Winfree gives Pitt a needed commitment

Pitt added a much-needed piece to the 2016 recruiting class on Sunday when junior college receiver Juwann Winfree committed to the Panthers.

"I wanted to go somewhere where I felt comfortable," Winfree told Panther-Lair.com Sunday evening. "I've been talking to the coaches since the summer and then I went on the official visit and I was able to really get a feel for the place, see how everything really is, see how the dorms are and spend time with the teammates, and everything just went right. I really enjoyed the visit. I can see myself succeeding there."

Winfree took his official visit last weekend, and with Sunday's news, he became the sixth of the recruits who visited to commit to Pitt. But while his continuation of Pitt's recruiting momentum is significant, it's what he brings to the class that makes him stand out.

As a 6'2" 207-pound receiver, Winfree has the potential to step in and make immediate contributions in 2016. That could come in handy for Pitt as the Panthers prepare for the possibility that star junior Tyler Boyd - the school's all-time leading receiver - might not return for his senior year.

"He hasn't said his decision yet, but I'm assuming on his three years and his success that he's going to leave and go high in the NFL Draft, so that's a big part of the offense missing," Winfree said of Boyd. "I feel like I can come in and replace him and bring even more to the table. That's my goal.

"I think I'm a very versatile athlete. Growing up, I was a running back, so I always thought I had the vision of a running back at receiver. I think I can play anywhere on the field: I can play outside, in the slot, in the backfield - I can do multiple things to make plays."

A former four-star prospect, Winfree committed to Maryland out of Englewood (NJ) Dwight Morrow in the class of 2014. He played as a freshman at Maryland and caught 11 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns in eight games (including four catches for 80 yards and a score in a loss to Michigan State and the Spartans' Pat Narduzzi-led defense).

But he was also suspended for the final two games of the 2014 season for violation of team rules, and Maryland announced at second suspension for Winfree over the summer. At that point, Winfree decided to transfer from Maryland, and Pitt was one of the schools he initially considered. But Narduzzi and his staff needed more time to investigate Winfree's situation, and eventually Winfree decided to head for Coffeyville Community College in Kansas for a year.

"I was being patient and waiting for an offer, but it didn't come and that was kind of eye-opening to me, so I told people - my parents and everybody important to me - that I was going to go to junior college and do what I had to do and hopefully an offer would come. But I said I was not going to miss this opportunity because I didn't work hard enough in the classroom or off the field.

"I feel like I didn't appreciate what I had before. The troubles I got in, they made me appreciate what I had and take things more seriously. I'm one step away from my goal now, and I see how much harder I have to work."

In 10 games this fall at Coffeyville, Winfree caught 55 passes for 837 yards and seven touchdowns. Even though Pitt will have a new offensive coordinator this season - a position that has not yet been filled - Winfree is confident that he will fit into the Panthers' new attack.

"Coach Narduzzi said he plans to bring somebody with similar schemes and concepts. He said he doesn't want to change up the offense too much."

Winfree is the 19th recruit to commit to Pitt in the class of 2016 and the third receiver prospect, along with Bedford (Oh.) four-star Ruben Flowers and New Brunwick (NJ) standout Maurice Ffrench, who could play offense or defense.

He is also the sixth recruit to commit to Pitt since last Sunday, and all six came from the Panthers' first big official visit weekend of the 2016 recruiting cycle. Citra (Fla.) North Marion offensive lineman Zack Williams and South Brunswick (NJ) safety Phil Campbell committed last Sunday, Brooklyn (NY) Poly Prep offensive lineman Justin Morgan committed last Monday and Hubbard (Oh.) cornerback George Hill and Kissimmee (Fla.) Gateway cornerback Henry Miller both committed on Friday.

In total, eight recruits visited Pitt last weekend; seven of them are committed to the Panthers (Upper St. Clair offensive lineman Brandon Ford, who was Pitt's first commit in the class, also visited).

"I think it was something where we could all see each other succeeding in the program and see that it's on the rise and see all the changes that Coach Narduzzi is making to the program," Winfree said. "We didn't decide to all commit; it just ended up being that way."

Winfree will enroll at Pitt over the summer and have two years of eligibilty - 2016 and 2017.

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