PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – You could see it from the way he carried himself in Spring practice. Not just the added muscle, but the confidence he always had was combined with being comfortable with Pitt and the offense. Receiver Bub Means has gone from first-year transfer to team leader.
"We saw it right away in the Spring," said Pitt offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti. "He was coaching the perimeter. What does that mean? Not only does he have leadership, but he has knowledge. He understands the system, not only what to do, but how to do it. The fundamentals and techniques, Bub is a leader. Love Bub, look forward to him having a great season."
Cignetti added he's always brought a great energy to practice and really saw a change in him at the Sun Bowl. Means had four catches for 84 yards including a 51-yard touchdown. That's where the second-year Panther believes they've changed. They are looking for more deep balls, connecting on more deep balls and making plays during team scrimmages. They are taking the game to the defense and intentionally being more vertical.
Head coach Pat Narduzzi wouldn't give details, but said Means always has a couple of splash plays in team drills.
"I'm never pleased," Means said. "I always want to get better. I'm making plays, but there are plays that are left on the field that we got to correct. We are doing good as an offense. Looking forward to getting better every day."
What drives means is the desire to be the best. He'll race anyone, challenge teammates in the weight room. He wants to be the strongest and fastest on the field every play.
"Bub is different," Cignetti said. "He's big and strong, he's explosive. It really shows how important it is to have time for development. Remember Bub came in last year in the summertime. He's been here a full year now and look he's grown, not only as a player but as a person. The skill development part of college football is so important and I think Bub is a great example of that."
It's a comfortability in the offense. Not just with the scheme, but his role in that offense. He said last year (Means with 27 catches for 401 yards and 2 TD) they were all learning Cignetti's plan, now they've got a different feel for it. Even the transfer quarterback played under Cignetti for two years at Boston College.
It's not only quarterbacks Phil Jurkovec, but Christian Veilleux and Nate Yarnell who have shown off their arm strength. There are a number of freshmen receivers making impacts. There is rarely a media session where Narduzzi doesn't mention one of the newcomers-Kenny Johnson, Zion Fowler-El, Che Nwabuko or Florida transfer Daejon Reynolds.
Even with those new players and Konata Mumpfield also back for another year, make no mistake the receiving corps revolves around Means. The team has adopted a slogan 'By Any Means', not because of the senior receiver from Georgia. But it could be.
"I tell you right now, he's been very consistent," Narduzzi said. "I will add in special teams, he's been a gunner on our punt team. Watching him run down on our punt team, I'm like 'holy cow'. He's going to make himself some money if he can run down as a gunner and he can consistently do that in a game."
"He's special right now. I just love his work ethic in everything he does. He's an unbelievable kid."
