Narduzzi adds a JUCO WR to the roster

Pat Narduzzi added another piece to the 2015 roster this weekend when junior college receiver Rafael Araujo-Lopes committed to Pitt.

Araujo-Lopes chose the Panthers Saturday night while on an official visit.

A native of Florida, Araujo-Lopes will arrive at Pitt this summer as part of the 2015 recruiting class by way of Reedley College in Reedley, Calif. He was a full qualifier out of high school in the class of 2014, but limited recruiting interest led him to a year in junior college as he looked for more exposure.

That year was a productive one for Araujo-Lopes. Last fall he caught 74 passes for 1,229 yards and 17 touchdowns, including six 100-yard receiving games, a pair of 12-catch games - 12 catches/162 yards/2 touchdowns at San Jose and 12 catches/228 yards/5 touchdowns at Merced - and at least one touchdown reception in eight of the 10 games.

Araujo-Lopes' high school coach reached out to Pitt tight ends coach Tim Salem, and that connection brought Araujo-Lopes onto the Panthers' radar. Linebackers coach Rob Harley visited Reedley College last week.

Because he was a full qualifier, Araujo-Lopes doesn't need two years of junior college to get eligible, meaning he can enroll at Pitt this summer and play for the Panthers this fall. Pitt has junior Tyler Boyd leading the receiver position this season, and redshirt junior Dontez Ford finished the spring as the other first-team receiver.

But the Panthers could use a player who can excel in the slot, and at 5-foot-9 and 193 pounds and possessing a knack for making plays after the catch, Araujo-Lopes seems like he can fit that role well.

"My game has always been catching the ball within 5-15 yards and making a play," he told Panther-Lair.com. "I'm really strong with the ball, too; a lot of slot receivers might be shifty, but I have a good balance of shiftiness and strength."

Araujo-Lopes will be Pitt's fourth receiver to sign in the recruiting class of 2015, joining Quadree Henderson (who also projects in the slot), Tre Tipton and Gentry Ivery.

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