Pitt's Best Options to Replace Jordan Addison

The Pittsburgh Panthers have a deep core at wide receiver, but who's going to be at the top of the list without Jordan Addison?

Author:
Stephen Thompson
May 5, 2022 7:19 AM EDT

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Pittsburgh Panthers

PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Panthers football recently lost one of its biggest reasons for optimism heading into the 2022 campaign. Beliteknoff award winner Jordan Addison, who entered the transfer portal this week, could return to Pitt -- reports have indicated that the star wideout is still considering it. But if the history of outgoing transfers during the Pat Narduzzi era is any indication, that is not likely.

So the expectation is that the Panthers will be tasked with replacing one of the most complete receivers in the sport, a player that could create separation easily with his pristine routes, bring in contested catches and stretch the field vertically. At the risk of stating the obvious, that's a tall order.

But this is a loss that Pitt is particularly well equipped to handle. If Addison was an All-American defensive back or linebacker, the Panthers might have been in more trouble. But the number of proven contributors already on the Panther roster insured the team against a loss of this magnitude.

At the moment, Akron transfer Konata Mumpfield is the clear favorite to lead this Pitt team in receiving. Addison played more on the outside last season and Mumpfield lined up primarily in the slot, but the two players fit a similar mold, winning with speed and agility instead of power and physicality.Filling the shoes of a Biletnikoff winner is an impossible request but Mumpfield's has as good a chance as anyone to make up for at least some of the lost production. He was a highly sought-after transfer candidate after earning Freshman All-American honors from The Athletic, Pro Football Network and Maxwell Football Club and will be relied upon heavily by whoever wins the quarterback competition between Nick Patti and Kedon Slovis come this fall.

While Mumpfield mans the slot, rising senior Jared Wayne will return as either Slovis or Patti's best option outside the numbers. Wayne has been a tremendous deep threat ever since arriving at Pitt. He was seldom targeted during his first two years but morphed into a steady weapon for Kenny Pickett opposite Addison.In fact, Wayne was one of the more reliable receivers in the ACC, according to Sports Info Solutions, who said he hauled in catchable balls at a 10.9% higher rate than the average receiver -- the third-best mark in the ACC. His strong hands and 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame were on full display against Virginia Tech, when Wayne battled a defender to bring in a jump ball along the sideline. He made similarly difficult catches for touchdowns against Virginia, Wake Forrest and Michigan State.

Behind him and Mumpfield are a pair of underclassmen -- Jaden Bradley and Jaylon Bardon -- that will be asked to fill much larger roles as they age another year. Bardon was explosive to the tune of 19.6 yards per catch and made an acrobatic touchdown catch to tie the score late in an eventual loss to Miami, while Bradley demonstrated nice route-running skills and some wiggle after the catch.Bardon missed the final five games of the year after playing in the first eight and Bradley struggled with drops all year. They'll need to avoid similar issues if they hope to contribute to the Panther aerial attack this season.

Rounding out the group is speedy, former Tennessee and Louisiana Tech receiver Bub Means. He joined the Panthers this spring but this is the second transfer of Means' career, so he will need a waiver in order to play this season. That said, Means left Tennesee before the NCAA granted every player immediate eligibility following their first transfer and sat for a season upon arrival at Louisiana Tech. Pitt will likely center their waiver appeal around that fact.

Konata Mumpfield

At the moment, Akron transfer Konata Mumpfield is the clear favorite to lead this Pitt team in receiving. Addison played more on the outside last season and Mumpfield lined up primarily in the slot, but the two players fit a similar mold, winning with speed and agility instead of power and physicality.

Filling the shoes of a Biletnikoff winner is an impossible request but Mumpfield's has as good a chance as anyone to make up for at least some of the lost production. He was a highly sought-after transfer candidate after earning Freshman All-American honors from The Athletic, Pro Football Network and Maxwell Football Club and will be relied upon heavily by whoever wins the quarterback competition between Nick Patti and Kedon Slovis come this fall.

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