Pitt Offers Highly Productive Chattanooga Transfer WR

Pitt has added one transfer wide receiver from the portal already this offseason, but the coaching staff is clearly looking to add more.

There have been offers extended to half a dozen transfer wideouts and the most recent is a veteran who fits the mold of what offensive coordinator Kade Bell likes out of his receivers.

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Pitt offered Chattanooga transfer wideout Sam Phillips — a 5-foot-9, 185-pound redshirt junior from Cartersville, Ga. — received an offer from Bell on Thursday.

He’s picked up offers from UConn, Houston, Memphis, North Texas, ECU, South Alabama, JMU, FAU, Western Kentucky, Tulsa, UAB, Kent State, Ball State, Western Michigan and UTEP — with interest from a dozen Power Four programs.

https://twitter.com/samphillips_22/status/1874901900908548392

Phillips was a little-recruited prospect in the class of 2021, committing to the Mocs without many other options, and he rewarded their trust with a standout four seasons at Chattanooga.

He’s coming off his best season at Chattanooga, racking up 49 receptions for 803 yards (16.4 yards per reception) and three touchdowns. According to PFF, he lined up out wide on 84% of his 301 passing snaps. He averaged 2.86 yards per route run with an average depth of target of 14 yards.

PFF didn’t credit him with a single drop this season, on 78 targets.

Phillips was effective at every level this season, working as effectively underneath (catching 27 of 32 targets under 10 yards for 323 yards and a touchdown) as he did downfield (catching six of 20 targets at least 20 yards downfield for 248 yards and two touchdowns).

He finished his career at Chattanooga with 153 receptions for 2,088 yards (13.6 yards per reception) and nine touchdowns — over three seasons.

Pitt is losing lead wideout Konata Mumpfield next season, and while Kenny Johnson is slated to return (offering a potential leading wideout), it’s a wide receiving corps that got worse as the season progressed.

Johnson, Poppi Williams, Censere Lee, Zion Fowler-El and Tyreek Robinson are the wideouts in line for playing time right now, but it’s clear the coaching staff will look to add to the room.

Florida State transfer wideout Deuce Spann committed earlier this offseason, but he very likely won’t be alone in doing so.