The Pat Signal went up Saturday. Receivers Coach Kevin Sherman helped spread the news on twitter.
Pitt has received a commitment from wide receiver junior college transfer Rafael Araujo-Lopes (nickname RaRa). He is originally from Central Florida but has been attending Reedley College in California, the college his Florida high school coach had attended. Araujo-Lopes has found a home, and the Panthers may have pulled off a major coup, since he is relatively unknown to most schools at this point and could conceivably have received other offers.
Tennessee appears to be the only other school that approached him, and Pitt appears to be the only school that offered him. Some believe that the lack of school interest is because to this point he played only briefly in junior college. Araujo-Lopes made his decision from visiting Pittsburgh this weekend.
He recently remarked that he needed to make a decision soon.
His statistics are solid and, on video, Araujo-Lopes has a remarkable ability to cut back and reverse field with lightning speed after getting the ball on a run or pass.
Araujo-Lopes has mentioned that Pitt was considering him as a third, or slot, receiver.
This adds more Coach Pat Narduzzi-type fast energy to the mix. This also could provide offensive coordinator Jim Chaney with a chance to run a full spread on some plays. In fact, a Tennessee fan commented in a Volunteer blog that Araujo-Lopes would fit perfectly into a spread offense.
Imagine Tyler Boyd, Elijah Zeise, Araujo-Lopes, and Avonte Maddox as the four wides. Blanketing all four would be nearly impossible, along with the possibility of criss-crossing Rachid Ibrahim and Chris James in the backfield on some plays where three of the four wide receivers are spread.
The addition of Araujo-Lopes should make Boyd even more difficult to double-team and increase the effectiveness of the run with the coverage needed on the fledgling recruit.
Congratulations to recruit Rafael Arauja-Lopes on his offer, decision, and commitment, and congratulations to the coaching staff on a potentially outstanding pickup.
PittSportsOptimist 