46. 

Konata Mumpfield: One of the top receivers available in the portal, Mumpfield has impressed teammates since joining the team for spring practices. Last year at Akron, the 6-1, 180-pound sophomore from Hoschton, Ga., had 63 receptions for 751 yards and eight touchdowns. He also compiled three 100-yard receiving games, including a career-high 122 yards on 11 receptions with two TDs against Western Michigan. He was named a Freshman All-American and now is looking to make a similar impact at a Power Five school. He will definitely be looked upon to help offset the loss of Addison and should immediately become a top target for whoever ends up under center.    

Mumpfield has quickly assimilated to his new surroundings and like the rest of the receivers is in the midst of learning Frank Cignetti's offense. 

"I think i'm adjusting pretty well," Mumpfield told reporters in March. "Coach Cignetti's offense is kind of similar to what we ran at Akron. It's very pro-style so I mean it's really about the same terminology."

Mumpfield was a lightly regarded three-star recruit who chose the Zips over offers from Alabama State, Mercer, and Savannah State. He's used this as motivation over the past two years.

"I always feel like I have something to prove," said Mumpfield. "Coming out of high school, in college, and even now to show that I can do it on a bigger stage consistently." 

His teammates believe he possesses all of the skills necessary to not only perform on the big stage, but excel and possibly end up in the conversation as a future Biletnikoff Award winner. 

"He's better than advertised," quarterback Nick Patti said to DK Pittsburgh Sports Wednesday. "He's really quick and smooth with his route running. He's going to be a great playmaker for us this year."

Jaden Bradley: Another player who should benefit greatly from the wide receiver departures, Bradley played in 12 games last year as a true freshman out of DeMatha Catholic in Maryland. He finished the year with nine catches for 129 yards, including a season-high two receptions in three different games (Massachusetts, Duke and North Carolina). He gained a season-high 45 receiving yards against UMass, including a 28-yard catch that was his longest of the year.  At 6-3, 225 pounds, he's another big bodied receiver who provides a large target for his quarterback.

The fact that he saw the field as a freshman and played in twelve games was a testament to how hard he worked and the impression he made during last year's training camp. He has very high expectations for 2022, both individually and for the team.   

"I'm working on my maturity and discipline, really everything I can to become an overall better player," Bradley told reporters in March. "That was last year. I've grown, so that's behind us. That's last season. We won the regular season, but this year we want to win it all. We want more than we had last year in every aspect. We want more than the ACC championship. We want more than to just go to a bowl game. We want to win it all."

That attitude and work ethic have won over his new coach. 

"I love that kid," Underwood gushed when asked about Bradley. He has so much energy. He loves football and loves to compete and he's doing very, very, well."

Jaylon Barden: Stretch the field. Explosive. Great hands. Developing every day, All words and phrases that teammates use to describe Barden's game. Entering his junior season, Barden has played in 17 games over the two years, including the first eight in 2021 before he broke his collarbone against Miami. Before the injury, Barden led the team with a 19.4 yard per catch average. In total, he had 9 receptions for 140 yards and a touchdown, which came against Western Michigan.He had his best overall game in 2020 versus Virginia Tech when he had five receptions for 65 yards and an 11-yard touchdown.

The 5-11 Barden was a three-star recruit out of Lizella, Ga., who chose Pitt over Army, Ball State, Coastal Carolina, and others. He's looking to take the next step in his development under the tutelage of Underwood.

"He brings a lot of good energy," Barden said to reporters in March. "But, I feel like the difference between he and Coach Marion, is, no knock on (previous coach) Marion, but i just feel like we catch balls more and I feel like we're catching just a little bit better." 

Bub Means: Means joins the Panthers after playing his freshman year at Louisiana Tech. The NCAA has yet to rule if he will be immediately eligible for the 2022 season, but given precedent, the team is optimistic. He will have three years remaining.

Last year, Means had 22 receptions for 430 yards and two touchdowns for the Bulldogs with a long of 75 yards. He arrived in Louisiana after spending a year in Tennessee. He was originally a class of 2019 three-star recruit who committed to North Carolina before deciding on the Volunteers where he played defensive back for one season.

At 6-2 and 205 pounds, Means adds even more size to Pitt's wide receiver room. He was a highly coveted player in the portal this year with Auburn and Miami two of the other teams that expressed interest before he chose Pitt. 

Starting left tackle and team leader, Carter Warren, specifically called out Means when he was asked by reporters three weeks ago how the team was going to handle Jordan Addison's transfer.

"Keep an eye on Bub," Warren said. "I see him doing 7-on-7 and he's doing pretty good. I'm excited to see him on the field."

Keep an eye on: Redshirt freshman Myles Alston. Coaches raved about his performance during last year's training camp and another strong showing may allow him to see the field this year. The 6-1, 180-pound native of Virginia Beach, Virginia chose the Panthers over offers from at least 20 other schools.  

Starters: When the Panthers are in a three wide receiver set, I fully expect Wayne, Mumpfield and Means -- assuming he's eligible -- to be on the field. Bradley and Barden will get their chances, but they are a year away from being regular contributors.