Pitt’s receiving corps have mix of experience and potential

and 10 touchdowns.

Not bad for a promising but frustrating player who had never caught a pass in two prior seasons.

“He’s the quiet leader, that’s what I like to call him, just because he’s always head down, grinding,” effervescent Tipton said of Weah. “But if you turn some music on, the boy’s going to dance.”

Beyond the two proven returning starters, 6-foot, 190pound Tipton is one of several Panthers hoping to make a bigger impact next season.

A former Apollo-Ridge High School three-sport standout, Tipton contributed 12 catches for 142 yards and one touchdown in his first season of action, but had his season end with an injury for the second year in a row. Sophomore Aaron Mathews, who starred at Clairton, had just six catches last season in his first year on campus, but proved his worth as a physical blocker with his 6-4, 205-pound frame.

Beyond those two local products, there’s former junior college transfer Rafael Araujo-Lopes, a slot receiver who had nine touches on offense, three kickoff returns and made eight tackles on special teams last year as a sophomore. He impressed receivers coach Kevin Sherman Saturday in a scrimmage, the first of the spring, but there’s still a long way to go for everyone.

“There are no spots. I want these guys to understand that. Everybody’s job is open every day, and we’ve got to push each other,” Sherman said Tuesday. “Nothing’s complete until we get out there in that first ballgame. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

Sherman might even get some help from the defensive side of the ball, in a way. Sophomore Maurice Ffrench has mostly worked with the cornerbacks this spring, but Tuesday he was with the receivers, and coach Pat Narduzzi harbors designs of using him as a two-way player.

French did get 12 carries last season and ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns as a dash of Henderson lite, but a few inches taller at 5-11. Also trying to work his way up the depth chart is 6-3, 200pound Ruben Flowers, who redshirted in 2016 as a freshman.

“We’re all competitive. That’s our biggest thing is to constantly compete,” Tipton said, noting that it all starts with upperclassmen Weah and Henderson. “We believe they pushed the status, and we’re trying to overdo the status this year by showing we have more talent, more talent and more talent.”

Even Weah and Henderson have a laundry list of items to improve on from their position coach. For Weah, it’s “the little details, the little things — seeing coverages, reading coverages, playing faster, knowing how to use your body, finishing plays, judging deep balls better, knowing our offense better,” Sherman said.

For Henderson, Sheman has no problem reminding him that for his five touchdowns on the ground and four in the return game, he didn’t do nearly as much damage through the air, catching 26 passes for 286 yards and only one score.

“Just pushing and challenging him every day to be a complete receiver, not only running the ball, [but] running routes, catching balls and blocking on the perimeter,” Sherman said. “All those things that go into being a good football player.”

Once that’s all taken care of, Henderson can work on his interviewing skills.