Kenny Johnson Making Strides as No. 1 Wide Receiver for Pitt

In two seasons, wide receiver Kenny Johnson has put together a respectable career at Pitt before starting his junior year.

The 6-1, 200-pound York, Pa. native grew quickly into a role as a kick returner and a receiving option as a true freshman and then became the second wide receiver option last season with 46 receptions, 537 yards and three touchdowns.

Life at Pitt came quickly for Johnson, but there was still a lot of developing to be done. Even though he cemented himself as the No. 1 receiver entering 2025, he still looked to fine-tune his route running and overall skillset. So when he earned the Ed Conway Award for most improved offensive player in spring camp, it was evidence that the hard work paid off.

“That meant a lot to me because first off, it’s the first time that I felt like I’ve heard recognition for me being more improved than what I was doing,” Johnson said following the Pitt spring game on Saturday. “I think the fact of the matter that I stay focused. I knew going into camp that I was going to be pretty much the most experienced receiver with the most game time. Coming in as focused as I was honestly impressed me myself.”

Pitt wide receiver Kenny Johnson during the spring game. April 15, 2025 / Ed Thompson. PSN.

Despite dropping a few passes, Johnson still pulled in seven receptions for 63 yards during the spring game.

Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi has been adamant all spring about the difference he sees in Johnson.

“Kenny’s been outstanding all spring,” Narduzzi said. “He is a different receiver than he was last year. Just the details to his route running is probably the main thing. The detail in route running and understanding how to stack receivers and get open. He’s gotten a lot better at that wide receiver spot.”

Since the conclusion of 2024, Johnson has looked to grow in certain areas, including a better overall understanding of the game.

“I think my focus. My attention to the game. The way that I attack the game is way different this year looking at coverages. I’m being detailed in my routes getting my depth. One of the bigger things, too, is the communication with Eli. I feel like we’re on a better level now. Now we got this summer, we got the fall, all the way up until the season. We got all the time to get better. It’s only going to get better than what it is,” Johnson said.

The importance of Johnson and Holstein’s connection can’t be overstated as the QB-WR duo looks to make an impact in the Pitt offense and it’s all comes down to communication.

“I feel like quarterback and receiver is the position that you need the most chemistry in because everything’s timing. If I’m at 10 yards and Eli thinks I’m at 12, the ball, it’s a missed throw. Not all bad throws are on the quarterback. That’s what it is. It’s chemistry and we have to be on the same page. If we’re not, everything goes down hill,” Johnson said.

Pitt WR Kenny Johnson has a big year ahead of him as he projects as the No. 1 receiver in the room. Here he is with a smooth deep route and catch. pic.twitter.com/dcNXk7JLAP

— Nathan Breisinger (@NateBreisinger) March 27, 2025

Earlier in spring camp, that evolving chemistry was on display when Johnson and Holstein both acknowledged something they saw pre-snap in the defense. An audible at the line of scrimmage led to a touchdown.

“We had quick game on, so we had a slant. Eli looked over there and seen that Cruce [Brookins] had cheated down a little bit, so he wasn’t really going to be able to play the fade ball. Me and Eli been working on a little signal, so he threw a little signal out for me and we just ran a fade ball. Easy,” Johnson said in March.

The depth have Pitt’s receiver room has been talked about throughout spring. Some of that showed in the Blue-Gold game as Louisville transfer Cataurus Hicks flashed his talents with a speedy 65-yard touchdown catch and run.

That depth takes some of the pressure off of a top receiver like Johnson and makes it more difficult for defenses to key in on one option.

“That gives me relief because now I know if a team wants to play with a safety overtop and a corner there, they’re doubling me and they got Blue in one-on-one coverage, I feel confident that we’re going to win. I feel confident that Zion’s going to win. I feel confident that whoever’s over there’s going to win. That’s a big relief for me being able to have a good tandem with me to really work off of,” he said.

Pitt wide receiver Kenny Johnson during spring camp on March 11, 2025 / Ed Thompson. PSN.

While Johnson’s on-field game has taken a turn, he is also the vocal leader of the receiver room.

“Kenny is the leader of that group right now without a question. He’s taking control at this point and he is coaching them up and he is vocal,” Narduzzi said a few weeks ago.

Johnson loves the role in leading his teammates and it’s something that he knew would be apart of his time at Pitt since he stepped on campus.

“Just because I saw how it was when I came here how [Konata Mumpfield] led the room, how Bub [Means] led the room, how those older guys led the room and I always said that I wanted to be like that. Now that I’m in control, I have control to do that,” Johnson said.

Even in the short months since the season-ending loss against Toledo in the bowl game, Johnson has already made significant strides as the No. 1 wide receiver for Pitt heading into the 2025 season and there is still plenty of time for more growth ahead of fall camp.