Maurice Ffrench

Photo by: Pete Madia/Pitt Athletics

Position:
WR
Class:
Junior
Height:
5-11
Weight:
190
Hometown:
New Brunswick, NJ
High School:
New Brunswick

2019: Enjoyed a highly productive senior campaign, compiling 96 receptions for 850 yards and four touchdowns…achieved those totals despite missing consecutive games (North Carolina and Virginia Tech) due to injury…played in and started 11 contests...eclipsed Pitt’s single-season receptions record held by Larry Fitzgerald (92 catches over 13 games in 2003)…also averaged an FBS-best 8.7 catches per game, surpassing the school record previously held by Tyler Boyd (7.6 avg. over 13 games in 2015)...Ffrench finished his career with 156 catches to rank eighth all-time at Pitt…as a return specialist, averaged 18.8 yards on kickoffs (five for 94) and 6.1 on punts (27 for 166) on the year…All-ACC (third team) selection as a wide receiver and all-purpose player…Honorable Mention All-ACC in the specialist category…three-time Pro Football Focus ACC Team of the Week honoree (Ohio, Syracuse and Georgia Tech)…in his final collegiate contest, had 12 catches for 165 yards (13.8 avg.) and a touchdown in the Panthers’ 34-30 win over Eastern Michigan in the Quick Lane Bowl…receptions and yardage total set career highs…his TD catch covered 96 yards (from Kenny Pickett), the longest pass play in Pitt history (surpassing Dietrich Jells’ 91-yard pass reception from Alex Van Pelt against Rutgers in 1992)…Ffrench’s 12 catches also set a Pitt bowl record…posted 138 yards on 10 catches (13.8 avg.) against Ohio, including a 74-yard TD…voted one of three Pitt team captains…selected to play in the Hula Bowl...male recipient of the prestigious Panther Award, presented to the senior student-athletes who have best promoted Pitt through their outstanding athletic achievements...the winners of the Panther Award have their names engraved on the Varsity Walk on Pitt's campus.

2018: Played in all 14 games, starting six at wide receiver…also was a big-play kickoff returner...totaled 10 touchdowns, scoring three different ways (rushing, receiving and kickoff return)…his 60 points ranked third (tied) on the team…compiled 35 receptions for 515 yards (14.7 avg.) and six touchdowns…led team in TD catches and finished second in receptions and receiving yards…netted 164 yards and two TDs on 19 rushes (8.6 avg.)…totaled 1,224 all-purpose yards on the year to rank second…keyed Pitt’s 54-45 victory over Duke with touchdown catches of 50 and 25 yards, the latter of which broke a 45-45 tie with five seconds remaining…had a career-high seven catches (for 65 yards) at North Carolina…posted a season-high 83 receiving yards on just two receptions (41.5 avg.) against Virginia Tech…had a season-long 78-yard TD catch against the Hokies…led the ACC in kickoff return average (27.4) and kickoff return touchdowns (tied with two)…on a national level, ranked second in kick return TDs and seventh in kick return average…named a Phil Steele All-American (third team) as a kickoff returner…Honorable Mention All-ACC in the all-purpose and return specialist categories…was a two-time ACC Specialist of the Week, earning the honor following the Albany and Notre Dame contests…in the season opener against Albany, Ffrench took the game’s initial kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown…it marked the first time on record that Pitt opened a season with a kick return TD…at Notre Dame, he opened the second half with a 99-yard return for a touchdown, giving the Panthers a 14-6 lead.

2017: Played in all 12 games, starting five…finished third on the team in receptions (25) and receiving yards (272)…also had nine rushes for 71 yards (7.9 avg.) off jet sweeps…posted season highs with four catches for 58 yards (14.5 avg.) at Virginia Tech…had a season-long 32-yard reception against Virginia…had a season-high 34 rushing yards on three carries (11.3 avg.) against Oklahoma State.

2016: Played in nine games as a freshman, ultimately evolving into a two-way player…opened the season solely contributing as a reserve wide receiver…with Pitt's cornerback position depleted due to injuries, began seeing time at that position in the final two regular-season games…on jet sweeps, rushed for 122 yards on 12 carries (10.2 avg.) and scored two touchdowns…had a 77-yard touchdown run vs. Syracuse, the longest rush by a Pitt player in 2016…had two tackles on the year as a corner, both coming against Syracuse.

HIGH SCHOOL: Distinguished himself as a rusher, receiver, returner and defender...on offense, rushed for 1,375 yards on 106 carries (12.9 avg.) and had 28 catches for 727 yards (25.9 avg.)...scored 24 total touchdowns (15 rushing, five receiving, two on kickoff returns and two by punt returns)...compiled 55 tackles, 11 pass breakups and two interceptions on defense...MSG Varsity All-New Jersey...Home News Tribune Offensive Player of the Year...All-Great Middlesex Conference...rated the No. 14 overall prospect in New Jersey by Scout, No. 16 by Rivals, No. 30 by 247Sports and No. 33 by ESPN...led New Brunswick to a 9-2 record and the Central Group 5 semifinals, the program's winningest campaign in nearly a decade...four-year team captain...played under Coach Don Dofilkanich...also a basketball and track standout...won the Greater Middlesex Conference 100-meter dash title, tying the school record (10.77) set by New York Giants linebacker Jonathan Casillas...advanced to capture the New Jersey Group 4 titles in both the 100 meters and 200 meters.

PERSONAL: Maurice Lamont Ffrench, born 1/1/98, is the son of Cynthia Hagood...has two sisters and one brother...earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology.