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Pitt Football Class of 2025 Breakdown: Speed at Wide Receiver

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Pitt wide receiver commit Tony Kinsler

Since the installment of the new offensive system for Pitt football, offensive coordinator Kade Bell and wide receiver coach JJ Laster have targeted a certain quality in its wide receivers.

It became even more evident when Laster spoke on early National Signing Day in December about the three 2025 Pitt football receiver signees.

“The biggest thing for us in this offense is we’re looking for speed,” Laster said.

That speed will come in the form of Bryce Yates, Tony Kinsler and Cameron Sapp who make up the young incoming freshmen into the Pitt program.

“We have three young men that’s going to come in and be tremendous to us. Excited for them to be here and excited for them to be a Pitt Panther,” Laster said.

The three fit the Pitt mold as they are not the biggest receivers, but they bring speed and explosiveness. Out of the trio, Yates stands the tallest at 6-foot. He joins the Panthers out of Matoaca High School in Virginia.

“Bryce is going to be a competitor. He’s a student of the game. Plays quarterback so he understands coverages. He understands leverages and how to run the route,” Laster said.

Laster and running backs coach Lindsey Lamar got their eyes on Yates at a showcase in Virginia where the wide out dominated the competition, which solidified Pitt’s commitment to landing him.

“When he was down there at the showcase, he kept winning his one-on-one battles and coaches kept coming to us and telling us, “You guys got a steal. This guy is unbelievable.’ One of the guys tapped out and did not want to compete anymore. He never tapped out. He competed, high pointed the ball and scored. I said, ‘Yeah, this is our type of guy.’ Got that blue-collar mentality. Love his family – they got a blue-collar mentality,” Laster said.

Pitt commit Bryce Yates.

Photo courtesy of Bryce Yates’ X account.

As a junior, Yates caught 79 passes for 1,193 yards and 18 touchdowns, earning First Team All-Virginia Class 5 honors. This past fall as a senior, Yates took on a different role as the quarterback where he tossed for 2,176 yard and 26 touchdowns as Matoaca went 10-2.

“Bryce played wide receiver his junior year, but his senior year, he played quarterback. He was doing whatever you got to do to help his team win. I love that about him because he’s a team player and put his team first,” Laster said.

Yates was the first receiver to commit in the 2025 class and it was soon followed by Kinsler, who made his verbal pledge in May.

Kinsler – a 5-foot-11 receiver out of Spruce Creek High School in Florida – possesses excellent speed and showcases that as a dual-sport athlete on the football field and track.

He posted a best 11.09 100-meter time at the East Coast Classic meet in February on 2024.

Not only does Kinsler have the speed that Pitt is looking for, but his work determination and work ethic has also stood out to Laster.

“Whenever me and coach Bell were going down to Daytona, Florida to watch him in spring ball, he had a track meet the day before,” Laster said. “We let the coach know, ‘Hey, we’re going to be there the day after.’ The track meet went over because of rain delays, so they didn’t get back to Daytona until 3 a.m. in the morning. He got back, coach called him, ‘Hey, I know you’re getting back late, but Pitt called and said they’d be here tomorrow to watch you spring ball. Do you want me to tell them to come back another day?’ Tony said no. Tony said, ‘I’ll be there.’

“He got up the next morning, went to school. After school, he had to go work out, so me and coach Bell was there watching him work out. After he worked out in the weight room, he went out there, competed and practiced the whole time. Did not take a break, showing us that he is tough. He is a hard worker. That’s one thing that sold us. He did not make any excuses of coming in late from a track meet or he was tired. He knew his assignment, he knew what he wanted to do and he went out there and got it done and showcased his talent. Right then, I knew and looked at Kade and said, ‘This is the guy we want.”

Kinsler produced back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons as a junior and senior. This past fall, he totaled 66 receptions for 1,005 yards and 16 touchdowns.

The last receiver to join the 2025 class committed the night before he signed as Sapp flipped from FAU to Pitt.

Despite the last-minute addition of the Miami Palmetto High School talent, Laster and the Pitt coaching Staff had always kept in contact with Sapp.

“We’ve been knowing Cam for a while and having a relationship with him as well just staying in contact. Seen him down there at an FIU camp when he was competing there. We always had him on our radar.”

Sapp’s top trait is his speed that will be utilized in the Pitt offense, along with a potential to return kicks on special teams.

“Cam is very fast. At the Under Armour Camp, he ran a 4.41. That is the second-best time in Miami for the Under Armour Camp. He’s the fifth-best time overall at the Under Armour Camp. He also runs a 10.6 in the 100-meter. Excited about him. His big-play ability is where he can catch radius and can high point the ball. I love the fact that he is fearless and attack the ball in the air.”

All three wide receivers early enrolled at Pitt in January.

Sandy Schall, Coldwell Banker

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