Pitt FB Recruiting
‘It Means A Lot’ That Pitt Was SMU Transfer WR Dylan Goffney’s First Portal Offer
Dylan Goffney did pick up an offer from Pitt during his initial recruiting process, but as COVID-19 restrictions limited all travel opportunities, he didn’t have the chance to explore it.
So, it made sense that Goffney — a 6-foot-1, 215-pound wide receiver originally from Bridgeland High in Cypress, Texas — chose to stay closer to home and commit to SMU the first time around. But after two seasons in Dallas, he decided to enter the transfer portal Friday morning.
Goffney picked up offers from Charlotte, Louisiana Monroe, Colorado State, California, Connecticut, Bowling Green, Arizona State, Western Kentucky and Pitt the same day he entered the portal, but Tiquan Underwood and Pitt were the first to make contact.
“It honestly means a lot,” Goffney told PSN. “The first team to reach out to you is a big deal. It gives me a lot of confidence in myself.
“It’s kinda good to have that first team to build that first relationship going into the portal, because a lot of people say the portal is like an unknown land, you never know what you’re going to get. So, having them reach out first is a big deal to me.”
Underwood actually FaceTimed Goffney Friday morning, giving him a call while he was watching Goffney’s SMU film, and he just talked to Goffney about Pitt as a whole — and told him how he would be able to make an impact right off the bat.
It wasn’t so much a call about how Goffney would fit into the offense, where he’d fit in the wide receiving corps, as it was just getting to know Underwood and vice versa. Underwood didn’t originally recruit Goffney to Pitt, but that familiarity is there.
“I know they’re a good program,” Goffney said. “I know they’ve had some receivers there that have been good. Kenny Pickett just left, but I feel like they’re getting back to being good and everything. And also that it’s a great school.”
The next time that Goffney and Underwood talked, which was set for Friday night, was going to be about logistics — about the offense and where Underwood saw a fit.
Underwood did mention a few areas of Goffney’s game that he appreciates, including his toughness, especially in blocking — an area Goffney prides himself on. He’s a fan of Goffney’s ability to run after the catch, too.
SMU WR Dylan Goffney finally getting some serious playing time loved seeing his involvement early in the game.
Led the team in receiving last night
4/4-116-1 pic.twitter.com/pebfOid1qr— Mike Vallerie (@FF_DirtyMike) October 15, 2022
In two seasons at SMU, he recorded 32 receptions for 500 yards (15.6 yards per reception) and two touchdowns. He played in 12 games last season, recording 18 receptions for 369 yards (20.5 yards per catch) and two touchdowns.
Goffney is a big body with the ability to stretch the field, able to take the top of opposing defenses, and he has some starting experience — making four starts for the Mustangs last season.
And interestingly enough, after spending 91% of his snaps outside as a freshman (103 snaps), and 87% of his snaps inside as a sophomore (180 snaps), he’s been able to test himself both inside and outside.
He was better on the outside, or at the very least as a second-year receiver, as he racked up 180 yards after the catch, making the most of his opportunities with a very solid 2.08 yards per route run, and an average depth of target of 11.7 yards.
The 2022 season was just a solid all-around season for Goffney, dropping just one ball, catching his sole contested target and converting 14 first downs.
Despite tangible growth — both on and off the field — at SMU over the last two seasons, after a coaching change between his freshman and sophomore seasons in Dallas, and as he didn’t participate this spring due to an injury, he decided it was time for him to do what’s best for himself and enter the portal.
“Today was my first day in the portal, which was kind of a big deal, but this weekend, I’m gonna talk to my family about visits and who I want to visit and who I’m interested in,” Goffney said. “Not take it slow but start to speed up the process as time goes on because there’s a very small window.”
He wants to be able to find his next school by the end of May and have his feet on the ground at his next school in time for summer camp.
A lot of schools have reached out since he entered the portal Friday morning, but Pitt was the first. And that’s certainly a factor, along with a growing relationship with Underwood, in his recruitment the second time around.
“I’d probably say they’re one of the top schools,” Goffney said. “Pitt’s a good school, since you kinda have a relationship from high school, I’m familiar with them so that kinda helps them out a lot.”
Goffney is confident in his ability to play in either the slot or outside, as a pass catcher and a blocker, of course, and he adds the value of having two seasons of eligibility.
Pitt has a receiving corps that has a starting trio of Konata Mumpfield, Bub Means and Daejon Reynolds in place right now, all of whom have something to prove next season, and the youth in the room (with options like Izzy Polk, Lamar Seymore, Kenny Johnson, Zion Fowler and Che Nwabuko) offers excitement.
But Pitt still needs another experienced receiver or two to fill out the room, and Underwood will certainly do his due diligence this offseason.
