Wide receiver Kenny Johnson participates in the first day of Pitt football practice Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side.
In seven years as a coordinator, Kade Bell has never overseen an offense that has failed to throw at least 25 touchdown passes, a benchmark he takes much pride in reaching annually.
Last year was no exception, as Pitt, behind Eli Holstein (17) and the since-departed Nate Yarnell (10) and Julian Dugger (2) combined for 29.
Yet something about that figure didn't sit right with Bell heading into the offseason.
"You look at us last year, we threw 29 touchdowns, 24 in the red zone," Bell said. "That means we only threw five touchdowns outside the red zone. I think we've got to find a way to create more explosives. The way to create explosive plays, you've got to be either to stretch someone vertically and catch a down-the-field route, or you've got to catch and run with it."
Producing more explosive plays is a primary objective of Pitt's offense, and Bell is not alone in believing the Panthers have the necessary personnel, particularly at wideout, to do so.
A number of targets return for Holstein, including tailback Desmond Reid, the team's second-leading receiver (52 catches, 579 yards), behind only Konata Mumpfield.
Mumpfield departed for the NFL Draft, where he became a seventh-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams, and standout tight end Gavin Bartholomew was chosen in the sixth round by the Minnesota Vikings.
The only other receiver Pitt lost was Daejon Reynolds (15 catches, 189 yards), who transferred to UNLV.
But Kenny Johnson (46 catches, 537 yards), Poppi Williams (37, 426) and Censere Lee (19, 254) returned and will be looking to assume more prominent roles.
"This year we've got depth at that position," Holstein said. "We've got a lot of guys that, once the ball's in their hands, they can make a lot of explosive plays. We've got explosive receivers, I guess you could say.
"Having guys that complement each other, we don't have a lot of guys that are exactly the same, but we've got a bunch of guys that do different things at a high level. Coach Bell's able to scheme it up with certain guys being in there running certain routes, and we're able to go out there and execute."
Johnson (6-foot-1) enters his third season at Pitt and has seen a significant jump in offensive snaps and stats dating to his freshman year in 2023.
Not counting Reid, Johnson is Pitt's leading returning pass-catcher.
For coach Pat Narduzzi, Johnson has the potential to take an even bigger step this fall.
"Kenny has grown up," Narduzzi said. "He has a different look. He has a different attitude. It's not just about catching the ball. He's worried about the details. You just see him growing up at a different level. He's mature.
"He's thinking about the right things, not the wrong things. ... He's not even worried about getting the ball. He's worried about, how good a route did I run? Am I in the right place for the quarterback?"
In addition to Johnson and fellow upperclassmen Williams and Lee, both seniors, younger receivers aspire to take the next step.
Redshirt sophomore Zion Fowler-El fits that bill after posting a lone catch for 12 yards in 2024.
Now, approaching two weeks into fall camp, he has been mentioined by Narduzzi as a receiver who has made some splash plays.
"Throughout the years, I've been limited in opportunities, obviously, due to a couple guys in front of me like Konata and stuff like that," Fowler-El said. "But now that those guys are gone, I'm really able to showcase my skills and my abilities.
"Every time a ball's in the air, I don't try to think of any 50-50 balls. I try to think the ball's mine every time. I just try to have the attitude of nothing's going to stop me, whether it's I'm getting held, whether it's a bad ball, it doesn't matter. I'm going to go up and go get it."
Pitt also is counting on a pair of transfer receivers: Blue Hicks from Louisville, where he made 12 catches for 149 yards last year, and Deuce Spann from Florida State.
Spann, who played three years at FSU (2022-24) and two at Illinois (2020-21) has appeared in 37 college games. At 6-4, he's set to be the tallest player among his position mates.
Both players have made an impression on Pitt's second-year quarterback.
"Blue is a guy that's going to get open," Holstein said. "He's fast, loves to jump up and make a play, but he'll do anything for his team. He's making blocks on screens, turning screens and runs that could be 2-3 yards into 20-30 yards because of a block that he's making.
"Deuce is a guy that's always in the right spot. He's coming across the field fast, going down the field fast, just a big guy. Looks like a horse running down the field, being able to get a guy like that the ball."
Narduzzi even proclaimed Hicks as the "best ball-in-hand guy" at Pitt in the last several seasons, complimenting his ability to make plays after the catch.
Anchored by the returning players along with a few transfer portal adds and youthful depth, Pitt's wide receivers will have high expectations.
"I'm excited about this group because I think we have more speed," Bell said. "We have a way to scare more people. If you give us lots of space, we have some guys who can take it to the house."