Pitt digs deep into transfer portal, high schools in hopes of rebuilding WR group

Kade Bell’s offense at Pitt calls for plenty of footballs in the air and enough speedy pass catchers with the skill to get open. Failing that, they need to have enough toughness to win 50-50 matchups with defenders.

Those athletes who excel in both areas aren’t easy to find. So, with an eye toward increasing the possibility of success at that position, coach Pat Narduzzi and Bell brought in six wide receivers — three transfers, three freshmen — this offseason to bolster a position that needs help.

Gone are Konata Mumpfield, who is headed to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis that opens Monday, plus Daejon Reynolds and Lamar Seymore, both of whom transferred.

Mumpfield is the most significant loss after catching 154 balls for 1,940 yards and 11 touchdowns the past three seasons. Reynolds’ contributions regressed in 2024 from 28/316/0 in 2023 to 15/189/1. Give him his props, though. Before he left for UNLV this offseason, he caught one of the most important touchdown passes of the season, a 40-yarder from Eli Holstein during the fourth-quarter rally that led to victory against West Virginia.

Transfers Cataurus “Blue” Hicks (Louisville), Andy Jean (Florida), Deuce Spann (Florida State) and freshmen early enrollees Tony Kinsler, Cameron Sapp and Bryce Young signed with the hope of taking advantage of the opportunities Bell’s offense offers.

Hicks (13 receptions), Jean (six) and Spann (10) were not major playmakers at their previous schools. Spann, however, likely intrigues special teams coach Jacob Bronowski after returning a kickoff 99 yards against Duke in 2023. Plus, his size (6-foot-4, 208 pounds) could make him a contributor in the red zone.

“Whenever the ball’s in the air, I feel like it’s mine,” he said. Spann added that he came to Pitt “to show people I can take the top off the defense, show people I can do things I know I can do.”

Jean (6-1, 184) went to the same high school (Miami Northwestern) as former Pitt defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and is familiar with Pitt wide receiver Poppi Williams, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., product.

“I feel like (Pitt) is home for me,” Jean said.

Count Jean among those prospects eager to share a practice facility with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“That brings a lot of happiness to me because you’re around NFL coaches every day. You see NFL dudes walking in and out,” he said.

Hicks (5-10, 180) came up on Narduzzi’s radar last season when he caught six passes for 63 yards in Louisville’s 37-9 victory against Pitt.

“The quarterback (Tyler Shough) kept coming to me,” Hicks said. “I said, ‘OK, I could get used to this.’ “

But Hicks knew it was time to transfer when he was targeted only three times in the Sun Bowl after Shough opted out to prepare for the NFL Draft.

“I was playing, but I only got two targets the whole game, two or three,” he said, “and they were in the dirt.”

Hicks initially built a relationship with Bell and his offense when he was at Miami Central High School.

“I like the play designs that get you downfield,” he said.

Hicks was nicknamed “Blue” by his dad, who believed his son would be bright.

Said Hicks: “He’s not wrong.”