Pitt’s top wide receiver from this past season announced Friday afternoon that he was declaring for the NFL Draft.
Jared Wayne could have chosen to remain with the Panthers for another season because of the bonus year of eligibility granted by the NCAA as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.
But, as Wayne posted on Twitter: “The process of making this decision hasn’t been easy, but ultimately, what I feel is best for my career. I’ve had a lifelong goal of playing in the NFL and it’s time to pursue that.”
Pittsburgh, thank you for everything! Hail to Pitt???? pic.twitter.com/ySpU5l5QCi
— Jared Wayne (@jwayne_5) January 6, 2023
Wayne was effective in 2021 as a junior, hauling in 47 receptions for 658 yards and six touchdowns in what was a breakout campaign.
However, Wayne undoubtedly was overshadowed by his then-teammate Jordan Addison, who was a consensus All-American and won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top wide receiver.
But Addison ultimately chose to transfer to Southern Cal for the 2022 season, setting the stage for Wayne to take center stage at Pitt in the Panthers’ new-look offense led by USC transfer quarterback Kedon Slovis.
While Slovis had a up-and-down season, Wayne demonstrated his ability, pacing the Panthers in receptions (60), yards (1,063) — both career-highs — while scoring five touchdowns.
Wayne, 22, eclipsed 100 receiving yards twice this past season, catching seven passes for 161 yards in Pitt’s Oct. 29 loss to No. 21 North Carolina and exploding for 11 catches, 205 yards and three touchdowns in the Panthers’ regular-season finale win over Miami.
The 6-foot-3 receiver is a native of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. A Rivals three-star recruit who played his senior year at Clearwater Academy International in Florida, Wayne signed with Pitt’s 2019 recruiting class.
He went on to play eight games as a true freshman, catching 18 passes for 261 yards and a touchdown.
Wayne moderately upped his stats as a sophomore in 2020, with 21 catches for 326 yards and a score before his breakout campaign in 2021.
In his four-year career at Pitt, Wayne caught 146 passes for 2,307 yards and 13 touchdowns.
